40 years later: The untold story of John Travolta and Princess Diana’s relationship
It has been four decades since John Travolta and Princess Diana shared an enchanting dance at the White House, yet the moment remains one of the most iconic in pop culture history.
The dazzling twirl between Hollywood’s leading man and the beloved royal was immortalized in photographs, but as Travolta now reveals, their connection extended far beyond that evening.
Travolta swept Diana off her feet
The year was 1985, and President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan hosted a grand state dinner, welcoming the British royals to Washington, D.C. Among the A-list guests were Hollywood stars such as Clint Eastwood, Tom Selleck, and Gloria Vanderbilt.
But it was a 24-year-old Princess Diana, dressed in an elegant off-the-shoulder Victor Edelstein gown, who stole the show.
According to Travolta, now 71, the dance was orchestrated behind the scenes by the First Lady.
“At midnight, I had to tap her on the shoulder and say, ‘Would you care to dance?'” he recalled.
“She turned around and dipped her head in that Lady Diana way, and we were off for 15 minutes dancing.”
Despite her poised exterior, Diana was reportedly overcome with nerves just before stepping onto the dance floor.
Travolta helped ease her anxiety: “I put my hand in the middle of her back, brought her hand down so that it wouldn’t be so high, and gave her the confidence that we would do just fine.”
As they spun to the sounds of Saturday Night Fever and Grease, photographers captured images that would define an era.
What few knew at the time was that Diana had originally hoped to dance with ballet legend Mikhail Baryshnikov, her childhood crush.
However, due to an injury, he was unable to take to the floor.
Travolta fondly remembers the experience, saying, “I was awestruck with her… I got to be her Prince Charming for the evening.”
After their dance, Tom Selleck and Clint Eastwood also had their turns with the princess, though Eastwood’s comment-“You’re too old for me”-left Diana playfully reminding him that she was only 24.
But the magic of that night didn’t end when the music stopped.
Palace insiders later revealed that Diana and Travolta maintained a private correspondence.
While Travolta has remained discreet about the letters, he has acknowledged their lasting impact: “So I feel I made her life better, she made my life better… I’m very sorry that she’s not here.”
Diana’s husband, then-Prince Charles, was reportedly less enthused about the spectacle.
At a press conference following the trip, he tried to steer conversations away from the dance, but eventually admitted, “She did enjoy dancing with John Travolta.” Diana, sitting beside him, simply smiled.
Travolta has since described their dance as one of the highlights of his life, but the moment holds an even deeper significance following Diana’s tragic death in 1997.
“I was devastated when she passed,” he said.
“There are moments in your life you never forget, and that was one of them.
