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Long-Suppressed Diana and Bowie Photos Reveal Palace's Efforts to Conceal Affair

Denis O'Regan's rediscovered 1987 images highlight Buckingham Palace's attempts to shield Princess Diana's private life, including her secret relationship with James Hewitt.

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Overview

  • Photographer Denis O'Regan captured Princess Diana and David Bowie together backstage at Bowie's 1987 Wembley concert.
  • Buckingham Palace requested the photos remain unpublished, fearing they could expose Diana's attendance with her lover, James Hewitt.
  • Diana's affair with Hewitt, which began in 1986 and ended in 1991, was later confirmed by the princess during a 1995 BBC interview.
  • The rediscovered photos, buried for nearly 40 years, are featured in O'Regan's new book detailing his work with Bowie.
  • The images underscore the palace's longstanding efforts to manage Diana's public image and suppress details of her private life.