At just 27 years old, the Princess visited the town in September 1988 to champion a major charity appeal for Great Ormond Street Hospital and to celebrate the local arts scene.
The royal visit began at Poole Hospital, where Diana officially launched the Dorset Candle Light appeal. The campaign was part of a national drive aimed at raising £100,000 for the children’s hospital by selling 140,000 candles.
During her time at the hospital’s Postgraduate Medical Centre, Diana showed her trademark warmth, kneeling down to speak eye-to-eye with young patients who had been treated at Great Ormond Street.
Twelve-year-old Rachel O’Rourke recalled the Princess asking caring questions about her health, while seven-year-old Rebecca Saunders enjoyed a long chat after presenting her with a posy.
Another local youngster, Charlie Syer from Sturminster Newton, had the honour of handing Diana a taper to light a giant ceremonial candle.
Following the hospital visit, Diana spent a joyous hour at the Poole Arts Centre, now known as Lighthouse, to mark its 10th anniversary.
Guided by the centre’s director, Tony Covell—who noted how much she clearly enjoyed the day—her tour included several delightful stops.
She listened to the Bournemouth Sinfonietta rehearse Handel’s Arrival of the Queen of Sheba and stopped at a children’s fun shop to chat with 12-year-old Kelly Lumber about ponies, sharing stories about Prince Harry’s love for riding.
As patron of the London City Ballet, the Princess also observed an educational workshop with Purbeck School pupils.
She then watched Corfe Hills School students rehearse the “Take Back Your Mink” number from Guys and Dolls, cheerfully admitting to the teens that she had never seen the show.
The visit wrapped up with an impromptu public walkabout and the presentation of local mementos by Mayor Kevin Chaffey’s children, Hattie and Martin.
Diana’s connection to the local area extended beyond this single day.
In 1987, she opened Homelife House in Bournemouth as patron of Help the Aged.
Later, in 1991, she arrived via helicopter to visit the North Bournemouth Family Centre and the Anglo European College of Chiropractic.
During the latter visit, she famously sat down with 70-year-old patient Geoffrey Gibbs and candidly discussed her own struggles with back pain, joking that her tall stature didn’t help.
Ultimately, Diana’s immense popularity had a profound impact on the community.
Her support for the 1988 Dorset Candle Light appeal helped shatter its £100,000 goal, bringing in an incredible £300,000.
As Lady Dione Digby, president of the appeal, reflected after the Princess’s tragic death in 1997, it was a true measure of her enormous popularity that they raised as much as they did.