Tom Selleck reveals he danced with Princess Diana
While John Travolta’s dance with Princess Diana at the 1985 White House dinner is etched in pop culture history, Tom Selleck reveals in his new memoir, You Never Know, that he also shared a moment on the dancefloor with the Princess of Wales.
The ‘Magnum, P.I.’ star recalls feeling anxious to meet Diana and Prince Charles (now King Charles III) at the state dinner hosted by President Ronald Reagan and First Lady Nancy Reagan. However, he was quickly disarmed by their warmth and found Diana to be particularly charming.
After Travolta’s iconic twirl with Diana in her stunning off-the-shoulder gown, Selleck was approached and asked to step in for a dance. Initially reluctant, he eventually agreed. Selleck describes Diana as “lovely” and notes that she put him at ease with friendly conversation.
“I gotta say she seemed to be having the time of her life,” he writes. “Let’s just say it was not my finest hour as a conversationalist.”
Interestingly, Selleck’s date that evening, Jillie Mack (whom he later married), danced with Prince Charles. The evening ended on a sweet note, with Selleck sharing a dance with First Lady Nancy Reagan.
Selleck’s memoir offers a unique glimpse into a memorable evening and reveals a lesser-known detail about Princess Diana’s captivating White House visit.
