 |
| Copyright RR Auctions. |
The Daily Mirror purchased this photograph two days after the announcement of the Prince of Wales' engagement to the Lady Diana Spencer.
The words "not to be published" are scribbled on the photograph, and the photo was put in the Mirror's archives, until the Mirror sold the archives to a US company. The photo is now up for sale.
It should be obvious why the photograph was not published. Diana was portrayed by her family -- and the media -- as a virgin who never had a boyfriend, untouched, pure as the driven snow. This photograph changes that view. Diana may have been a virgin when she married, but here she is laying on a bed or a sofa resting her head on a young man who is reading. A bottle of Johnnie Walker Scotch is on the windowsill. Diana was 18 or 19 when this photograph was taken, so she was legally able to drink.
The Mirror's editors apparently chose not to publish the photo because the publication would have shattered the carefully crafted image that the media were seeking to create for the Prince of Wales's fiancee.
It is an endearing photograph, a holiday snap taken during a 1979 skiing trip to France. But one's imagination could wander a bit, after seeing the bottle of Scotch, and Diana with a young man. Were other and more intimate photographs taken? Did they hug and kiss? Did they get soused? Such things should not matter, even now, because Diana was not engaged when the the photograph was taken. She was with friends, enjoying a holiday.
But in February 1981, the media, the Royal Family and the Spencers, were not going to publish anything that smacked of impropriety .... but then Lady Diana showed up in that revealed black gown .. so we knew she knew how to paaaarty!
A perception of what people wanted to believe about Lady Diana may have been questioned by the publication of this photograph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/diana/9779903/Unseen-photo-of-teenage-Princess-Diana-goes-on-sale.html
It may not have met the Palace's standards, but it's hardly a scandalous photo. They appear to be fully clothed and there are other people in the room. Any girl who has ever lived in a dorm -- or had male friends -- probably has dozens just like it. I don't think it necessarily suggests a romantic relationship at all.
ReplyDeleteCertainly shows her innocents and good looks. I have always admired Diana...
ReplyDeleteIn that black gown almost identical to one worn by a young Princess Elizabeth! Great story!
ReplyDeleteLisa @ http://hopewellmomschoolreborn.blogspot.com/2013/01/my-downton-abbey-season-3-fan-fiction.html
Again Diana !! Why don´t they leave her alone?. That picture is not important, they were doing what all young people do in their age when they are on holidays, just talking trying to enjoy themselfs. Is there a bottle of whisky on the window? So what?, everybody drinks when he or she is 18 or 19 and are with friends. Diana was not different to rest people, journalists made Diana to seem different. If I or any of us was in the picture, that picture wouln´t be important, but Diana was in that picture !!!
ReplyDeleteJuan, you are missing the point. The commentary is why the photo could not be published, and that it was sold to the Mirror two days after the the engagement was announced.
ReplyDeleteNon, I understood perfectly the point, I understand why that picture was not published, in 1981 could damage Diana´s reputation ,at the moment she was engaged to Price Charles.
ReplyDeleteBut my point was why do they publish and sell that picture now?. I think they are taking advantage of a person who died 15 years ago, a person who has children and family, they are takin advantage once again of Diana´s image to obtain easy money.
With my commentary I was not talking about the reason why that picture was not publised, I talked why that picture is now published 31 YEARS LATER !!!!
Should agencies stop selling photos of queen Elizabeth when she dies? The Dailt mirror sold its photo archive to an American archive, which is now selling the photo archive, which includes the photo. You can be sure there are plenty of people who hacpve photos of Diana, and they have every right to sell them. You will still find postcards of Diana for sale. This photo gives a new insight into the young Lady Diana.
ReplyDelete