The photograph of Princess Diana that was used for commemorative stamps featuring her, despite her dislike of her, went on sale almost 40 years later.
The image of Diana, Princess of Wales was taken by photographer Terence Donovan in 1986 and shows her as 25 years old in a purple wrinkled velvet ball gown.
When Diana saw the photo, she reportedly grimaced and expressed disgust.
Despite her known dislike of photography, Royal Mail later chose her as part of a stamp collection to commemorate her after her death in 1997.
Now the seller, who wishes to remain anonymous, is selling a rare, copyrighted portrait photograph for around £15,000.
The photo of Princess Diana, which was used for commemorative stamps despite her dislike of her, is on sale after nearly 40 years.
Diana had a busy year in 1986 as she and Charles toured Japan, Indonesia, Spain and Canada.
She then embarked on a six-day tour of Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia in November 1986.
However, in private, the couple were unhappy in their marriage as both engaged in extramarital affairs.
Charles told his official biographer Jonathan Dimbleby in 1994 that he rekindled his relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles that same year, while Diana’s affair with Army Captain James Hewitt is said to have started around the same time.
The photo was taken in 1986, a busy year for the then 25-year-old Princess of Wales (pictured).
Despite her known dislike of photography, Royal Mail later chose her as part of a stamp collection to commemorate her after her death in 1997.
The image was taken by photographer Terence Donovan, although the copyright was sold to a charity worker in 1990.
A woman who worked for the Society for the Blind in Brighton persuaded Diana to sign the original print during a royal visit to the charity in 1990.
Sarah Lindberg, London-based auction house Bonhams, said: “Terence Donovan photographed Princess Diana three times, once in 1986 and twice in 1987.
“This pose was selected from the first session by the Royal Mail as one of the images in the collection of stamps issued in 1998 to commemorate the life and achievements of the Princess.
When Diana saw the picture taken by photographer Terence Donovan, she reportedly grimaced and expressed disgust.
“It was bought by the current owner directly from the photographer before the visit of the Princess of Wales to the Brighton Society for the Blind in 1990.
“The seller, who worked for the society, was a big admirer of Diana and bought the painting specifically to have it signed.
“When she put it in front of Diana, she grimaced and said: “Oh, I don’t like this photo.”
“She wanted to portray herself as more approachable and I think the photo was too formal for her. However, it is a very effective image.
Princess Diana was then the young mother of Prince William and Prince Harry, although the couple were privately unhappy in their marriage.
“Original signed photographs of Diana by Terence Donovan rarely come up for auction, especially large format copies like this one.
“Diana’s appeal still lingers after her untimely death and people still take a lot of interest in her as a woman.”
A 20″ by 16″ portrait photograph is due for sale tomorrow.
The photograph goes on sale as a never-before-seen portrait of the late princess is exhibited for the first time.
This came weeks after a previously unseen photo of Diana was made public. The photograph, taken in 1988, is part of an exhibition at Kensington Palace dedicated to royal photography.
Life Through a Royal Lens will feature iconic photographs of the royal family over the past 200 years, including a stunning 1988 photograph of Diana by David Bailey.
The black and white photograph, which is part of the Royal Photography Exhibition at Kensington Palace, was taken by celebrity photographer David Bailey in 1988.
It was part of a famous collection commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery but kept by the renowned photographer in his personal archives.
It’s easy to see why Bailey, now 84, treasured this photo so much. He captured the 27-year-old princess in her prime, a young mother of two growing up confident in her role as royalty.