“Photographer Admits: ‘I Hid in a Bush to Capture Pregnant Princess Diana in a Bikini’ —
Says It’s the One Shot He Deeply Regrets: ‘I Crossed a Line That Should Never Be Crossed’”

London, United Kingdom —
In a rare and emotionally charged confession, a former royal paparazzo has opened up about the one photograph he says still haunts him decades later — a stolen image of Princess Diana, visibly pregnant and in a bikini, taken without her consent as she vacationed abroad in the early 1980s.

Now retired, the photographer — who requested partial anonymity but is known in media circles — revealed in a tell-all interview that he “hid in a bush for hours” just to get the exclusive shot of a vulnerable and unaware Diana, who was pregnant at the time with Prince William.

“It was one of the most intrusive things I ever did,” he said.
“I did it for money, for the headline — and I’ve regretted it ever since.”

📸 THE PHOTO THAT NEVER SHOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN

The image in question was never officially sanctioned. It showed a young, expecting Princess Diana, dressed in a modest bikini, enjoying what should have been a private moment during a holiday. At the time, she was barely in her twenties and newly adjusting to life under the relentless microscope of royal fame.

The photo was published in several European tabloids and later reprinted in U.S. and Australian outlets. The British press, however, refrained — either by editorial choice or palace pressure.

“I remember the editor calling it a ‘golden shot,’” the photographer recalled.
“But I remember Diana’s eyes in that photo. She looked peaceful. She had no idea.”

💔 A MOMENT THAT CHANGED EVERYTHING

The release of the image ignited a firestorm of criticism, not just toward tabloids but toward the ethics of royal coverage itself.

At the time, public sympathy toward Diana — already growing — reached new heights. Palace insiders said she was deeply upset by the invasion, calling it “a betrayal of dignity.”

“She wasn’t just a public figure. She was a young, pregnant woman who deserved privacy,” one former royal aide said.
“It was cruel. There’s no other word.”

🧠 THE PAPARAZZI’S REGRET: “I LOST A PIECE OF MYSELF THAT DAY”

In the years since Diana’s tragic death in 1997 — itself tied, in part, to being chased by paparazzi in Paris — many photographers who once hounded her have gone silent. But this particular image, the photographer says, “crossed a moral line” that he cannot undo.

“I’ve photographed presidents, rock stars, royals… But this?
It wasn’t journalism. It was predation.”

Now in his sixties, the photographer says he has refused to sell or license that photo ever again, even as some tabloid buyers have offered “five figures” for its reprint.

👑 THE LEGACY OF DIANA & THE COST OF FAME

Princess Diana was often described as the most photographed woman in the world, but her relationship with the media was always complicated. She could command the lens, but was also brutally hunted by it.

This story adds to the growing archive of moments where the line between coverage and exploitation was not just blurred — it was erased.

“She gave the world so much. We gave her so little privacy in return,” the photographer reflected.

💬 PUBLIC REACTION: PAINFUL BUT NECESSARY CONVERSATION

After excerpts of the interview surfaced online, social media exploded with both condemnation and cautious praise:

• “He should’ve apologized sooner — but at least he owns it now.”
• “This is why Diana was so beloved. Even now, she’s teaching us about respect and humanity.”
• “If only the cameras loved her less. Maybe she’d still be here.”

🕊️ FINAL THOUGHT: AN APOLOGY LONG OVERDUE

While an apology cannot undo the hurt, this rare admission from someone who once stalked royalty for a living serves as a powerful reminder:

📸 Behind every photo is a choice. And behind every lens is a human being — capable of conscience, or cruelty.

“I wish I could take it back,” the photographer said quietly.
“But maybe telling the truth now — maybe that’s a start.”