When Diana turned thousands of Americans into ‘avid royalists’: Princess’s 1989 solo trip to New York was a huge success – so will Prince Harry’s visit without Meghan be a triumph too?

It was a trip that captured the hearts of sceptical Americans, and made Princess Diana more popular than ever across the pond.

The late Princess of Wales‘s three-day visit to New York City in 1989 – her first overseas engagement without her husband Prince Charles – was a huge success.

The Daily Mail reported at the time that the tour ‘enchanted hardened New Yorkers and turned thousands of ordinary Americans into avid royalists.’ 

Diana embraced a dying young AIDS patient, visited a housing project for homeless people and wowed at a glamorous gala dinner. 

At the weekend Prince Harry followed in his mother’s footsteps by arriving in the city without his wife Meghan Markle for a series of engagements.  

He will be attending events with African Parks, The HALO Trust and The Diana Award, among others. 

Princess Diana greets crowds during a visit to the AIDS unit of Harlem Hospital in New York in 1989

The late Princess of Wales on her first night of her solo trip to New York in 1989

Diana used her trip to build her own independence and work on humanitarian causes she was passionate about, while also having fun.

After arriving on Concorde, she had to be escorted into Manhattan by an armed SWAT squad in a convoy made up of ten cars due to threats of an IRA protest. 

Thousands of people lined up to welcome the Princess, with her arrival receiving ‘more media attention than a meeting of world leaders’.

She kicked off her visit with a glamorous appearance at a party for Dawson International, a Scottish clothing company. 

The Princess wore a classy blue and black dress, paired with a patent clutch bag and a single string of pearls. 

At the weekend Prince Harry followed in his mother’s footsteps by arriving in the city without his wife Meghan Markle for a series of engagements. Above: The Duke of Sussex seated alongside outgoing Belgian prime minister Alexander De Croo at a dinner organised by the World Health Organisation in New York on Sunday

Princess Diana meets royal fans at the Henry Street Settlement in New York City, 1989

Princess Diana during a visit to a day care centre in Harlem with the former First Lady of New York, Matilda Cuomo

The princess talking to a child in Henry Street Settlement during her solo trip in 1989

A man holding up a cardboard placard with the words, ‘Bless you Princess Di in Jesus name’ at Harlem Hospital

Princess Diana walking through the Henry Street Settlement in New York in 1989

The following day, another crowd of people waited to greet Diana when she arrived to the Henry Street Settlement – a housing project for homeless people – on the Lower East Side. 

While she was there, Diana visited a day care centre with the First Lady of New York, Matilda Cuomo.

In the evening, Diana wore a glamorous gown by Victor Edelstein to a gala dinner for the Brooklyn Academy of Music. 

However, the Mail reported how actor Michael Douglas failed to show up, mirroring another royal snub twelve months earlier when he didn’t accompany Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, to a theatrical workshop. 

Aside from glittering parties, Diana’s most notable part of her visit was in Harlem, when she hugged a seven-year-old boy who was dying of AIDS.

Diana during the ‘Winter Garden’ Opera gala for the Brooklyn Academy of Music 

The princesses returned to New York many times and often stayed at The Carlyle Hotel, pictured here in 1997

Prince William, following his mother’s footsteps, visiting New York with Kate in 2014

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at an awards ceremony in New York City in 2023

Dr Margaret Heagarty, the head of the paediatric unit at Harlem Hospital, said at the time: ‘She is a wonderful person – kind, compassionate and very sensitive.’

She shook hands with the princess and told her: ‘By coming here today, you have given this hospital and our poor community an enormous uplift.’

Diana’s impact on the AIDS ward was profound, a man in the hospital even held a cardboard placard with the words, ‘Bless you Princess Di in Jesus name’.

Everywhere Diana went she was greeted by hoards of people wanting to catch a glimpse of royalty. 

She produced a reaction so noticeable that she was even dubbed ‘Queen of New York,’ by the Mail. 

Diana would go on to visit the city several times afterwards.  

A favourite place to stay was The Carlyle Hotel. She was there in December 1995, when she visited New York for a charity dinner.

She returned to the hotel in June 1997, when she met Mother Teresa in the city.   

The front page of the Daily Mail on February 3 reports how Diana was snubbed by Michael Douglas

A clipping from February 4 about Diana hugging a child with AIDS at Harlem Hospital during her solo trip

In December 2014, Prince William stopped at The Carlyle Hotel during a visit to New York with his wife Kate.  

During Harry’s own trip to the Big Apple, he will be paying tribute to his mother at the 25th anniversary of The Diana Award. 

The organisation posted a statement from the CEO Dr Tessy Ojo: ‘In our 25th year, The Diana Award is delighted to be leading an event with Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex in New York this September. 

‘The event will be driven by young people and their insights on the biggest issues facing their generation today.’ 

It was initially speculated that Harry’s brother, Prince William, could also be in the city at the same time for the third annual Earthshot Prize Innovation Summit.

However, it has been confirmed that the heir to the throne won’t be making the journey overseas.