A photo of Princess Diana that was used for a memorial stamp by her, despite her unhappiness, is for sale after almost 40 years.
The image of Diana, Princess of Wales was taken by photographer Terence Donovan in 1986 and shows her as a 25 year old wearing a purple crushed velvet ball gown.
When Diana saw the picture, she pulled a face and expressed her injustice.
Despite her well-known rejection of the photo, the Royal Mail later selected her as part of a timber collection to commemorate her after her death in 1997.
Now the seller, who wishes to remain anonymous, is selling the rare copyrighted portrait photo for an estimated £ 15,000.
A photo of Princess Diana that was used for commemorative stamps by her, despite her dislike of it, is for sale after almost 40 years
In 1986, Diana had a busy year while she and Charles were in Japan, Indonesia, Spain and Canada.
In November 1986, she embarked on a six-day tour of Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.
But privately, the couple were unhappy in their marriage, with which the two began extramarital affair.
Charles told his official biographer Jonathan Dimbleby in 1994 that he had taken things back with Camilla Parker Bowles that year, while it is alleged that Diana’s affair with Army Captain James Hewitt began at about the same time.
The photo was taken in 1986, which was a busy year for the then 25 year old Princess of Wales (photo)
Despite her well-known rejection of the photo, the Royal Mail later selected her as part of a timber collection to commemorate her after her death in 1997.
The image was taken by photographer Terence Donovan, though the copyright was sold to a charity worker in 1990.
The woman who worked for the Society for the Blind in Brighton persuaded Diana to sign the original press release during a royal visit to the charity in 1990.
Sarah Lindberg, specialist at Bonhams London auctions, said: “Terence Donovan has photographed Princess Diana three times, once in 1986 and twice in 1987.
“This pose is from the first session and was chosen by the Royal Mail as one of the images in a collection of stamps issued in 1998 to commemorate the life and achievements of the princess.
When Diana saw the picture taken by photographer Terence Donovan, she reportedly pulled a face and expressed her injustice
“It was bought by the present owner directly from the photographer before the visit of the Princess of Wales, as she was then, to the Brighton Society for the Blind in 1990.
“The salesman who worked for the company was a huge fan of Diana and bought the image with the express purpose of getting it signed.
As she put it in front of Diana, she pulled a face and said, “Oh, I do not like that photo.”
“She wanted to present herself as more accessible and I think the photo was too formal for her. Nevertheless, it is a very striking image.
Princess Diana was then a young mother of Prince William and Prince Harry, although privately the couple were not happy in their marriage.
“Original signed images of Diana taken by Terence Donovan rarely come up for auction – especially large format copies like these.
“Diana’s appeal is still there after her early death and people still have a strong interest in her as a woman.”
The 20ins by 16ins portrait photo is to be sold tomorrow.
The photo is for sale because a never-before-seen portrait of the later princess was erected for the first time.
It comes weeks after a previously invisible photo of Diana was revealed. The image, taken in 1988, is part of a Kensington Palace exhibition celebrating royal photography.
Life Through a Royal Lens will display iconic photographs of the royal family over the past 200 years – including the stunning image of Diana, taken by David Bailey in 1988
The black-and-white photo, which is part of a Kensington Palace exhibition celebrating royal photography, was taken by celebrated photographer David Bailey in 1988.
It was part of a famous collection created by the National Portrait Gallery but kept by the renowned photographer for his personal archive.
It’s easy to see why Bailey, now 84, appreciated the photo. It captures a 27-year-old princess in her prime, a young mother of two who has grown in confidence in her role as Royal.
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