The Princess of Wales, 36, had been embracing a brand new life within the yr following her divorce from Prince Charles, now 77, after a turbulent 15 years of marriage.
She spent the summer season of 1997 touring extensively, visiting cities equivalent to New York, Washington, D.C., and St. Tropez, in an effort to flee the pressures of London life and public scrutiny. “Diana was beginning a brand new life,” Wade mentioned.
A royal photographer added: “The whole lot so far as her relationship with Charles, her nice relations with the youngsters – that aspect of her life was so as.”
Following a heartbreaking break-up with heart specialist Hasnat Khan, Diana was searching for distraction and companionship.
Enter billionaire Mohamed Al Fayed, who invited Diana and her sons, Prince William, now 43, and Prince Harry, now 41, to his St. Tropez villa in July 1997, the place she met his son Dodi.