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The designer, who dressed the late Princess of Wales for her one and only Met appearance, spoke about her Dior look in the new series ‘In Vogue: The 90s’

Princess Diana at the Met Gala in New York City in December 1996. Photo: Anwar Hussein/Getty

Princess Diana had a specific vision for her Met Gala dress in 1996.

In the new Hulu docuseries In Vogue: The 90s, fashion designer John Galliano spoke about the parameters that the late Princess of Wales had when it came time to design her dress for what would become her one and only Met appearance. Galliano was then creative director at Dior and spoke about the magic of being tapped to create a bespoke look for the princess.

“I remember one day we all jumped into this old van, and we went to London, where we met Princess Diana. She’d been invited to the Met, and she would wear one of my dresses,” Galliano said in the first volume of the documentary, which premiered on Sept. 13.

Former British Vogue editor Edward Enninful described the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual benefit as the “most influential red carpet in the world,” raising the stakes for Princess Diana’s fashion statement at the party. Diana made her debut at the Met Gala in New York City in December 1996 with her friend and former Harper’s Bazaar editor Liz Tilberis, and Princess Diana attended just a few months after her divorce was finalized from the future King Charles.

Princess Diana at the Met Gala in New York City in December 1996. Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
The Most Controversial Met Gala Looks of All Time, from Kim Kardashian and Rihanna to Princess Diana

“It was like a blessing. I mean like, wow,” Galliano said in the series. “We went to Kensington Palace and discussed drawings. I was trying to push for pink, but she was not having it. ‘No, not the pink!’ That was real, real fun.”

“So we did the dress and subsequent fittings, and it was beautifully done,” he said of the “correct” construction. “Fast-forward to the event, and I just remember her getting out of the car,” Galliano said — and gasped. “I couldn’t believe it. She’d ripped the corset out.”

“She didn’t want to wear the corset,” he said about the fashion-forward move, in true Diana style. “She felt so liberated. She’d torn the corset out. The dress was much more… sensuous,” he emphasized, recalling her electric ascent up the Met steps.

(From left) John Galliano, Liz Tilberis, Princess Diana, Helene Arnault and Bernard Arnault at the Met Gala in New York City in December 1996.Stephane Cardinale/Sygma via Getty

Princess Diana’s Most Glamorous Looks of All Time

“I mean, wow! Diana was my first couture client,” Galliano said.

The British designer was one of couture’s most influential visionaries through the 1990s and early 2000s, before he upended his career in 2011 following a string of antisemitic and racist incidents. He was fired from Dior as creative director, stepped back from fashion and returned to design for Maison Margiela, holding the post since 2014.

Much has been made of Princess Diana’s fashion splash at the Met Gala in 1996, where she wore a boudoir-like navy silk slip dress with black lace trim from Galliano’s debut couture collection as the creative director of Dior. She completed the look with a matching silk robe-like topper (which she later removed), a statement pearl-and-sapphire choker necklace and the mini navy quilted Dior bag that the label renamed the Lady Dior in her honor.

The late Princess of Wales was known as Lady Diana Spencer before she married the future King in 1981, and the handheld bag became one of her go-to purses.

Princess Diana at the Met Gala in New York City in December 1996.Richard Corkery/NY Daily News via Getty Images

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During the 1990s, Diana began to experiment more with her style, sporting shorter hemlines and sexier silhouettes. The 1996 Met Gala would ultimately prove to be her only appearance at the event, as she died following a car crash in Paris in August 1997. The late Princess of Wales is remembered as a style icon, and her daughters-in-law Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle continue to take style cues from her today.

“I think all of us were so captivated and fascinated by Princess Diana,” Vogue editor Anna Wintour said in the new docuseries. “At that time, she was the most famous woman in the world. She was enjoying fashion and the spotlight that she put on particularly British designers.”

In Vogue: The ’90s Volume I debuted on Hulu on Sept. 13, and Volume II premieres on Sept. 20.

Diana’s former hairdresser Richard Dalton tells PEOPLE about the royal’s improvised headband

Janine Henni is a Royals Staff Writer for PEOPLE Digital, covering modern monarchies and the world’s most famous families. Like Queen Elizabeth, she loves horses and a great tiara moment.

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Princess Diana in Melbourne, Australia, on Oct. 31, 1985. Photo: Anwar Hussein/WireImage

Princess Diana remains renowned for her iconic sense of style — which sometimes meant getting inventive on the fly.

The late Princess of Wales made a fashion splash when she wore an emerald-and-diamond choker necklace as a headband in Australia with the future King Charles in 1985, and her former hairdresser Richard Dalton is sharing why — along with the fashion hack that made it happen!

“I think she had sunburn on her neck so we said, ‘Let’s make a headband of it,’ ” Dalton recalled at the Styling Princess Diana panel at Fotografiska New York on May 21, celebrating PEOPLE’s 50th anniversary.

“I asked Evelyn, her dresser, for six inches of knicker elastic, [the kind used by] grannies,” he added with a laugh about how he transformed the dazzling accessory into a headpiece. In 2022, Kate Middleton brought the choker out of the royal vault and wore it for the Earthshot Prize Awards ceremony in Boston.

Princess Diana’s Most Glamorous Looks of All Time

Dalton first met Princess Diana, then Lady Diana Spencer, when she was 17. He went on to style her hair for more than a decade, including royal tours around the world.

