Hello and welcome to this episode of The Witness History Podcast on BBC World Service.

It's 25 years since the death of Princess Diana, who was killed in a car crash in an

underground tunnel in central Paris on the 31st of August 1997.

She was one of the most famous and glamorous women in the world, a mega star.

In this program, first broadcast in 2011, Kirstie Reed hears how the biggest celebrities

in the world love Diana's company, and she loves theirs.

This is the story of the night she danced with the star of Saturday Night Fever, John Travolta.

Washington DC, 1985, and the United States is experiencing a touch of royal fever.

It was glamorous night at the White House, Mrs. Reagan was in charge of who stood where,

but there was only one star on this stage.

The princess's new evening gown of Midnight Blue Velvet was complemented by a choker

of pearls with the centerpiece of a stunning sapphire.

On their first evening in Washington, President Ronald Reagan held a gala dinner for the royal

couple at the White House, and the young Princess Diana, 24 years old at the time, played her

part.

She was always enraptured with show-busy-type, slightic centric, people slightly quirky.

Diana was in her element.

James Whitaker was royal correspondent for the Daily Mirror in 1985.

He was part of the press pack there to watch the Hollywood stars arriving.

I mean, you had Clint Eastwood, you had John Travolta, of course, you had Berishnikov,

the wonderful ballet dancer.

Tom Seleck was there.

...