“She struck a pose, and I snapped a few shots,” he recalled. Then, in a twist of fate, the sun emerged, backlighting her skirt and revealing her legs in silhouette. “It was purely chance,” Edwards said. “But it turned the shot into an iconic image.”

Princess Diana with her two sons who were young boys at the time, Photo Credit: dianaourprincessofwaless/InstagramThe image ran in newspapers across the U.K., much to Diana’s embarrassment. Reportedly, she told Charles she didn’t want to be remembered as “the girlfriend without a petticoat.” However, this moment was just the beginning of Diana’s complicated relationship with the press.Despite the rocky start, Edwards continued photographing Diana as she transitioned from a shy young woman to the “people’s princess.” “She was always graceful, always kind,” Edwards said. Diana’s down-to-earth charm and compassionate work transformed public perceptions of the monarchy. She famously hugged AIDS patients and comforted leprosy patients, actions that would forever endear her to the world.Diana’s sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, continue her legacy of public service today, with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, joining in their charitable efforts. Back in 2017, Edwards had predicted the pressures Meghan Markle would face in joining the royal family, noting, “It’s a lot of pressure. If they can handle it, great, but if not, it’s best to step away.”

Princess Diana holding her two young sons, Photo Credit: dianaourprincessofwaless/InstagramIn January 2020, Harry and Meghan did just that, stepping down as senior royals and moving to the U.S., where they now live in Santa Barbara, California. Their choice to follow a different path echoes Diana’s complex and often challenging relationship with royal life.