Princess Diana didn't have that British stiff upper lip. She had feelings and emotions and she wasn't afraid to show them — even in public when the paparazzi were capturing her every move.
Feeling things was always really important to the late princess, whether it was shedding a tear on a charity trip or laughing out loud in a moment of joy. She wanted her two sons to get that ability to express emotion from her — because Prince Charles certainly has struggled in that arena. "I want my boys to have an understanding of people's emotions, their insecurities, people's distress, and their hopes and dreams," she once said.
Diana always realized the importance of expressing yourself and understanding other people's feelings as well. Here are 15 times the princess bared her emotions — good and bad — to the public.
So Embarrassed
Shortly after it was announced that Diana and Charles were dating, the press began hounding her. They captured this photo after she accidentally backed her car into a tree. She looks both embarrassed at the mistake and at the fact that it was captured on camera for everyone to see. It was definitely a sign of a lot of strife to come between her and the media.
Shocked
Here's another photo of a driving-related mishap. The paparazzi were quick to catch Diana after her car stalled out. This time, she's less embarrassed and more surprised. This one wasn't her fault, so there's that. It's pretty fun to see young Diana in these pictures. She was so unguarded at the time.
Anxious Habit
As she stepped more into the spotlight, Diana began a nervous habit of biting her bottom lip. You can see this in many photos of her, likely whenever she felt overwhelmed or out-of-place. It's a lot to go from an everyday nanny and kindergarten teacher to the future Queen of England. We'd be anxious, too.
Frightened
We may never know what was going on behind the camera that made the princess pull this face while posing for portraits with Charles. We love how expressive she is in comparison to him, though. He furrowed his brow, while Diana gave us a whole emoji. This is part of why she was so popular — people felt like she was really real for a royal.
Feeling Down
There are a few photos of the princess looking solemn and almost sad in public. We don't know what exactly was bothering her this evening, but she did struggle with an eating disorder for years and this was a dinner party, so perhaps that played a role. Or maybe it was that she was married to a guy who was cheating on her.
Blissful for Once
Many pictures of Charles and Diana tell a story of an unhappy marriage. There's usually distance between them, and they're hardly ever both smiling. This snapshot is different. It shows one of their happier moments, with Charles laughing and Diana looking truly elated. We're glad it wasn't all bad times for them.
Bored
In her royal life, Diana had to attend dozens of polo matches that her husband played in. At some point, those are going to start blending together. This picture seems to capture Diana in a moment of boredom. She's clapping out of habit, but is she having the time of her life? It sure doesn't look like it, and who can blame her? Even Queen Elizabeth looks bored.
Ouch!
While in Australia in 1983, one overeager fan accidentally injured the princess. Someone tossed a bouquet at her, and it hit her on the head. Because a photo is just a snapshot in time, we'll never know if she was actually in pain or just joking around, but her face is too funny. She had so much personality.
Total Mom Moment
When Prince Harry stuck his tongue out during the Trooping the Colour ceremony, Diana looked so peeved. Like Kate Middleton, Diana was a very present mother. If that meant scolding her child in public and in front of the press, she would. As fans, though, it's just funny to see Harry mock the cameras in this way. Classic.
Pure Joy
Although she had moments of sternness with her boys, Diana was also definitely the fun mom. She would often play with her kids, sneak them McDonald's food, and take them to theme parks — all very regular things, but not a given for royal children. Look how much fun they're all having on this water ride.
Up To Something
This is the most iconic Princess Diana facial expression. She was known for this kind of shy smile and downcast look that managed to convey a range of emotions. She looks pretty mischievous in this picture, maybe because she was getting away with wearing a necklace as a headband. Nailing this Diana expression was key for the Crown actress Emma Corrin, and she absolutely perfected it.
Uneasy Feeling
The princess looks less than thrilled in this photo, perhaps because it was taken as Hong Kong Governor Chris Patten turned to show her where the press was standing. This was 1995, and Diana had an extremely complicated relationship with the media at this point. More paparazzi following her every move? Of course she wasn't excited.
Troubled
We saw Diana and Charles in a happy moment, and here's them in a not-so-happy moment. This picture was snapped in 1991 as the duo attended a ceremony in Canada. They are clearly very out of sync, with both physical and emotional distance between them. Diana looks super upset, and Charles does, too. No one was a winner in this marriage.
Tearing Up
A 1992 visit to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital left Diana feeling choked up. She did so much great charity worked with chronically ill people or the underserved, we're surprised she could keep it together ever. But this was a rare moment of full-blown crying from the princess. And of course, the photographers were on hand to catch it.
Fit of Giggles
As sad as it is to see a picture of Diana crying, it's wonderful to see the princess in a moment of laughter. This photo was taken in June 1997, only a couple of months before her tragic death. She was so free in that final year of her life — with her marriage over and the ability to just live her life on her own terms. We're glad she had moments of joy like this.
