The late 1980s were a turbulent period for Princess Diana, whose marriage to Prince Charles was unraveling despite the fairy tale image cherished by the public. One surprising moment that highlighted the complexity of Diana’s life involved a now-famous photograph taken at David Bowie’s Wembley Stadium concert in June 1987. This image, showing the Princess of Wales with the iconic singer, became the center of controversy when Buckingham Palace intervened to stop its publication.
In this article, we explore the story behind that photograph, the reasons why the palace tried to suppress it, and the larger context of Princess Diana’s personal life during those fraught years.
The Context: Princess Diana’s Life in 1987
The Faltering Fairy Tale
By 1987, Princess Diana was just 25 years old but already navigating the emotional challenges of a troubled marriage. While public perception held on to the idealized version of the royal romance, behind closed doors the union between Diana and Prince Charles was strained, marked by distance and emotional pain.
Despite this, Diana remained one of the most beloved figures in Britain, admired for her grace, compassion, and charm. The press and public were eager to maintain the narrative of the fairy tale, a factor that shaped the Palace’s approach to controlling Diana’s image.
Diana’s Public and Private Personas
Diana was known to be relatively shy and reserved, especially early in her public life. Despite her immense fame, she often appeared vulnerable and sincere, traits that endeared her to many. However, this vulnerability also meant that the palace was highly protective of her image and wary of any publicity that might hint at turmoil or scandal.
The Iconic Photograph: Diana and Bowie at Wembley
Denis O’Regan’s Encounter with Diana and Bowie
British photographer Denis O’Regan was a seasoned professional who had captured some of the most memorable moments of rock and pop history over several decades. In June 1987, he had the opportunity to photograph David Bowie performing at Wembley Stadium—a significant event in the music world.
According to O’Regan, Princess Diana attended Bowie’s concert, accompanied by the former cavalry officer James Hewitt. During the event, Diana, who was still somewhat shy about publicity, asked O’Regan if Bowie would be interested in having a photo taken with her.
“It seems to me that she would,” O’Regan recalled in interviews surrounding the release of his recent book, which chronicles his decades of work photographing Bowie and other stars. Eventually, the photograph of Diana and Bowie was taken, capturing a rare moment between two cultural icons.
The Palace’s Intervention
Despite the photo’s historical and cultural significance, Buckingham Palace moved quickly to suppress it. The very next day after the shoot, O’Regan’s agent received a call from the palace requesting that the images not be published or circulated.
O’Regan later explained, “I simply didn’t want Diana to appear in the press.” The reason behind this decision was not immediately clear to him, but the palace’s actions made it evident that they wanted to keep the image out of public view.
The Hidden Truth: James Hewitt’s Presence
The Lover Who Was Still Unknown to the Public
The real reason Buckingham Palace wanted to suppress the photo was tied to the company Diana kept that night. She was attending the Bowie concert with James Hewitt, her lover, whose identity was unknown to the public at the time. Hewitt, a former cavalry officer and major, had become a significant figure in Diana’s private life since 1986.
To Buckingham Palace, the fewer public images there were of Diana during that period, especially photos that could expose her personal relationships, the better. The concern was that someone might notice Hewitt was with her, revealing the princess’s extramarital affair at a time when the royal family was keen to maintain an image of marital stability.
The Cost of Suppressing the Photo
For O’Regan, this meant missing out on what could have been a multimillion-dollar image of two of the era’s biggest stars. But the photographer understood the delicate situation and ultimately respected the wishes of the palace.
The Affair Between Diana and James Hewitt
How It Began
Princess Diana’s affair with James Hewitt began around 1986, a year before the Bowie concert. They first met at a cocktail party, and Hewitt later offered Diana riding lessons, a skill she had long wished to improve.
Hewitt was known as a charismatic and womanizing figure, and his attention provided Diana with the affection and passion she desperately sought amid her struggling marriage.
Life Away from the Public Eye
The couple’s relationship was conducted discreetly. They often met in private settings, including a secluded cottage in Devon owned by Hewitt’s mother. Diana’s former bodyguard Ken Wharfe described the affair in his book Diana: Closely Guarded Secret, revealing the intimate and passionate nature of their encounters.
Wharfe recounted how the sounds from the bedroom floorboards in that cottage spoke louder than any public confession, highlighting the intensity of their liaison.
The Affair’s End and Public Revelation
The relationship lasted about five years, ending when Hewitt was deployed to the Gulf War. It was not until Diana’s famous 1995 BBC interview that the affair was openly acknowledged.
In that interview, Diana confessed to being deeply in love with Hewitt but expressed her profound disappointment when he betrayed her trust by collaborating on a tell-all book about their relationship. “I was in love with him. But I was very disappointed,” Diana said, emphasizing the emotional toll of that betrayal.
The Palace’s Control Over Diana’s Image
The Importance of Media Management
Buckingham Palace has always exercised tight control over the public images of its members, especially when it comes to potentially damaging stories. Diana, as the Princess of Wales, was constantly under intense media scrutiny, and the palace’s media team worked hard to maintain a carefully crafted narrative.
Photos like the one with Bowie posed a risk to that narrative, particularly because they could hint at personal details the palace wished to keep under wraps.
The Impact of Media on Diana’s Life
The British press played a significant role in shaping public perception of Diana, often amplifying rumors and speculation. While the palace attempted to shield her from negative coverage, this often had the opposite effect, creating a sense of mystery and intrigue around the princess.
The decision to suppress images like the Bowie photo highlights the balancing act between protecting privacy and controlling public opinion.
The Legacy of the Photo and Diana’s Story
Why the Photo Still Matters Today
Though the image of Princess Diana and David Bowie was nearly lost to history, it remains a potent symbol of a complex era. It captures a moment where two icons from very different worlds briefly intersected—a pop culture legend and a beloved royal figure navigating private challenges in the public eye.
The photo reminds us of the immense pressures Diana faced and the lengths to which the palace would go to manage her image.
Reflections on Diana’s Life and Relationships
Princess Diana’s story is often viewed through the lens of tragedy and resilience. Her relationships, including her affair with James Hewitt, are part of a broader narrative about her search for love and identity amid royal constraints.
The Bowie photo incident adds nuance to that story, illustrating how Diana’s private life was deeply entwined with public spectacle and institutional control.
Conclusion
The tale of the suppressed photograph of Princess Diana and David Bowie is more than just a story about a missed celebrity snapshot. It reveals the intense scrutiny and control that surrounded Diana’s life, the complex web of her personal relationships, and the palace’s efforts to maintain a pristine public image at all costs.
While the image itself became a casualty of those efforts, it now stands as a poignant reminder of the human side of a woman often idealized and misunderstood. Diana’s journey was one of love, betrayal, vulnerability, and strength—a story that continues to captivate and inspire.
