Imagine getting a call from Kensington Palace. That’s exactly what happened to dance instructor and choreographer Anne Allan. At first, she thought it was a prank. “They said, ‘The princess would like to take dance lessons,’” she revealed to Closer. “There was a moment of disbelief. I couldn’t believe this was real.”
In her new memoir, Dancing With Diana, Anne, who once taught at the prestigious English National Ballet, shares the intimate story of her close bond with Diana Spencer, who became her student in 1981—the same year she married into the royal family. “We connected on a deep level,” Anne recalls. “We could be brutally honest with each other. That’s what she cherished most. There was no pretense. We just had real conversations.”
When you met Diana in person, she was even more breathtaking than her photos could capture. “Her eyes were an extraordinary shade of blue,” Anne reminisces. “She was incredibly shy at first, almost embarrassed, but you could feel her warmth radiating through. Her kindness was genuine—it was like magic.”
Read also:Behind The Scenes Of The Sound Of Music A Journey Through Filmmaking Challenges And Friendships
A Decade of Dancing: Princess Diana’s Private Lessons
For nearly a decade, Anne and Diana met weekly for private dance classes. Diana, who had studied ballet as a child, was an exceptional student. “She put so much effort into mastering the techniques and building her strength,” Anne explains. “But the real joy came when she felt comfortable enough to let loose and move freely. Watching her find pure joy in dancing was priceless.”
Life events brought them closer together. Not long after Anne had her own baby, Diana became pregnant with Prince William. This shared experience deepened their friendship. Eventually, Diana opened up about the challenges in her marriage to Prince Charles. “She loved him deeply and wanted the marriage to succeed,” Anne says. “She did everything in her power to make it work.”
This included a pivotal confrontation with Camilla Parker-Bowles, Charles’ mistress, at a party in the 1980s. “Diana knew what people were saying,” Anne explains. “That confrontation, where she asked Camilla to give her marriage a chance, was a turning point for Diana moving forward.”
The Struggles Behind the Spotlight
Diana faced numerous personal battles, including bulimia. For a while, Anne noticed Diana losing weight but didn’t suspect an eating disorder. “I thought she was under immense pressure,” Anne admits. “It was hard for her to open up because she felt so much shame. But recognizing the issue was the first step toward healing.”
Over the years, Anne witnessed Diana’s transformation from an insecure young princess into a confident global philanthropist. “I saw her change physically,” Anne says. “She carried herself differently—head held higher, shoulders relaxed, and a newfound poise and confidence.”
In 1989, Anne received a call from the palace canceling her lessons with Diana. She believes it was the royals’ way of quelling rumors about Diana and Charles’ troubled marriage. “I was upset. I would never divulge anything private,” Anne says.
Read also:The Gilded Age Season 3 Exploring Divorce Drama And Societys Evolution
Diana’s Legacy Lives On
Diana’s tragic death 27 years ago left Anne heartbroken, but she continues to honor the woman she knew. “The moment she stepped offstage after her debut performance—it was exhilarating,” Anne remembers fondly. “She was thrilled to have fulfilled a childhood dream.”
