Remembering the day Princess Diana visited Tesco to offer advice on healthy eating
It’s hard to believe that it’s been nearly 25 years since Princess Diana’s life was tragically cut short on that fateful day in late August in Paris.
Everyone remembers where they were when they learned of his death, which left the nation in shock and grief.
A few years earlier, the Princess of Wales had made a memorable first visit to Southport.
September 11, 1990 was an important day for local residents, as Diana graced the area with her presence during an official royal visit.
READ MORE: Queen tests positive for Covid as Buckingham Palace issues statement
Footage unearthed from the time shows Diana strolling through Tesco talking to shoppers and offering healthy eating advice.
Southport Tesco Community Champion Lesley Kirkbride vividly recalled the day to the visitor to Southport in 2016, ECHO reports.
She said: “My son was one of the children who met her. BirthRight was Tesco’s Charity of the Year and we collect cans with Blue Peter.
She added that the Princess had made the effort to speak to all the children: “It was an amazing day. She was brilliant with the children and spoke to them all making reference to William who is the same age as my son .
Julie Keenan said: ‘Yes, I certainly remember meeting her at Tesco. I was the little girl in the baker’s uniform in the store and afterwards she gave us toys and books. It was a beautiful day and fantastic memories.
Two years later, the Princess embarked on another famous visit to Southport where she was seen becoming emotional and bursting into tears after the opening of Queenscourt Hospice in Kew.
She was chatting to a Southport man, Bill Davidson, who was chairman of the organization during the royal visit and campaigned tirelessly for funds to set up the hospice, when she burst into tears.
Jennifer Ruth remembers seeing the princess moments after the emotional display: “I remember the day she opened Queenscourt Hospice, it was also the day of my last GCSE exam.
“I used to live on Guildford Road so my friend and I decided to sit on the garden wall and wait for her to pass on the way back from hospice.
“As we saw the official cars approaching, we prepared to wave.”
Despite the upsetting day, Jennifer says Diana still made sure to wave to those who had come to see her: “We could see that Diana was visibly upset. We hadn’t seen the news as it had just happened moments before, but it was clear that she had been crying or was crying. However, despite this, she still looked up and waved at us. A fantastic memory.
Former Southport Visiter reporter Geoff Wright said: ‘I reported on her visit to Queenscourt with Paul Smith, when she, sadly, but famously, burst into tears, because the people of Southport were shouting from nice comments.
“Our phones never stopped all day from reporters around the world wanting to know the story.”
Susan Stacey said: “I shook her hand when she visited Birkdale School for the Deaf. She was so friendly with everyone.
Sarah Ingleby said: ‘My mum and I went to Woodvale airfield to watch her plane land. There were only a handful of people waiting but she waved at all of us as her car drove off.
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