Monday, 2 May 2016

>> Lady Diana, Royal duties

The Princess of Wales attended the State Opening of Parliament for the first time on 4 November 1981. She attended the Trooping the Colour for the first time in June 1982, making her appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace afterwards. Also in 1982, Diana accompanied the Prince of Wales to the Netherlands and was created a Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. In 1983, she accompanied the Prince on a tour of Australia and New Zealand with Prince William, where they met with representatives of the Māori people.

Their visit to Canada in June and July 1983 included a trip to Edmonton to open the 1983 Summer Universiade and a stop in Newfoundland to commemorate the 400th anniversary of that island's acquisition by the Crown.

From left to right, the Prince and Princess of Wales (wearing the Travolta dress), the U.S. First Lady Nancy Reagan, and U.S. President Ronald Reagan in November 1985

In April 1985, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited Italy, and were later joined by Princes William and Harry. They met with President Alessandro Pertini. Their visit to the Holy See included a private audience with Pope John Paul II. In November 1985, the couple visited the United States, meeting President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan at the White House. 1986 was a busy year for Diana. With the Prince of Wales she embarked on a tour of Japan, Indonesia, Spain, and Canada. In Canada they visited Expo 86.

In February 1987, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited Portugal. The visit coincided with the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Windsor (1386). A banquet was held at the Ajuda National Palace. In 1987, they visited Germany and France. In 1988, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited Thailand and toured Australia for the bicentenary celebrations. In 1989, they visited the Arab States of the Persian Gulf. The tour began in Kuwait, where they met with Emir Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Saad Al-Salim Al-Sabah. Diana was presented with gifts, including an elaborate embroidered Bedouin gown. The couple also visited Oman, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates.

In March 1990, she and the Prince of Wales toured Nigeria and Cameroon. The President of Cameroon hosted an official dinner to welcome them in Yaoundé.  In May 1990, they visited Hungary for four days. They attended a dinner hosted by interim President Árpád Göncz and viewed a fashion display at the Museum of Applied Arts in Budapest. In November 1990, the royal couple went to Japan to attend the enthronement of Emperor Akihito.  In 1991, the Princess and Prince of Wales visited Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, where they presented the university with a replica of their royal charter. In September 1991, the Princess visited Pakistan on a solo trip, and went to Brazil with Charles. During their tour in Brazil, Diana visited the orphanage and an Aids Treatment Centre for children and met the Brazilian President Fernando Collor de Mello and First Lady Rosane Collor in Brasília. Her final trips with Charles were to India and South Korea in 1992.

The Prince and Princess of Wales with West German President Richard von Weizsäcker and his wife Marianne in Bonn, 2 November 1987

In 1992, the Princess of Wales visited Egypt.  She was invited to stay at the British Ambassador's villa. She met with President Hosni Mubarak  and toured some of the country's archaeological sites with the Egyptian archaeologist Zahi Hawass.

In February 1995, the Princess visited Japan.  She paid formal visits to Emperor Akihito, Empress Michiko, Crown Prince Naruhito, and Crown Princess Masako. She visited a daycare centre for children with learning difficulties, the Yokohama War Cemetery, and the National Children's Hospital, where she gave the opening line of her speech in Japanese. In June 1995, Diana went to Venice to visit the Venice Biennale art festival. In November 1995, the Princess undertook a four-day trip to Argentina and met with President Carlos Menem and his daughter, Zulemita, for lunch. The Princess visited many other countries, including Belgium, Nepal, Switzerland, and Zimbabwe. Her final official engagement was a visit to Northwick Park Hospital, London, on 21 July 1997.
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