In the mid-90s, Princess Diana was at the height of her public struggle, navigating a crumbling marriage, relentless media attention, and the constant presence of the paparazzi.
Yet, amid all the chaos, one unexpected and heartwarming story emerged — Diana found refuge at a ranch in Colorado, courtesy of actor Kurt Russell and his longtime partner Goldie Hawn.
Met at a London film premiere
It all started back in 1991 when Kurt Russell met Princess Diana at a London premiere for his movie Backdraft. The encounter, which would change the course of Diana’s life in an unexpected way, took place during a royal screening, and Kurt admits it was a surreal experience:
”I met her—[with] Prince Charles—it was a screening of Backdraft, a movie. They were doing a royal thing. I was in between the two, kind of interesting at the time!” Kurt shared on the Australian talk show The Project, in 2016.
Back in the early 1990s, Diana and Charles was far from the picture-perfect pair they once were; their relationship had already begun to show signs of strain.
But what followed was something that showed how even in the most glamorous of circles, friendship and compassion could still flourish.
Most haunted person of the modern age
Diana confided in Kurt about the intense pressure she felt from the constant media attention. She wasn’t just a royal figure — she was a mother, a woman trying to navigate her own identity while being pursued everywhere she went. Her brother, Charles Spencer, once called Diana “the most hunted person of the modern age” – and he wasn’t wrong.
According to Time, the Princess of Wales became the most photographed person in the world, with paparazzi being offered up to £500,000 ($656,000) for even the most grainy shots of her. This earned her the nickname “the Princess of Sales” within the industry.
Movie star Kurt Russell, of course, wasn’t entirely unfamiliar with the darker side of fame, and he had, of course, been chased by paparazzi as well. He could empathize with Diana’s situation, and without hesitation, he made an offer that would change everything.
At the London premiere of the film Backdraft in 1991, Kurt Russell made her an offer she couldn’t refuse.
”I said, ‘Come over to the ranch. We have a good long driveway, and it’s hard for the paparazzi to get in there. Maybe you would like to do that.’”
Diana’s unexpected gesture
It wasn’t long before the invitation became a reality. A year later, Goldie Hawn’s close friend, Sarah Ferguson — then the Duchess of York — reached out to see if the offer was still open.
Of course, it was, and Diana, along with her two young sons, William and Harry, took them up on it. They arrived at Kurt and Goldie’s remote Colorado ranch for ten peaceful days of seclusion, far from the eyes of the world.
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Though Kurt was away working at the time, Diana and her boys enjoyed the peace and quiet the ranch provided. It was a rare chance for the Princess to step out of the chaos, even if just for a brief moment.
”Goldie and Fergie knew each other through a friend,” Kurt explained. ”They put it together and she brought the boys and they stayed at the house.”
The connection didn’t stop there. While Kurt was away working, Diana struck up a close friendship with the couple’s housekeeper.
”Our housekeeper Bonnie became very close with her, and every Christmas she would get a nice card from Diana,” Kurt recalled fondly.
It was a small but touching detail that speaks volumes about the warmth Diana found during her time away from the spotlight.
The royal visit was a special and personal moment in Kurt Russell’s life, and he’s opened up about it more than once over the years. On The Late Late Show with James Corden, Kurt shared:
”I mentioned that we lived on a ranch in Colorado that might be a nice getaway. And she said maybe sometime I could do that.” And so, it became a refuge where Diana could escape the media storm.
While Kurt was working and the royal family’s time at the ranch remained mostly out of the public eye, it wasn’t just a vacation — it was an act of kindness that has stayed with Kurt, Goldie, and Diana’s family ever since. It’s a story of humanity, connection, and the kind of kindness that exists outside of royal titles and public personas.
It’s also a reminder that even in the face of the world’s harshest pressures, there can still be moments of peace, and sometimes, it’s the people you least expect who help create those moments.
What do you think about this story? A tale of kindness and refuge amid the royal drama—does it change how you see the life of Princess Diana? Share your thoughts and let’s discuss!
