Why the photo of Princess Diana with David Bowie was buried for years

However, the reason why he remained hidden for decades is even more fascinating than the photo itself.

Behind the scenes of the concert of Glass Spider of Bowie in 1987 at the Wembley stadium, a calm but captivating moment took place.

Photographer Denis O’Regan took a photo that remained invisible for almost four decades. The snapshot showed Princess Diana smiling next to Bowie. It was a rare and frank image of two of the most recognizable figures in the world, captured just before the musician goes on stage.

O’Regan, who worked with Bowie during the tour, was with his father and his brother in the crowd when he heard that a very special guest was on the way.

“I worked with David on the concert of Glass Spider,” he recalls in a recent interview with the Daily mail. “I helped my father and my brother find a good place to look at when I was told that Diana came behind the scenes.”

The music promoter Harvey Goldsmith organized Reunion, presenting the end of the Princess of Wales at the music legend. When O’Regan asked if he could take a picture, Goldsmith simply told her to ask Diana herself.

The princess, always humble, hesitated. “Would he even want a photo with me?” She asked timidly. O’Regan reassured her: “I think he would do it.”

The next day, O’Regan received a call from the palace requesting that the image is not published. At first glance, it seemed that royal aid tried to protect the image of Diana by limiting photos with celebrities. However, the real reason was much more personal and secret.

Diana had attended the concert with the army Major James Hewitt, who was, at the time, her lover. Their five -year affair, which started in 1986, only became public knowledge for years later. In 1987, their relationship was still a closely kept secret.

“James has kept his distance from the photographers overnight to avoid being photographed with Diana,” said O’Regan. “At the time, I didn’t know who he was. There was not yet a buzz or speculation about it, so I did not even think of photographing it. ”

However, the palace was prudent. Any proof of Diana’s outings with Hewitt, especially during such a high -level event, could trigger a scandal. Therefore, to avoid any chance of exhibition, they quietly asked O’Regan not to release the photos.

The photos were not the only thing that drew the attention of royal aids. The choice of Diana’s outfit that night, a pair of black leather pants, also made waves.

For the average spectator, his look was elegant and fun. However, the ensemble haussed more than a few eyebrows behind the palace walls.

In “Diana: her true story”, the author Andrew Morton revealed that the princess had received “slapped wrists” for the daring outfit.

Diana later admitted that she hadn’t thought about it much. “I went to leather pants, which I thought was the right thing to do,” she said. “Completely designate that I was the future queen, and the future queens do not wear leather like that in public.”

Morton explained that Diana was trying to be more relatable and fun, like her sister-in-law, Sarah Ferguson. But the courtiers of the palace were not amused. “Once again, she was trying to behave like Fergie,” he wrote, “but the courtiers did not think that her clothes adapted to a future queen.”

However, the outfit has become an emblematic part of her inheritance of style and another example of the way in which Diana balanced her royal duties with her desire to be her own person.

Although the 1987 photo was only today, it was not the only time Diana and Bowie interacted.

Their first known meeting occurred in 1985 during the historic live help concert at the Wembley stadium.

Two years later, their brief but warm meeting behind the scenes added another chapter to their connection.

In 1993, Princess Diana again supported Bowie by attending her concert of hope. The event took place to collect funds and raise awareness of the charitable works of AIDS, a cause which it defended passionately throughout her life.