A new exhibition coming to the Arlington Museum of Art will showcase one of the most-loved and most-photographed women in the world: Princess Diana. "Princess Diana: Accredited Access Exhibition," featuring photos by the late official royal photographer Anwar Hussein, will open January 17.
The exhibition "tells the story of the world’s most loved Princess through an intimate new lens," a release says. It will feature 140 "larger-than-life" photos taken by Hussein, as well as his sons Samir and Zak, who also are royal photographers.
"Each image will be accompanied by first-hand accounts of the stories behind the world-famous moments, told through an in-depth audio guide," the release says.
The exhibition will chronicle Diana's life and emotional journey from her early days as Lady Diana Spencer to Britain's Princess of Wales, wife of Prince Charles and mother to Princes William and Harry, until her death in 1997. It will touch on her impact as a global ambassador, fashion icon, and "The People's Princess."
"Princess Diana: Accredited Access," features the photos of royal photographer Anwar Hussein.
Getty Images
The exhibition is divided into several themed sections: The Photography Dark Room, Growing, Glam, Hats & Tiaras, Art Installations, Humanitarian, and Unguarded. Each section will feature photography and first-hand accounts as told through the lenses of photographers Anwar, Samir, and Zak Hussein.
Tanzania-born photographer Anwar Hussein was not only a royal photographer but a trusted friend of the princess, the release says. According to People magazine, he died in September 2024. He had been "the longest-serving photographer on the royal roster, taking photos of the family for more than 50 years" and is credited with helping to create a more informal style of royal photos, according to his obituary in The Times and reported in People.
Hussein "captured many of Princess Diana's most enduring moments, from her hands-on manner with those in need to her solo photo at the Taj Mahal in 1992 as her marriage with then-Prince Charles broke down and iconic fashion statements like her 'revenge dress' two years later and much more," People says.
Royal photographers Samir Hussein, Zak Hussein, and Anwar Hussein attend opening of "Princess Diana: Accredited Access" exhibition in London.Getty Images
"The story of Diana unfolded in front of us," Hussein had told the magazine. "You could see her go from Shy Di, looking down, to becoming stronger — which she had to do. She wanted to prove she was brave enough to do what she wanted."
Along with sons Samir and Zak, the Husseins "make up the longest standing family of Official Royal Photographers, having collectively spent over four decades working side-by-side with the iconic Princess and her family," the release says. "They received special access to document the lives of the Royals in public, as well as capturing more intimate, private moments."
"Princess Diana: Accredited Access Exhibition" opened in London and went to Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York in 2023.
“Photography is one of the most powerful forms of storytelling,” says Arlington Museum of Art president & CEO Chris Hightower in the release. “This exhibition offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the life of one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century. Through the lens of these photographers, we see Princess Diana not just as a global figure but as a human being, navigating the complexities of fame, compassion, and her own sense of duty. It’s an opportunity to reflect on her legacy and the profound impact she had on the world.”
A photo of Princess Diana taken by royal photographer Anwar Hussein in "Princess Diana: Accredited Access Exhibition."Photo by Anwar Hussein via Arlington Museum of Art
The exhibition includes bespoke art installations from renowned multimedia artist Pauline Loctin, inspired by some of Diana’s most famous fashion moments.
“Royal photographers are not only technically accomplished professionals. They bring their subjects to light in artistic ways that make us feel closer to those pictured," says University of Texas Arlington Art & Art History Department Chair, Dr. August Jordan Davis. "With a figure like Princess Diana, one of the most photographed people in the world, these images connect us to a deeper sense of who she was at heart.”
The exhibition will run January 17-April 6, 2025, concurrently with "Wicked Threads: The Artistry of Costume in Oz" at the Arlington Museum of Art. Tickets will be available online January 3.
