Princess Diana's 60th birthday: When she visited Hereford

Her untimely death in 1997 sent shockwaves through the nation, and today, almost 25 years on, she is still remembered fondly by many as the People's Princess.

Here we look back on when she visited Hereford. 

Some 36 years ago (Thursday, April 9), the streets were lined with wellwishers, creating a carnival atmosphere for the Prince and Princess of Wales, then at the height of their popularity as a glamorous royal couple.

They had come to attend the launch of the £1million Hereford Cathedral restoration appeal.

In a souvenir edition of the Hereford Times after the visit in 1985, reporters said how people crammed the city centre in their thousands for a glimpse of the couple. Many arrived hours beforehand to secure prime vantage points.

Children were perched precariously on window ledges at the town hall while other onlookers craned out of upper floor windows for a better view.

The Prince and Princess chatted briefly with sightseers by the cathedral and later – with their official duties complete – they went on a “walkabout” between the town hall and shire hall.

It was particularly special for one five-year-old, who was kissed twice by Princess Diana. Minutes after the royal helicopter landed, Kelly Bowerman ran forward from the crowd where she was standing with her mother, clutching a posy of flowers.

After a nudge from Prince Charles, the Princess immediately turned, took the posy and kissed Kelly on both cheeks.

The Princess, in an electric blue matching outfit, declined the offer of a sweet from Elizabeth Arnold, of Clehonger. She had attended the visit with her 84-year-old mother Elizabeth, and mother-in-law Sara Davies, and they were lucky enought to speak to the Princess.

Soft toy maker Shirley Hookham of Woolhope gave the Prince a blue-and-white Easter rabbit for his youngest son.

Prince Harry was less than 12 months old at the time after his birth in September 1984, and his father quipped: “He’s bound to be sick on it.”

The royal couple divorced in 1996, and Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997. She was mourned by millions around the world.

• Can you spot yourself or someone you know if one of our photographs? We would love to share your memories of that day. Email news@herefordtimes.com, adding ‘Charles and Diana’ to the subject line.