The Royalist - The day Diana got a little too close

The day Diana got a little too close

Written by Joanne Leyland

Saturday, 29 October 2005

Diana, Princess of Wales famously enjoyed a hands-on approach with the public, but it wasn't always such a wise move. Oh for the days when expensive gloves were mandatory for every royal lady!

Officials at the highest level often spend many weeks and a not inconsequential amount of money preparing a town for a royal visit. Gardens are given a makeover, the streets are cleared of litter. Indeed, Prince Charles has complained that wherever he goes thereâ€™s a smell of fresh paint.

But life as a Royal isn't always quite so appealing, as a young Diana discovered on a tour of Australia in 1983.

As was her way, Diana didn't fail to spot the little boy surrounded by excited adults and immediately wandered over and bent down to speak to him. As she did so she showed her usual tactile manner by running her hand through the child's hair. Diana asked the boy why he wasn't at school, possibly expecting the standard reply that he'd been given the day off to see her.

She couldn't have been more wrong! The cheeky chap's answer?

"I was sent home because I've got head lice".

We can only hope the person Diana shook hands with next didn't vow never to wash their hand again!