Lady Diana - Princess - Outside the Japan Pavilion - World Exposition, Vancouver - May 03, 1986

Day two (May 03, 1986) of the Royal Visit to Expo 86 Worlds Fair in Vancouver.

My day started early in the morning - by 8 AM I had already checked into the media booth on the Expo sight to get the Route that Lady Di and Prince Charles would walk through during the Expo visit this day. Getting into position an hour ahead of the arrival was imperative - good positions along the walk way entrance to the Japanese Pavilion went fast. Fortunately, because I headed in so early, I made number one position for this part of the Royal's journey.

I remember shaking with anticipation before her arrival. Price Charles didn't really mean that much at the time compared to Lady Di who was the focus of attention. Then it happened so fast. Within 20 to 30 seconds the walk from the escort limo to the pavilion was over.

Lady Diane had a look that she could give you that would make your knees quiver and give way, a look that was so warm and special that one could forget if they had a camera in front of them. To me, it was a special moment. I melted. And sorry, I don't share that photo with anyone. This photo was one of that series of five made on her approach to the Japanese Pavilion - it is an out take, but nice in its own way.

After this encounter, at the entrance, we moved to the back by the HST track behind the Japanese Pavilion, then we would move to the Russian Pavilion for an encounter with the Arabs - it was about this time when Lady Di collapsed from heat exhaustion. But that was the person she was... give everything until she would drop.

I find it hard to believe that 11 years later, that same warm, beautiful person would dislike the media so much (at least the Paparazzi), and that the media would be partly responsible for ending her life.

We all miss you.

The 1986 World Exposition on Transportation and Communication, or simply Expo '86, was a World's Fair held in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada from May 2 until October 13, 1986. The fair, the theme of which was "Transportation and Communication: World in Motion - World in Touch", coincided with Vancouver's centennial and was held on the north shore of False Creek. It was the second time that Canada held a World's Fair, the first being Expo 67 in Montreal (during the Canadian Centennial) which was the most successful world's fair in world history, attracting some 50 million people at a time when Canada's population was only 20 million.