Princess Diana was in front of cameras all the time, whether it was for fancy royal events or special photoshoots. But there was one picture she thought was way too revealing, and it ended up on the front page of every newspaper anyway.
Now, the photographer is sharing what really went down. Diana didn’t take it very well.
Diana was often called the “People’s Princess,” and when she passed away, the whole world felt the loss. Her sudden death in Paris in 1997 hit the royal family hard, leaving Prince William and Prince Harry without their mom.
Princess Diana
Both brothers, who are currently in a big fight, had to depend on other family members while growing up. They’ve talked about this in many interviews. But no one could ever take the place of their mom, who always wanted to keep them safe.
Even though their mom is gone now, there are tons of photos of the three of them together in the archives. Some of these pictures have never been seen before and didn’t make it into the newspapers.
One time, there was a photo of Diana with two other kids that really worried her, mainly because of what she was wearing (or not wearing).
Throughout her time as a royal, Princess Diana was constantly chased by paparazzi and reporters looking for the best story or picture. Often, they went too far, just like many other famous people have experienced.
Diana has been featured in some of the most famous photographs, which are still considered legendary today.
For instance, the picture of her in front of the Taj Mahal from 1982 has been copied by many people, including William and Kate. The bench she sat on is still referred to as “Lady Di’s chair.”
The true story behind Princess Diana’s “no petticoat” picture
Princess Diana became a fashion icon during her time. In 1980, just a year before she married Charles, the 19-year-old was a nursery school teacher in London. People were drawn to her kindness and warm personality, and photographers were eager to capture her best moments.
One of those photographers was Arthur Edwards. He took one of the most famous photos of young Lady Di while she was working at the nursery. What started as a simple portrait of the future wife of a king turned into something unexpected.
At that time, Arthur had just started his job as a royal photographer for The Sun. He knew Diana was teaching at a preschool in London’s West End, so he set out to find her.
After asking around and knocking on doors, he finally found the preschool. After chatting with the owner, Arthur took Diana to a nearby park along with two children.
“She posed up, and I did half a dozen pictures,” he told Today.
It all looked like things were going great. The word got out, and not long after, many other photographers joined him in taking pictures of Diana.
Arthur Edwards, a photographer who has captured seven royal weddings, four funerals, and seven royal births, had a moment that changed everything when he noticed the sun shining on the young princess.
“People might not believe this, but it’s absolutely true — halfway through, the sun came out and highlighted those stunning legs,” Edwards recalled, calling it an “incredible silhouette” and an “iconic photo.”
“I don’t want to be known as….”
Many newspapers decided to publish the picture, and it truly became iconic. However, Diana was taken aback. Her legs were visible under her skirt, and she felt like she had revealed too much skin to the public.
According to Today, she told Charles, “I don’t want to be known as the girlfriend who didn’t wear a petticoat.”
Even though Diana had little privacy, she realized that being a royal meant being in the spotlight all the time. This also meant dealing with intense media attention and paparazzi.
“There were some tense moments, especially during holidays with the boys, but she understood that I and the other newspaper guys had a job to do – she really knew the difference between the paparazzi and the staff photographers,” said Kent Gavin, who worked with Diana for over 20 years.
On July 29, 1981, Diana and Charles got married. Their relationship faced many challenges, especially due to Charles’ affair with Camilla and the scandal known as Tampongate.
Even though Princess Diana and Prince Charles got divorced, people continued to love her. It’s clear that this love will last forever, no matter what some might say about the not-so-great photo taken of her while she was working at a school.
After she passed away, many documents written by Diana were found. Some of her letters talked about serious and sometimes really sad topics, including one where she worried that someone might be trying to harm her.
Naughty Diana letters sold at auction
In May of this year, two greeting cards that Princess Diana sent to King Constantine II of Greece were put up for auction. These cards revealed a fun and playful side of her that we don’t usually see.
They had some cheeky jokes and showed Diana’s lighter, more humorous personality. Plus, the cards had her handwritten notes and signature.
The first card had a picture of a naked guy leaning against a tree, with the funny caption, “Adam came first….Men always do!….”
The second card featured a naked woman and asked, “What’s the definition of the Perfect Man?” The answer was hilarious: “A midget with a 10″ tongue who can breathe through his ears!”
You can see pictures of the greeting cards here.
Constantine II was the last king of Greece and became good friends with Diana. The cards sent to him from the princess were signed, reading: “Dearest Tino, lots of love from Diana.”
The second one said: “Dearest Tino, proudest love as always, from Diana.”
They went up for auction in May at Dominic Winter Auctioneers auction house, selling for $7,000.
“The reason for sending these cards, other than as a bit of fun, is unclear as the cards do not celebrate a birthday, Christmas or christening,” the auction house wrote on their website.
“Diana must have seen these cards and thought of Tino before buying and sending them, possibly inspired by a conversation they had had at some social gathering.”
William & Harry keeping Diana legacy alive
William and Harry have often talked about their mom and the time they had with her before she died. They are doing their best to honor her memory, and both are working on charitable projects, just like she did.
Prince William started the Earthshot Prize, which gives awards to five people each year for their work in helping the environment. Meanwhile, Harry set up the Invictus Games, an annual event for veterans.
Princess Diana was adored wherever she went, and even though some people thought the US wouldn’t care much about her, her visit was a huge success.
Recently, Prince William wrapped up his trip to the US, where he announced the nominees for the Earthshot Award. He also took time to connect with everyday New Yorkers, doing things like collecting oyster shells and chatting with locals and tourists. The 41-year-old even went for a run in Central Park.
Now, people are starting to compare him to his mother.
Royal expert Jennie Bond tells OK! Magazine how the future king has his mother’s charm.
“”He has his mother’s easy charm”
She thinks it’s surprising that he isn’t more well-known in the US than he already is.
“I have to say, I was shocked to find out he was voted the most popular person in the US because I figured people there were more into celebrities,” she explained. “But from what I’ve seen, Americans really admire our royal family, and William is becoming a standout figure in the monarchy, especially with Catherine by his side.
“He has his mom’s natural charm,” Jennie Bond added, “along with her good looks. He seems confident and is fully embracing the future he once found scary. He looks like he’s really enjoying his role, and with the Earthshot Prize, he’s showing he wants to make a real difference.”
We can only imagine that Princess Diana is smiling down from above.
If you liked this article, you might want to check out the forgotten letters from Diana that reveal new details about her difficult divorce from Charles.
Princess Diana died too young, but her legacy will live on forever.
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