The new series of Netflix's The Crown is like a bright light at the end of a long lockdown tunnel.

It's returning this weekend and will shift its focus to the 'Diana years' with newcomer Emma Corrin taking up the role, we take a look at how the Queen of People's Hearts stole ours when she visited Dorset.

Dorset Echo:

Emma Corrin plays Diana in the new series of The Crown

Princess Diana's magnetism and ability to charm the crowds is evident in this photo of her visit to Dorchester on July 10, 1991.

She was there to visit the offices of Relate in Maumbury Road as a patron of the charity.

Dorset Echo:

Princess Diana visiting Dorchester in July 1991    Picture: Trevor Bevins

On that special day in the county town she was wearing a green coat dress by Catherine Walker and also visited Bournemouth, where she paid a visit to the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic in Parkwood Road.

For this visit she was striding out on her own with a new found confidence, just a year before she and Prince Charles separated, although they continued to carry out Royal duties together until their divorce four years later.

Dorset Echo:

Princess Diana visiting Dorchester in July 1991    Picture: Trevor Bevins

With her husband Diana paid an earlier visit to Dorchester on May 24, 1985. She was accompanying Prince Charles on a visit to Maiden Castle to meet unemployed youngsters working on a Fort restoration scheme set up by the Prince's Trust.

The couple arrived in a red helicopter and it was tipping it down with rain! Free buses were put on to take people to Maiden Castle.

Dorset Echo:

Diana visiting Maiden Castle, Dorchester, on a rainy day in 1985

Sean Tizzard was there and remembers the day well.

He said: "When they did the royal walkabout, Charles strode confidently to the crowd and shook hands whilst Diana stood timidly in the background. Charles beckoned her over and then she came to meet the crowd but she was anxious and shy on this visit, beautiful but still the girl next door."

Apparently the Royal couple rested in a caravan between engagements which came from Chambers Caravans in London Road.

We've also included below a number of other Royal visits over the years. How many do you remember?

Dorset Echo:

The Duchess of Cambridge visits Portland’s Olympic venue in August 2012

Dorset Echo:

Prince William in Poundbury in March 2018​

Dorset Echo:

Princess Anne visits the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy in 2014

Dorset Echo:

The Queen - then Princess Elizabeth - visiting Dorchester in 1952​

Dorset Echo:

Prince Charles visits the home of a newly moved in couple in Poundbury in 2011​

Dorset Echo:

Prince Edward opens South Walks House in Dorchester in September 2014