What would the world think if it had emerged that America's most eligible bachelor had met the world's most famous princess in a luxury hotel suite? JFK Jr knew all too well what the tabloid headlines would have screamed if word had got out of his secret meeting with Princess Diana at the Carlyle Hotel in 1995 - so the stakes were high.
The behind-the-scenes drama was a major talking point at HELLO!’s landmark first US live event at the Moxy NYC Chelsea. A crowd of royal fans joined A Right Royal Podcast hosts Emily Nash, Andrea Caamano and Emmy Griffiths for an exclusive live taping, going home with luxury goodie bags packed with beauty must-haves from No.7, TRESemmé, Nexxus, and Kiehl's.
Scroll down to watch the full podcast episode.
Joining our hosts to discuss the fraught logistics of that afternoon was RoseMarie Terenzio, JFK Jr's close confidante and author of Fairy Tale Interrupted and JFK Jr.: An Intimate Oral Biography. She recalled how John's chief concern was keeping the press from turning a professional pitch into a "tawdry" tabloid tale. The actual purpose of the meeting was incredibly straightforward: John was gearing up to launch his lifestyle magazine George, and wanted the Princess of Wales to star on its cover.
Protecting his romance with Carolyn Bessette
Both John and Diana had their reasons for wanting to avoid false romance rumours. While the public still viewed John as the world's ultimate bachelor, he was actually already off the market - secretly engaged to his future wife, Carolyn Bessette.
Meanwhile Diana was in the midst of her own highly publicised marital limbo. Having separated from Prince Charles in 1992, she was still a year away from finalising her divorce. With the global press tracking her every move, the last thing she needed was to be linked to a Kennedy.
"The reason why I went was that the whole thing was basically like, they didn't want a rumour started that they were having an affair, or there was something tawdry going on at The Carlyle," RoseMarie explained to the live audience.
Thinking he might be seen by the press, John insisted that RoseMarie accompany him to the hotel. "John said, 'Well, if you come with me... if I do get spotted, it won't look as [strange], it'll look more professional.'"
Before settling on their final plan, RoseMarie and Diana's team brainstormed several ideas to keep the meeting under wraps - including disguises. "We had come up with so many scenarios," RoseMarie laughed. "We were going to dress him in costume to go into The Carlyle in disguise."
© Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty ImagesUltimately, they decided against putting John in a wig, opting instead for a clever double-bluff. Guessing that the paparazzi would be staking out the side doors of The Carlyle, assuming Diana would try to slip out privately, RoseMarie suggested that they should walk straight through the front entrance on Madison Avenue.
The gamble paid off. While John went upstairs to Diana's private suite - seemingly undetected by the press - RoseMarie waited downstairs. "People were staring at me curiously as to why I was sitting in the lobby with no one else around," she recalled. "So I made believe I was on the payphone. I was talking to no one!"
Thanks to the meticulous planning between RoseMarie and Diana's personal secretary Patrick Jephson, the meeting flew completely under the radar. "We pulled off the biggest caper in New York City at the time, and no one knew," RoseMarie smiled. "If Patrick and I were in the same room, we would have toasted a glass of champagne!"
© Mike McGregor
© Mike McGregorWhile Diana ultimately decided the timing wasn't right to do the cover, the secret meeting between her and John remains one of the most captivating stories of Nineties Manhattan. This royal revelation was just one of many great anecdotes shared at our special live event, which explored the royals' love affair with the Big Apple. From details of Queen Elizabeth's 1976 trip to Bloomingdale's to anecdotes of Prince William in Central Park, it's a must-watch for royal fans.
How to watch the podcast episode
As a VIP member, you can watch the full episode of HELLO!'s special live A Right Royal Podcast episode below:
