Royal flashback: When Princess Diana visited Hong Kong – with and without ex-husband Prince Charles – in pictures
Prince William and Prince Harry’s mother visited Hong Kong twice, and was due to make a third visit shortly before her death – to mark what would have been the princess’ 59th birthday, STYLE takes a look back at the iconic outfits, charity visits and gala dinners
It would have been Diana, Princess of Wales’ 59th birthday on July 1. But as we know, she tragically died on August 31, 1997, after a car crash in Paris, aged just 36 years old.
The beloved figure and mother of Prince William and Prince Harry was slated to visit Hong Kong later that year. That would have made her the first member of the royal family to visit the city after the handover of Hong Kong to China, after 156 years of British rule ended on July 1, 1997.
Sadly, that was not to be. However, Diana did visit Hong Kong twice in her short life. The first time was while married to Prince Charles when they were invited to officiate at the grand opening of the Hong Kong Cultural Centre (HKCC) in Tsim Sha Tsui in 1989.
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived in Hong Kong on November 8 of that year for a three-day visit. The first night, they were guests of honour of the then-governor of Hong Kong, Sir David Wilson, at a dinner and concert as part of the HKCC’s grand opening. They heard London’s Bach Choir perform at the inaugural concert.
Princess Diana dazzled in a cream strapless sequinned evening dress with a short-sleeved bolero and high stand-up collar. She also wore a glittering diamond tiara, which had belonged to Queen Mary.
The Princess of Wales came back to Hong Kong on a three-day private visit in April 1995, after her separation from Prince Charles, which took place in 1992. Diana was welcomed at Kai Tak Airport by the then-governor Chris Patten and his wife Lavender.
