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Vintage Chicago Tribune: Princess Diana’s visit to Chicago in 1996

kori rumore, marianne mather, chicago tribune
·4 min read

Princess Diana hit the ground running on her first — and only — visit to our city in 1996, Chicago.

Her priority was clear — to raise money and awareness for the plight of cancer victims. In just 46 hours, she helped raise more than $1 million for cancer charities here and in London.

On her first day, Princess Diana spoke at a breast cancer symposium at Northwestern University in the morning, toured Cook County Hospital’s trauma unit, children’s emergency room and pediatric intensive care unit in the afternoon, then attended a black-tie fundraising dinner with dancing — her first dance with talk show host Phil Donahue — at the Field Museum. The epic affair rivaled the Bulls’ first game in the NBA Finals against the Seattle SuperSonics at the United Center.

The princess died 25 years ago, but her whirlwind tour of Evanston and Chicago is commemorated with a simple marker outside University Hall on Northwestern’s campus.

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— Kori Rumore, visual reporter

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‘It was Princess Diana. It was great fun!’: Q&A with a former Northwestern president on her 1996 Chicago visit

During a phone interview Monday, Northwestern University president emeritus Henry Bienen shared his reflections on the princess’s 46-hour visit, the one part of Diana’s trip his wife will never let him forget, and why he just might be the right person to convince Northwestern grad Meghan Markle — Diana’s daughter-in-law and Duchess of Sussex — to visit campus. Read more.

‘Princess Di arrived in Chi and the town went gaga’

For her first stop, the princess visited Northwestern University in Evanston “after alighting from her first-class cocoon on British Airways,” the Tribune reported.

Speaking at a campus symposium on breast cancer she told the crowd, “Whilst few of us may be able to pioneer a new form of surgery or test a new drug, we can support those who do. We can raise money. ... and work in other ways.” Read more.

Di proves there is another game in town

Yes, the Chicago Bulls defeated the Seattle SuperSonics at the United Center in Game 1 of the 1996 NBA Finals on June 5, 1996, but Princess Diana’s visit to the city meant philanthropy went head-to-head with sports. Who would win — a charity ball or the ball game?

“It was an A-night for the A-list, from Chicago and beyond,” the Tribune reported. “A chance to play dressup with a princess. The photogenic Diana of Wales, raising $1.4 million for three cancer charities, drew a full house, 1,300, for dinner and dancing at the Field Museum of Natural History, lit with candles and pink spotlights and converted, for the evening, into ‘A Chicago Garden.’” Read more.

Mike Royko’s take: ‘Yes, the princess is against cancer, but who isn’t?’

Tribune columnist Mike Royko didn’t understand the hype surrounding Princess Diana’s visit to Chicago.

“It might be different if we were being visited by someone such as Henry VIII,” he wrote. “I would hurry downtown to interview a horny king who kept dumping wives or having them bumped off.” Read more.

‘Diana aces her Chicago test’

“Despite a seven-hour flight from London, she emerged immaculately unwrinkled and unruffled, serenely greeting flush-faced fans pressing against ropes, waving off attendants who were urging her to move on,” the Tribune reported.

“That suggests two more princessy job skills: schmoozing and admiring. Princess Di excels at both. Working with crowds, she found people from England, hugged kids, received flowers — then stood gamely in a misty rain while her host showed her a sculpture resembling a large stone with a hole in it.” Read more.

‘In NU’s year to Di for, everything comes up roses’

The princess’s visit seemed to elevate the status of Northwestern University on the world stage.

“Of course, Princess Diana’s glitzy visit wasn’t the only extraordinary event that has drawn Northwestern into the spotlight this year: There was the near-Rose Bowl victory in January, the ultimate Cinderella story for a sports team,” the Tribune reported. Read more.

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Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Ron Grossman and Marianne Mather at rgrossman@chicagotribune.com and mmather@chicagotribune.com.