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There is a photograph taken in the summer of 1988 that continues to fascinate people decades later. In it, Princess Diana stands beside Michael Jackson backstage at Wembley Stadium. At first glance, it appears to be a simple meeting between two global icons—one royalty by birth, the other royalty by talent. But the more you learn about that night, the more layered the story becomes.
Neither Diana, Princess of Wales, nor Michael Jackson requires much introduction. By the late 1980s, both were among the most recognized faces on the planet. Diana had become known as “The People’s Princess,” admired for her warmth, compassion, and willingness to connect with ordinary citizens. Michael Jackson, already crowned the King of Pop, was breaking records, redefining music videos, and commanding stadiums filled with tens of thousands of fans.
They met in person only once. The date was July 16, 1988. Diana and her then-husband, Prince Charles, attended Jackson’s Bad tour concert at Wembley Stadium in London. The event was organized in part to support the Prince’s Trust charity, and Jackson had already made substantial donations to charitable causes in the United Kingdom, including funds for Great Ormond Street Hospital.
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