Princess Diana and Prince Charles were on a royal tour to the US in November 1985, when Presdient Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan hosted a banquet for them at the White House. When dinner guest John Travolta whirled the Princess across the dance floor in her midnight-blue gown that evening, the pictures became a worldwide sensation. The movie star recalled the momentous evening when he spoke Tina Brown for her 2007 biography “The Diana Chronicles”.
Mr Travolta said: “She was so charismatic and full of presence, like a movie star.”
He told Ms Brown how the First Lady, Nancy Reagan, tapped him on the shoulder at about 9pm during the dinner.
She said: “Look, there’s only one wish that the Princess has. That’s to dance with you. Would you do the honours?”
He replied “Yes! Where? How? When?”
The iconic moment in 1985 (Image: Getty)
Princess Diana and John Travolta at the White House banquet (Image: Getty)
Mrs Reagan told him “Around midnight. I will tap you on the shoulder and tell you it’s time.”
Mr Travolta commented: “It was clearly planned. I knew it would be an attention-grabbing moment and I had three hours to sweat.”
He relived the iconic dance, telling Ms Brown: “I try to recall Diana dancing with Charles.
“I’m six feet tall. I think with heels she’s probably my height. Tall woman, and slender – so the illusion is tall.
Princess Diana's velvet evening gown sold for £240,000 in 2013 (Image: Getty)
Prince Chalres and Princess Diana with Ronald and Nancy Reagan (Image: Getty)
“I go back in my mind to my formal ballroom-dancing schooldays. I’m remembering all the tricks.
“The tap on the shoulder comes. My heart starts to race.
