Diana at the Polo

[umbrellagirl]

Polo, July 24, 1988:



Photos: 1.Debrett's Illus. Fashion Guide, J. and T. Fincher; 2.Lionel Cherruault; 3.Gamma; 4.Tim Graham

[Christo's Girl]

My she really was in such a "dotty" phase in 1988.

[sirhon11234]

wow u can really see howmuch Diana's fashion changed from 1981-1988

[umbrellagirl]

On to 1989.
Polo, May 28 (date courtesy of Canadiana). Diana is seated between King Constantine and Queen Anne-Marie of Greece.



Photo: Royalty magazine, July 1989

[umbrellagirl]

June 20, 1989. Polo after Ascot.



Photos: 1.Gamma; 2.Press Association

Usually, when Diana went to polo after Ascot, she removed her hat. She couldn't very easily remove this turban style; she would really have "hat head." Instead, she removed her jacket.

[umbrellagirl]

In 1989, Diana's attendance at polo really dropped off. Canadiana lists only two appearances. There was at least one other, on July 23 at the Cartier International match:



Photos: 1.APL/Tim Graham; 2. Majesty mag; 3. and 4.Hello mag; 5.Tim Graham; 6.APL/Tim Graham

[Christo's Girl]

Ooohh, I forgot about the blue and white outfit with matching turban hat(Catherine Walker?). I loved the hat, only she could have pulled this look off. I also look in amazement how much Diana's clothes changed from 1983 to 1985. I always have felt the time after the birth of Harry changed everything about her. Her first photograph with Harry when he was about 2 weeks old when she was wearing that wonderful cream satin dress and heavy makeup signalled the end of the "shy Di " phase. From then on she never looked back, her outfits her sharper, and sleeker.

[umbrellagirl]

Polo, date unknown
Photo no. 1 here is one of the best-known "Diana at polo" pictures of all -- and it does not involve Charles. Diana is presenting a cup to James Hewitt, while William looks on.



Photos: 1. and 2. Iain Burns/Camera Press; 3.Rex Features

I do not know the date of this occasion. Even the year is uncertain. I've most often seen it captioned as "1989," but never with the month or day. I would love to know the exact date. Can anybody help?

(William is wearing the same shorts as on July 23, 1989, which would seem to help make the case for that year.)

Tim Clayton and Phil Craig interviewed Hewitt for their 2001 book, "Diana: Story of a Princess." He dated the event as the late summer of 1988, and gave an interesting account. He said that Diana wanted to see him one weekend, and he told her that he couldn't because he was playing polo. She asked who he was playing. "The 13th/18th Royal Hussars." She said something like, "Oh, I'm their Colonel. I'll get them to invite me." And so she did. Then, of course, she was expected to lunch with the Hussars, and she broke away from their group and came to sit with James and his team, "to give the opposition a bit of encouragement." And when she presented him with the large silver cup, she was about to get the giggles and could hardly say anything except "Well done." (Hewitt didn't mention the fact that William was there, too.)

[umbrellagirl]

May 6, 1990. The Badminton Three-day Event.

Another non-polo "horse event," with photos not often seen.



Photos: 1. and 2. Hello magazine, May 19, 1990; 3. John Shelley in Majesty magazine

[Incas]

I have the Hewitt polo date as 7th July 1989. Found it on a group photo of all the players after trophy presentation from Rex Features.

[umbrellagirl]

You have a date for the Hewitt polo presentation?! Oh, Incas, you are wonderful! Thank you very, very much!

[umbrellagirl]

According to Canadiana's list, Diana attended only one polo match in 1990, on May 12:



Photos: 1.Alpha; 2.Express Newspapers; 3."Charles and Diana: The Tenth Anniversary" by Brian Hoey (no individual photographers credited)

Again, if I've dated these photos incorrectly, please let me know.

[umbrellagirl]

On June 28, 1990, Charles fell off his pony and broke his arm. Diana was not at polo that day, but on July 1 (her birthday) she showed up at the hospital to escort him home.

I love this outfit, especially the shoes covered in fabric that matches the skirt.



All photos: Tim Graham (APL and gettyimages.com)

Diana looks really uncomfortable in this situation. According to Clayton and Craig's "Diana: Story of a Princess," she dropped Charles off at Highgrove and left within a few minutes for Kensington Palace. Camilla then arrived to look after him.

[Lady Jean]

Umbrellagirl,
I agree with you, at this appearance she looks lovely but definitely uncomfortable.

I know we are nearing the end of this thread . I have to say again what a wonderful job you have done. Please feel free to start another thread ....I'm sure we would all love it.

[umbrellagirl]

Thank you for those kind words, Lady Jean. Yes, we're almost at the end of Diana's involvement with polo.

I am not aware of her attending any polo matches at all in 1991. She had given up the pretense that there was any life left in her marriage.

Then came the tour of India in February 1992, and another famous polo moment: the "missed kiss," where Diana turned her head away as Charles attempted to give her the ceremonial kiss.



Photos: 1. and 2."Diana: Portrait of a Princess" by Jayne Fincher; 3.Tim Graham/Corbis Sygma/APL

[umbrellagirl]

For my final contribution to this thread, I have these 2 mystery photos. I have no idea when they were taken. All I know for sure is that the date is no later than 1992, because one of the pics was published that year in a Star Special.

Does anyone know anything about this occasion? (Especially the date?)



Photos: 1.thedianaring.com; 2.Rex Features

And now I'm finished. There are photos on this thread of Diana at every polo match, to my knowledge, that she attended (at least those where she was photographed) -- except for June 26, 1988. We're still looking for that one (a long navy blazer with navy/white checked skirt), and also identification of the mystery pics here.

When I started this thread, it was in hopes of learning the dates of some of the polo photos I had. Thanks to Canadiana and Incas, my hopes were more than realized. Also, my gratitude to Squidgy and Lady Jean for posting so many early photos. I didn't know how to post pictures three months ago, and I've spent this thread learning.

Thank you all for looking. And please add any other "Diana at Polo" photos you may have!

[corazon]

Originally Posted by sirhon11234

wow u can really see howmuch Diana's fashion changed from 1981-1988

diana changes so much with the years, when she married she dressed very informal, dresses with flowers especially in the pregnancies, with the time she look more formal.

[corazon]

Originally Posted by umbrellagirl

For my final contribution to this thread, I have these 2 mystery photos. I have no idea when they were taken. All I know for sure is that the date is no later than 1992, because one of the pics was published that year in a Star Special. Does anyone know anything about this occasion? (Especially the date?)
Photos: 1.thedianaring.com; 2.Rex Features

I thimk the photos was taken in 1991.
but I see diana in polo more times, I noy very sure, but I will see in my archive, but I see her in polo's field more times.
In june, 1982 diana was dressed with a dress red and write, the same that when she leave the hospital after harry birth

[umbrellagirl]

Corazon,
There are a couple of photos of the red-and-white striped maternity dress way back on Page 4 of this thread (now Post #63). Canadiana gave the date as May 22, 1982.

These were some of my earliest posting attempts, and I don't know what I did, but when you click on one of them, it really shrinks instead of getting bigger.

Sorry, but I don't know how to link to it.

[corazon]

yes, you're right. I need to day thank so much for you job with diana photos in polo's games.
She really hated the polo but she was in every charles's game, she was his wife and she was with him for love and duty.
of course, charles now leave the polo