London, Vancouver — Canadian rock star Bryan Adams has developed a reputation for showering attention on beautiful celebrities such as figure skater Katarina Witt and supermodel Kate Moss.But could it be that all along, the 44-year-old musician had managed to capture the heart of the biggest celebrity of the modern era, the late Diana, Princess of Wales?
According to Cecilie Thomsen, Mr. Adams's former girlfriend, the rock star and the princess did more than trade phone calls and small talk. She says they had a full-blown affair.
"Ours was a stormy relationship and Bryan's affair with Diana didn't make it easier," said Ms. Thomsen, a Danish film actress, in a report in Wednesday's Sun, a British newspaper. The affair, she said, took place in 1996, a year before Diana's death in a Paris car crash. The disclosure makes it the hottest celebrity affair involving a Canadian since Pierre Trudeau dated entertainer Barbra Streisand.
The affair was originally reported in the Danish entertainment magazine Billed Bladet. Ms. Thomsen told the magazine she was trying to make Mr. Adams happy and "be a good girlfriend. I compromised a lot. But as time went by, I felt more and more subdued. I was losing myself."
Contacted by The Sun, the 44-year-old Mr. Adams was coy. While not denying the story outright, he said that Ms. Thomsen did not know the details of his relationship with Diana and reports of an affair were "pure conjecture and supposition."
Mr. Adams was not available for comment. He was reportedly en route to Kelowna, B.C., where he is due to perform a benefit tour tonight for victims of this summer's wildfires.
His agents in London and Vancouver refused comment, although a person who used to work for him said the rock star and the princess were close friends who phoned each other and visited each other's homes. "Beyond that, I really don't know," the person said, asking not to be identified.
Mr. Adams, who is 5-foot-8 and slight, clearly has no stature hang-ups. Ms. Thomsen is a statuesque blonde, and even without heels Diana was nearly three inches taller than the Canadian musician.
Disclosure of the affair follows a cryptic clue in the recently published memoir of Paul Burrell, Diana's former butler. He said the princess had many suitors, including one described only as a "leading musician."
Mr. Adams, who has a home in the posh London neighbourhood of Chelsea, goes back a long way with the princess.
In 1986, when Diana was still very much married to Prince Charles, Mr. Adams headlined a gala concert before the royal couple at Expo '86 in Vancouver. Even then, British tabloid tongues wagged as they reported that Mr. Adams had a "wild crush" on Diana. It was speculated that Mr. Adams was not allowed to sing his song Diana, which leaves little doubt as to the subject of its lyrical fancy.
According to Andrew Morton's book Diana: Her True Story , "that trip to Vancouver was a low point in her struggle with an eating disorder. She hadn't eaten anything for days, and all she did was nibble on a KitKat bar as the plane approached Vancouver."
Once at Expo, she couldn't hide her weakness and "put her arm on her husband's shoulder and whispered, 'Darling, I think I'm about to disappear,' " and promptly fainted. Instead of consoling her, Charles chewed her out and insisted that she turn up for that night's official dinner, according to the book.
There is no mention of an encounter with Mr. Adams.
When Diana died in 1997, Mr. Adams attended the funeral along with Ms. Thomsen. The couple split in 2002.
Mr. Adams remains close to the Royal Family, taking a series of photos of the Queen in late 2001 in anticipation of Golden Jubilee celebrations the following year. Canada Post recently selected one of those pictures to appear on a new definitive stamp that goes into circulation in December.
A former royal correspondent said yesterday that the idea Mr. Adams and the princess had an affair "is not beyond belief," noting that 1996 was the year when her divorce became final. As for her taste in music, he said the princess enjoyed Neil Diamond, George Michael and Elton John. He did not mention Mr. Adams.
Life imitates art
Lyrics from the Bryan Adams song Diana, released in 1985 on a 12-inch EP.
Oh the first time I saw you
was in a magazine
The next time you was walking 'cross my television screen
I knew right then and there
that I had to make you mine
The day that he married you
I nearly lost my mind
Diana whatcha doin'
with a guy like him
Diana I'd die for you,
please let me in
Diana can't you see
you drive me wild
Diana I bet you're just
a reckless child
Yes, you got it made I've seen you promenade a time or two
He might have lots of dough
but I know he ain't right for you
Cause I've watched you smile and shakin' hands when you do your social scene
You wouldn't have to do that if you came and lived with me
Diana just can't get you
off my mind
Diana why don't you leave
it all behind
Diana she is queen of all my dreams
Diana gimme dreams,
I'll set you free
Since I saw that picture of you
Nothing matters
I just wanna lay ya
We can make it, you and me
So come on baby, come on baby, oh-oh yeah
(Yeah, here's how I see it)
Your one choice if you get away, leave it up to me
I'll bring you lovin'
if you bring your limousine
Diana oh yeah
Diana you really got a hold on me
Diana you gimme your tears
I'll set you free
Diana yeah -- yeah.
Copyright 1985,
B. Adams, J. Vallance.
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