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Remembering Princess Diana's royal visits to Melbourne

Every time the Prince and Princess of Wales visited Melbourne, Princess Diana was the clear favourite with the crowds who greeted them. Here's a look at what the couple did when in town, from visiting Altona to opening Bourke St mall.

A history of Melbourne

Back in the 1980s, Princes Charles and Princess Diana were at the peak of their popularity.

But it was the young princess who seemed to win the most hearts during the royal couple’s visits to Victoria.

The couple came to Victoria in 1983 after the Ash Wednesday fires, with Charles and Diana visiting Cockatoo on March 25, 1983.

The Cockatoo Rural Fire presented the Prince with a helmet.

Princes Charles and Princess Diana greeted by crowds at Paisley housing estate in Altona.
Princes Charles and Princess Diana greeted by crowds at Paisley housing estate in Altona.
The couple visiting Paisley housing estate, Altona, and meeting Glenda McCormack with baby Dean.
The couple visiting Paisley housing estate, Altona, and meeting Glenda McCormack with baby Dean.

The pair officially opened the Bourke St mall, with thousands watching.

The opening of the Bourke Street Mall by the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1983. PICTURE: NORM OORLOFF
The opening of the Bourke Street Mall by the Prince and Princess of Wales in 1983. PICTURE: NORM OORLOFF
1983. Paul Hogan meets Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
1983. Paul Hogan meets Prince Charles and Princess Diana.
April 1983. Princess Diana meets John Farnham after a performance at the Melbourne Concert Hall.
April 1983. Princess Diana meets John Farnham after a performance at the Melbourne Concert Hall.

The couple met local celebs at the Melbourne Concert Hall, including Paul Hogan and John Farnham.

Charles and Diana made their second visit to Victoria together in October and November 1985 for the end of Victoria’s 150th anniversary celebrations.

Three weeks before the royal tour, Victorian Governor Sir Brian Murray was forced by the Cain government to resign after he and his wife accepted $15,000 in free travel from an airline.

The row at one stage threatened to derail the visit, but it was all forgotten when Charles and Diana touched down at Tullamarine on October 23.

Vast crowds gathered at public appearances as the couple toured the state.

As always, Victorians flocked for a chance to briefly run shoulders with royalty, and the prince and princess obliged by chatting with admirers and accepting gifts during impromptu street walks.

Princess Diana meets a group of small children in Melbourne in October 1985. Picture: Tim Graham/Corbis
Princess Diana meets a group of small children in Melbourne in October 1985. Picture: Tim Graham/Corbis

Princess Diana’s natural charm is obvious in this picture, in which she accepts a posey from the crowd and chats to several little girls in their best dresses, one clutching an Australian flag.

Charles and Diana even attended the Melbourne Cup at Flemington on November 5.

Did you see the royals when they came to Melbourne?  Tell us below.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles share a joke with businessman John Elliott at the Melbourne Cup, during their Royal Tour of Australia in 1985
Princess Diana and Prince Charles share a joke with businessman John Elliott at the Melbourne Cup, during their Royal Tour of Australia in 1985

There, Princes Charles opened the Princes of Wales stand, named in his honour.

The royal couple dined on a Victorian-themed banquet named the Garden State Basket and they watched Pat Hyland ride What A Nuisance to victory.

Charles and Diana danced together at a function at the Southern Cross Hotel, thrilling onlookers with a glimpse of what we all believed was a fairytale romance.

In colour: Princess Diana in Flemington for the Melbourne Cup.
In colour: Princess Diana in Flemington for the Melbourne Cup.
Charles and Diana dance at the Southern Cross Hotel. Picture: Supplied
Charles and Diana dance at the Southern Cross Hotel. Picture: Supplied

At a rock concert hosted by Molly Meldrum 15,000 screaming teenagers gave Prince Charles and Princess Diana a riotous greeting  at the Melbourne Concert Hall.

January 27, 1988: Diana waves to the crowd during her visit to the Footscray Park. Picture: AFP
January 27, 1988: Diana waves to the crowd during her visit to the Footscray Park. Picture: AFP
Princess Diana dances with Charles at Bicentennial Ball in Melbourne during their 1988 tour.
Princess Diana dances with Charles at Bicentennial Ball in Melbourne during their 1988 tour.

The Princes and Princess of Wales returned to Victoria once more as a couple in 1988 as part of their bicentenary tour of Australia.

The royal couple divorced in 1996 and Princess Diana was killed in a car accident in Paris in 1997.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/intimate-1985-image-shows-princess-dianas-warmth-as-she-meets-kids-in-melbourne/news-story/2c9fb6f203dd3b65a64e8e60282ebb3d