It was May 2, 1986. Prince Charles and Lady Di were in Vancouver to open the 1986 World Exposition on Transportation & Communication – known more famously as Expo ’86. As part of their tour of our beautiful city, the royal couple paid a visit to my beloved Granville Island – the place where I grew up.
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| Source Granville Island, May 1986 |
I was only 8 years old, and was doing a nightly dance performance at Expo ’86. My dance school was located in the heart of Granville Island, and our dance company was asked to do a short performance for the royal couple to commemorate their visit.
As soon as my number was over, I remember running with my friends, and standing in a line facing the beautiful princess Diana. She walked along the line of excited children, taking the time to greet each of us one-on-one. I remember thinking – she doesn’t look like a princess, she’s not wearing a big sparkly dress and a tiara like Cinderella. My excitement grew as she approached my spot in the line. I couldn’t believe I was finally going to meet a real princess!
When it was my turn, she bent down and leaned in close so that she was at my eye level. She smiled at me and said in a soft voice, “That was lovely!” She then handed me a long-stemmed red rose, flashed a sincere grin, and moved on to the next child in line.
It was a memorable moment for me, one that I will never forget. I don’t have a picture – heck, I don’t even have the rose anymore! But I will always remember how she took the time to speak to each and every one of us – just a group kids from a little dance school in Granville Island. A small reminder of the beautiful person she was.
9 Comments
Bianca, that was just beautiful. I always feel so sad that she passed way too soon. She would have been my mom’s age now… Love the new design by the way!!!
Such a cool story! I’m Canadian as well and although I’ve been a stone’s throw from HRH twice, I never had the opportunity to see Lady Diana in person. Great post.
*clickin in from MamaKat*
Wow! That is so awesome! She would have been one of a kind to meet!
Oh my goodness that is SO cool! I’ll never forget the day she passed away. I barely knew who she was and I was just a kid, but I cried. She was a beautiful person and you are blessed to have had that exchange with her!
I remember that they stopped in Kingston, my hometown, on that trip to Canada. There literally throngs of people around her..all wanting her attention, and she was just so patient and sincere..and radiant. I swear she glowed. I didn’t get close enough to actually meet her, but I remember that you just felt good in her presence. She made the entire crowd feel at ease and stand in awe.
I did however meet HRH Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip during a visit – my dance group performed for them.
Love how you wrote this – you really captured the moment and her personality.
How cool. Being older than you I got married soon after their wedding. My dress had to have the humongous Diana sleeves and full skirt. She was such an icon. She passes through my mind every now and then. I wonder what she would look like — aging gracefully I’m sure. What a special memory you have forever.
This is seriously such an amazing story! How cool that you got to meet a princess and such an amazing one at that!
I have goosebumps reading that. I actually was in high school and my choir went to Expo ’86 to sing. We weren’t there when the Royal Couple was, but wow, that would’ve been cool! What a great memory!
Beautiful. Sadly, my only connection to her is that she died on my 18th birthday. I’m glad to hear that she was as lovely in person as I always suspected.