Princess Diana’s Unexpected Remarks Following the Disclosure of Her 1985 “Uptown Girl” Dance

Princess Diana responded to applause after her “Uptown Girl” performance for King Charles nearly 40 years ago in a new book, Dancing With Diana: A Memoir. 

Dancer and ballet mistress Anne Allan reflects on the intimate sessions Diana received from 1981 to 1989, sparking a close bond and providing an outlet for her struggles, including her battle with bulimia and increasing unhappiness in her marriage to Charles.

Princess Diana performed the choreography with her friend Wayne Sleep

A section of the candid new memoir recalls Diana’s decision to take her husband by surprise by performing a dance to Billy Joel’s “Uptown Girl” live on stage during a charitable function held in December 1985 at the London Royal Opera House. 

Prince Charles was said to be unimpressed with the three-minute routine, but Princess Diana and her friend, the famous British dancer Wayne Sleep, performed the choreography as a special surprise for him.

The failed surprise was eventually memorialized in season four of Netflix’s The Crown, and Allan observed the future King’s cold reaction firsthand.

Allan said “She just wanted him to be thrilled, When you feel that somebody doesn’t love you, that has an effect on you. She kept thinking that there was love there and that there would be love there. And I’m sure there was.” 

The audience loved the storytelling

Allan has rarely spoken about her time with Diana, and this is what she said when the curtains closed at the Royal Opera House.

Diana entered the stage with a confident jazz strut, causing a thunderous applause from the audience. She was choreographed to stop for two bars of music, look at the audience, give jazz shoulder rolls, and continue with jazz slides to see if the Downtown Boy was following. 

Diana’s favorite moment was placing her hands on Wayne’s head, pushing him down into a kneeling position, and kicking one of her legs high over his head. The audience loved the storytelling of the move.

The dancing couple walked back out for their curtain calls and had to take many until Wayne thought that was enough. 

Diana, after a final bow, surprised Wayne and Allan by saying “Beats the wedding.”

As they approached Charles’ reception area, they passed numerous audience members who congratulated her. 

As Diana approached Charles, she desperately wanted his approval. He said “Well done, darling” and turned to talk with someone else, causing a sense of disapproval and causing a heart thud.

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