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A photograph of Princess Diana that was used for commemorative stamps of her despite her dislike of it has emerged for sale after almost 40 years.
The image of Diana, Princess of Wales was taken by photographer Terence Donovan in 1986 and depicts her as a 25-year-old wearing a purple crushed-velvet ball gown.
When Diana saw the picture, she reportedly pulled a face and expressed her distaste.
Despite her known dislike of the photo the Royal Mail later selected it as part of a stamp collection to commemorate her after her death in 1997.
Now the vendor, who wishes to remain anonymous, is selling the rare portrait photograph with copyright for an estimated £15,000.
A photograph of Princess Diana that was used for commemorative stamps of her despite her dislike of it has emerged for sale after almost 40 years
In 1986, Diana had a busy year as she and Charles toured Japan, Indonesia, Spain, and Canada.
Then in November 1986, she went on a six-day tour to Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
Yet privately, the couple were unhappy in their marriage, with both embarking on extramarital affairs.
Charles told his official biographer, Jonathan Dimbleby, in 1994 that he picked things back up with Camilla Parker Bowles that year, while it’s alleged that Diana’s affair with army captain James Hewitt started around a similar time.
The photograph was taken in 1986, which was a busy year for the then 25-year-old Princess of Wales (pictured)
Despite her known dislike of the photo the Royal Mail later selected it as part of a stamp collection to commemorate her after her death in 1997
The image was taken by photographer Terence Donovan, although the copyright for it was sold to a charity worker in 1990.
The woman, who worked for the Society for the Blind in Brighton, got Diana to sign the original print of it during a Royal visit to the charity in 1990.
Sarah Lindberg, specialist at London auctioneers Bonhams, said: ‘Terence Donovan photographed Princess Diana on three occasions, once in 1986 and twice in 1987.
‘This pose is from the first sitting and was chosen by the Royal Mail as one of the images in a collection of stamps issued in 1998 to commemorate the Princess’ life and achievements.
When Diana saw the picture, which was taken by photographer Terence Donovan, she reportedly pulled a face and expressed her distaste
‘It was purchased by the present owner direct from the photographer in advance of a visit by the Princess of Wales, as she then was, to the Brighton Society for the Blind in 1990.
‘The vendor, who worked for the society, was an enormous fan of Diana and bought the picture with the express purpose of getting it signed.
‘When she put it in front of Diana she pulled a face and said, “Oh, I don’t like that photo.”
‘She wanted to portray herself as more approachable and I think the photo was too formal for her. Nonetheless, it is a very striking image.
Princess Diana was then a young mother to Prince William and Prince Harry, although privately, the couple were unhappy in their marriage
‘Original signed pictures of Diana taken by Terence Donovan rarely come up for auction – especially large format copies like this one.
‘The appeal of Diana still endures after her untimely death and people still have a strong interest in her as a woman.’
The 20ins by 16ins portrait photo is due to be sold tomorrow.
The photograph is going on sale as a never-before-seen portrait of the late princess went on display for the first time.
It comes weeks after a previously unseen photo of Diana was revealed. The image, which was taken in 1988, forms part of a Kensington Palace exhibition celebrating royal photography
Life Through a Royal Lens will feature iconic photographs of the Royal Family over the last 200 years – including the stunning image of Diana, taken by David Bailey in 1988
The black and white photo, which forms 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 commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery, but kept by the renowned photographer for his personal archive.
It is easy to see why Bailey, now 84, treasured the photograph. It captures a 27-year-old princess in her prime, a young mother-of-two who was growing in confidence in her role as a royal.
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