Diana, Princess of Wales

1 portrait of Diana, Princess of Wales

Photo Terence Donovan, © The Terence Donovan Archive

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Diana, Princess of Wales

by Terence Donovan
bromide print, 1986
11 7/8 in. x 8 in. (301 mm x 203 mm)
Given by the photographer's widow, Diana Donovan, 1998
Primary Collection
NPG P716(2)

Sitterback to top

Artistback to top

  • Terence Daniel Donovan (1936-1996), Photographer and film director. Artist or producer of 21 portraits, Sitter in 4 portraits.

Linked publicationsback to top

  • Cooper, John, Great Britons: The Great Debate, 2002, p. 157 Read entry

    These two photographs (NPG P218 and NPG P716(2)) illustrate the transformation in Diana's appearance from newly engaged teenager to sophisticated Princess. Lord Snowdon has caught the freshness and naturalness of her early image; although recently divorced from Princess Margaret he was still favoured with family commissions. Diana became very fond of the bantering Terence Donovan, who once coaxed a smile from her by pulling a wad of notes from his back pocket and asking 'Recognise any of yer rellies [relations], love?' Donovan's photograph shows the effects of expensive grooming and the greater definition of her face caused by the slimming effects of bulimia and the strain of an unhappy marrige. During these years, Diana developed her understanding of both portrait and press photographers, and learned how to collude successfully with both.

Events of 1986back to top

Current affairs

Hampton Court Palace is devastated by fire. Much of the third floor and the roof of the building were destroyed, although, thanks to the courage of the fire fighters, only one painting and one piece of furniture were ruined.
Prince Andrew, Duke of York, marries Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey.

Art and science

Poems on the Underground, the brainchild of American writer Judith Chernaik, is launched by London Underground. A rolling programme of poems is displayed in tube train carriages, bringing contemporary and classic poetry to commuters.
The Independent Newspaper is first published.
Artists, Gilbert and George win the Turner Prize.

International

An explosion at the Chernobyl nuclear power station leads to nuclear meltdown in the reactor and causes massive nuclear contamination over Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, western Europe, the UK and Ireland, and even North America. The 2005 Chenobyl Forum attributed 56 direct deaths to the disaster and estimated that 9,000 people may die from some form of cancer as a result of exposure to radiation.

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