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Witness History

Princess Diana at the Taj Mahal

Witness History

BBC

History, Personal Journals, Society & Culture

4.41.6K Ratings

🗓️ 10 May 2024

⏱️ 10 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In 1992, a photograph of Princess Diana alone on a bench in front of the Taj Mahal became one of the most famous photos in the world.

Anwar Hussein was a photographer who documented the lives of the British royal family. His first visit to the Taj Mahal was to photograph Prince Charles in 1980.

He tells Gill Kearsley about his relationship with the royal family and about taking the iconic photograph.

(Photo: Princess Diana alone outside the Taj Mahal. Credit: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images)

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix,

0:06.0

the Science of Happiness Podcast.

0:08.0

For the last 20 years I've dedicated my career to exploring the science of living a happier more meaningful life and I want

0:14.4

to share that science with you.

0:16.1

And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley.

0:19.4

I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that

0:25.4

calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds. Hello and welcome to the Witness History Podcast from the BBC World Service with me Jill

0:40.5

Kursley.

0:42.6

We're going back to 1992 and the story of a princess, an Indian palace and a photograph.

0:51.0

The photograph is a princess Diana alone on a bench in front of the Taj Mahal.

0:57.0

She was wearing a purple skirt and a plain cream-colored blouse under a bright red jacket. It was a photograph that would be talked

1:04.8

about for years to come. It was a magnificent superb photograph. She knew

1:10.1

exactly what she was doing. It was this lonely tragic figure who had been

1:14.7

betrayed by her husband who was 12 years older than her. It was a brilliant photo

1:19.9

opportunity and my gosh she she milked it for all it was worth. That's Royal

1:25.4

writer Brian Hoi talking to BBC TV in 2006. Anwar Hussein captured the image.

1:35.0

Anwar was born in Tanzania, then known as Tanganyika,

1:40.0

and moved to England when he was 22, bringing his camera with him.

1:45.2

He started taking photos for news and showbiz stories, then decided he'd like to

1:50.3

specialise in royal photography, but came across some opposition.

1:55.0

One or two photographers were there who were all dressed up and I used casual dress.

2:01.0

Some of the photographers say you can never be a royal photographer,

...

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