Princess Diana posed for thousands of pictures, whether it was for a royal event or a photoshoot. However, there was one that she thought was pretty much R-rated – and it still made it to the front page of every newspaper.
Now, the photographer reveals what actually happened. Diana’s reaction was not the most appreciative.
Both brothers – now in the middle of an ugly rift – had to rely on other family members when they grew up, and this is something they’ve spoken about in many interviews. However, of course, nothing could replace their mother, who wanted to protect them in any way possible.
While their mother is no longer here, the photo archives show hundreds of photos of the three together. Moreover, the archives also offer never-before-seen pictures that never made it to the papers.
But on one occasion, a picture of Diana with two other children concerned the late princess – all because of what she was (or wasn’t) wearing.
Over the entire course of her royal life, Princess Diana was hounded by paparazzi photographers and journalists who wanted to get the juiciest story or picture of her, and often times they’ve crossed the line – something that countless other celebrities can attest to as well.
Diana has posed in some of the most iconic pictures, which still to this day are seen as legendary.
For example, the image taken of her in front of the Taj Mahal in 1982 has been recreated by thousands – including William and Kate – and the bench she sat on is still to this day known as “Lady Di’s chair.”
The true story behind Princess Diana’s “no petticoat” picture
Princess Diana became a style icon of her era. In 1980, one year before she and Charles tied the knot, the 19-year-old worked as a nursery school teacher in London. The world melted because of her warmth and good heart, and photographers wanted to get the best possible picture of her.
One of them was royal photographer Arthur Edwards. He took one of the most iconic pictures of a young Lady Di at her nursery school job. But what was supposed to be an innocent portrait of the soon-to-be wife of the future king took another turn.
At the time, Arthur Edwards had just begun working as a royal photographer for The Sun. He knew Diana worked at a preschool in London’s West End neighborhood and decided to look for her.
Finally, after knocking on doors and asking if anyone knew where the preschool was, the up-and-coming photographer hit the jackpot. After speaking to the school’s owner, Arthur Edwards brought Diana to a park nearby 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.
At one point, Arthur Edwards – who has been photographing seven royal weddings, four funerals, and seven royal births – noticed how the sun began shining on the young princess. But that was to change everything.
“Everybody doesn’t believe this, but it is the gospel truth — halfway through, the sun came out and revealed those beautiful legs,” Edwards said, describing it as an “amazing silhouette,” and “iconic picture.”
“I don’t want to be known as….”
Several newspapers chose to run the picture, and it indeed was an iconic one. But Diana was in shock. Her legs were visible underneath her skirt – and Diana felt she had shown the public too much skin.
According to Today, she told Charles, “I don’t want to be known as the girlfriend who had no petticoat.”
While Diana barely had a private life, she also understood that being a royal meant being a public figure 24/7. That also included being the victim of media scrutiny – and paparazzi photographers.
“There were, at times, some fractious moments, particularly with the holidays with the boys, but she understood that myself and the other guys on the newspapers had a job to do – she knew very much the difference between the paparazzi and the staff guys,” photographer Kent Gavin, who worked with Diana for more than 20 years, said.
On July 29, 1981, Diana and Charles tied the knot. Their marriage was troubled, not least because of Charles’ affair with Camilla – and the shocking Tampongate.
