13-05-2025
EXCLUSIVE Palace buried photographs of Princess Diana and David Bowie for nearly 40 years to quash affair rumours
Never before seen pictures of Princess Diana with pop legend David Bowie have been discovered nearly 40 years after they were taken.
The backstage image of a smiling Diana next to an equally ecstatic Bowie was captured by photographer Denis O'Regan during the pop star's 1987 Wembley concert.
Speaking to MailOnline, Denis revealed that it was legendary music promoter Harvey Goldsmith who was instrumental in getting the pop royalty next to the then-Princess of Wales for a photo-op.
'I was working with David on his 1987 Glass Spider concert. I was with my father and brother helping them find a good spot in the crowd. Once I made my way back to David I was told that Diana was on her way.
'Diana arrived with Harvey Goldsmith and I asked Harvey if I could take a picture of Diana and David together and he told me to "ask her",' Denis said.
In response, the 25-year-old princess shyly asked whether Bowie would even want a picture with her to which Denis responded: 'I think he would.'
The day after the candid snaps were taken, Denis received a 'polite request' from the palace that the pictures do not be published.
But the reason the images were buried for nearly 40 years is not because of who is pictured but rather who was off-camera.
Diana was at the concert with Army Major James Hewitt who she famously had an affair with from 1986 until 1991.
Rumours of their relationship in the press were rife at the time but no photographic proof had been taken.
Denis said that James 'kept his distance' from the photographers to avoid being snapped with Diana.
He has no regrets at missing out on what could have been one of the most famous pictures of Diana ever taken.
'No one knew who he was so I had no reason to picture him and the word wasn't out yet about their relationship.'
The evening at Wembley is referenced in Andrew Morton's bombshell biography, Diana: Her True Story.
According to Morton, Diana was accompanied by her friends David Waterhouse and David Linley.
Diana, speaking to Morton, said: 'I went in leather trousers, which I thought was the right thing to do, completely putting out of mind that I was the future Queen and future Queens don't wear leather like that in public.
'So I thought that was frightfully "with it". Frightfully pleased to act my own age.'
Morton said that Diana got 'slapped wrists' for her choice of trousers.
'Once again she was trying to behave like Fergie (the then-Duchess of York) but courtiers at Buckingham Palace did not feel her apparel was suitable for a future queen,' Morton wrote.
One of Denis' pictures of Bowie and Diana is featured in his upcoming photography book, David Bowie by Denis.
Inside the book, Denis tells the story of his time photographing the Ashes to Ashes singer from 1974 to 1994.
During his long career, Denis also photographed Freddie Mercury, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Bob Marley.
Diana and Bowie had previously met in 1985 during the Live Aid benefit concert - also at Wembley.
They then reunited at the famous stadium once again in 1993 when Bowie hosted the Concert of Hope in 1993. A charity concert organised partly by the Princess of Wales to raise awareness and money for AIDS.
Diana had a five-year affair with James Hewitt between 1986 and 1991, with the Princess publicly confessing to the relationship during her BBC Panorama interview in 1995. She married the then-Prince Charles in 1981, separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996.
