Princess Diana's brother shares 'deeply poignant' unseen photo of his late sister

An unseen photo of Princess Diana (pictured in 1985) has been shared by her brother. (Getty Images)
An unseen photo of Princess Diana (pictured in 1985) has been shared by her brother. (Getty Images)

Princess Diana's brother Charles Spencer has shared an unseen old family photo showing his late father and sister.

The 9th Earl Spencer, 58, was praised by royal fans after he posted the "deeply poignant" image to Instagram.

In the picture, taken in 1989, he and his late sister can be seen sat either side of their father John Spencer not long after his 65th birthday.

He passed away in 1992, while the princess – his youngest daughter – died in a car crash in 1997 aged 36.

Charles Spencer (pictured in 2020) was praised by royal fans for sharing the
Charles Spencer (pictured in 2020) was praised by royal fans for sharing the "beautiful" old family photo. (Getty Images)

The princess, who was by then a mother-of-two and still married to Prince Charles, can be seen in the image wearing an asymmetric beaded dress.

According to Tatler, it had been created by Japanese designer Hachi for her first official tour of the Commonwealth in 1983.

Read more: When and why did Charles and Diana divorce?

She then went on to wear the floor-length dress on a state visit to Washington in 1985, two James Bond film premieres in 1983 and 1989, and for a Vanity Fair shoot with Mario Testino just before her death.

Captioning the photo, the earl wrote: "Today is All Souls Day – when it’s customary to remember the souls of those you love, who’ve departed: it is known in some parts of the world as the Day of the Dead.

The 9th Earl Spencer is Princess Diana's only brother (pictured in 1985). (Getty Images)
The 9th Earl Spencer is Princess Diana's only brother (pictured in 1985). (Getty Images)
The princess' father John Spencer walked her down the aisle in 1981. (Getty Images)
The princess' father John Spencer walked her down the aisle in 1981. (Getty Images)

"A deeply poignant photograph for me from the summer of 1989, when there was a party at Althorp to mark my father’s 65th birthday earlier that year."

The image has received more than 23,000 'likes', with many social media users remarking on how they had never seen the "beautiful" photo before.

Read more: Kate continues honouring Diana with another very similar outfit

One person wrote: "Unseen photo? Such a lovely family. We miss her a lot."

Another wrote: "A beautiful photograph. Diana looks radiant and that smile. I do miss her."

Several also pointed out the earl's likeness to his sister's son Prince William and grandson Prince George.

Watch: The Crown handled Princess Diana's death in a deeply caring way, says Elizabeth Debicki