DIANA became the Queen of Hearts with East Lancashire folk long before she coined the famous phrase.

Her first visit to the area was in 1983 when she visited the Joseph Arnold and Co greetings card factory in Church. She was radiant despite the miserable weather.

Then, accompanied by Charles in April 1986, there had been a huge build-up to the royal day trip to Blackburn and Burnley.

About 5,000 well wishers lined the streets above the Rosegrove railway station to cheer the couple as they were welcomed by Simon Towneley, the then Lord Lieutenant of Lancashire. As fashion conscious as ever, she wore a stunning high shouldered maroon outfit which was tight fitting at the waist.

The Princess made an immediate beeline for a small group of children waiting on the platform.

She then went on to Blackburn to visit Blackamoor, Broadlands and Dame Evelyn Fox special schools where she touched the hearts of pupils.

Cheeky 10-year-old Lee Baker snatched a kiss after throwing his arms around her.

She had personally requested to centre her visit on the special schools' campus after its name cropped up during discussions at a committee involved with handicapped children, on which she was a member.

The Princess arrived in East Lancashire just a day after a state visit to Spain but showed no signs of fatigue.

She visited the region on another gloomy day but was described as bringing "a touch of spring" to the area.

Members of the Pakistan Welfare Association in Nelson never forgot the kindness the Princess of Wales had shown them when she called in at their present premises in Victoria Street nine years ago.

She chatted to elderly members of the Asian community, tasted their traditional dishes and promised to give them a microwave cooker when she heard they needed one.

Sure enough, within two weeks the cooker arrived with love from the Princess.

In 1990 Diana was back in Lancashire, this time at police headquarters in Hutton where she told 180 of the country's top officers to step up their campaign to combat the menace of drugs.

At the time, she was patron of the Institute of Drugs Dependants.

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