Princess' Palace
Metro Stop: Franconia-Springfield
- Blue Line
Prince Charles stops to chat with a sales clerk at a costume jewelry display in the Springfield, Va., J.C. Penny store on Nov. 11, 1985. Princess Diana looks at the jewelry. (AP Photo)
Springfield Town Center, home of the Springfield Mall. You might be thinking, “what historical character could a mall possibly have?” Well, it just so happens that the J.C. Penney at Springfield Mall was once the shopping destination of the royal family. During Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ trip to Washington in 1985, the British Embassy thought it would be a great idea for the couple to go on a shopping trip to an American shopping mall. It was the “most populist” event on their itinerary. After a tour of the store (and a discussion of whether single or double breasted suits were more flattering) the Princess of Wales ended up buying an eight dollar scarf, prompting a run on the scarves from curious onlookers.