The photographer recognized he had captured something unique after taking this picture! – Story Of The Day!

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.

Their worlds seemed different—one rooted in monarchy, the other in entertainment—but both understood what it meant to live under relentless scrutiny.

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.

Backstage before the concert, the two were introduced. Michael later recalled feeling deeply nervous about meeting Diana. Despite performing for massive crowds around the world, the idea of greeting a princess left him tense. In photographs from that evening, there is a visible stiffness in his posture and a kind of cautious politeness between them.

Part of that awkwardness stemmed from a decision Jackson had made before the show. Out of respect, he had removed the song “Dirty Diana” from the setlist. The track, which tells the story of a persistent groupie, seemed inappropriate to perform in front of a royal guest who happened to share the same name. Jackson believed omitting the song was the proper thing to do.

But Diana surprised him.