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“My favorite [hairstyle] would be Thailand,” he said at Fotografiska, recalling the floral look from 1988. “[She wore a] purple and shocking pink dress and I said, ‘Why don’t we do orchids?’ I went into the hotel, stealing flowers for the princess. This was my favorite. She loved it.”

Princess Diana at a dinner in Bangkok, Thailand, on Feb. 4, 1988.Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

Dalton is set to publish a new book titled It’s All About the Hair — My Decade with Diana, with The Princess Diana Museum founder Renae Plant, and cited the surprising impact of Diana’s tresses.

“We decided whatever charity she was representing, the hair would sometimes take away from what she was doing,” Dalton recalled. “[In] Saudi Arabia, she wanted it short. We would cut it every day about a quarter of an inch,” he said. “[After] eight weeks, nobody noticed!”

Princess Diana in Saudi Arabia during an official visit in November 1986.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

Every Time Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton Have Worn Princess Diana’s Jewelry

The choker that Princess Diana memorably wore on her head to the gala dinner in Melbourne was paired with a cerulean one-shoulder gown by her wedding dress designer Elizabeth Emanuel, who also spoke at the Styling Princess Diana panel.

During the conversation, moderated by PEOPLE’s Senior Royals Editor Erin Hill, Emanuel said the assignment of a lifetime was Diana’s 1981 wedding day.

“The aim was to make a fairytale princess dress,” said Emanuel, who famously created the voluminous ivory ball gown with 25-foot train with her former husband David — along with a secret backup dress the bride never knew about.

“We were students, we loved drama, we had free rein, nobody told us what to do, and I think that was the fun of it. That was why the dress was so special,” Emanuel explained. “There was an innocence about her and us.”

Elizabeth Emanuel (left) and Princess Diana (right) coordinating outfits for a royal tour in 1986.Tim Graham/Getty Images

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Diana worked with the Emanuels both before and after her wedding day, from a “grown up” black ballgown in 1980 to looks like the cerulean dress in Australia and more.

“No feedback from the palace, nothing, no protocol,” Elizabeth said of the creative freedom they had in dressing the princess. “I don’t think they expected such a reaction, I think they underestimated the effect of Diana.”

Victoria Beckham was left in “disbelief” and “fury” after her husband David Beckham made a candid admission about their marriage in 2018, according to a new book

(Image: Getty Images)

Victoria Beckham was reportedly left seething after her husband David made a surprising revelation about their marriage in a new explosive book. The ex-footballer admitted that their marriage was “hard work” during an interview with Australian TV show The Sunday Project back in 2018.

In his new book, The House of Beckham, author Tom Bower alleges that Posh Spice’s publicist leaked a story to a journalist about how she was left fuming following Becks’ interview. Bower wrote that the Spice Girls star hadn’t been warned about the chat and was instead in “disbelief” as she watched the interview on her mobile.

He added: “It was like a nuclear bomb had gone off.” Bower also claimed that Victoria accused her husband of becoming “the enemy of her ambition”. Following David’s shocking interview, she reportedly checked into a Baden-Baden spa hotel for two days to regain her “emotional balance”.

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In the tell-all, Bower also claims David admitted he has “grown to ignore some of the negative stuff” that is said about him and Victoria, reports the Daily Record.

He remarked: “But to be married for the amount of time that we have, it’s always hard work, everybody knows that but you make it work. You make difficult situations like travelling away, being away from each other, you make it work.”

In their Netflix documentary series, Beckham, the couple openly discussed the trials they faced in their marriage. Victoria emotionally confessed that they “were against each other” during the most challenging times, while David admitted: “I don’t know how we got through it.”

Birmingham City are going head-to-head against Wrexham in what has been billed as one of the biggest League One matches ever

David Beckham and Gary Neville

David Beckham is at St. Andrew’s @ Knighthead Park for Birmingham City’s gigantic clash against Wrexham. Blues are looking to continue their unbeaten start to the League One campaign after a two-week break.

Chris Davies’ side drew their first game of the season against Reading, but have since won their last three matches to leave them in the division’s top-six. Due to a number of players on international duty, Birmingham’s fixture against Exeter – which was meant to take place last weekend – was postponed.

It means that Blues haven’t played a league game for 16 days, while opponents Wrexham played just nine days ago as they beat Shrewsbury 3-0. With Wrexham playing a game more, just three points split the teams going into the game and there was heightened excitement because of that and the fact both have American owners. Blues part-owner Tom Brady and Wrexham co-owner Rob McElhenney are at the match.

And another of the high-profile names in attendance is Beckham, who has been invited by ownership group Knighthead for the fixture. Beckham and Brady are both in business together. Romeo Beckham, son of David, is also present – as is former Manchester United defender and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville.

Neville has a huge affiliation with the EFL, as he is a co-owner of League Two side Salford City. Phil Neville, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes are also involved in the Ammies. Neville’s Salford were beaten 2-1 by Wrexham in the Bristol Street Motors Trophy last Tuesday.

As for the game itself, Wrexham took the lead inside the opening couple of minutes through Jack Marriott. The former Derby and Peterborough striker slotted home via a deflection after a corner was half-cleared.

It didn’t take Birmingham long to equalise, however, as Jay Stansfield marked his second league debut with a goal. The 21-year-old pounced on an error from the Wrexham goalkeeper to fire home the leveller.

From her tensions with Prince Charles to her constant battle with the paparazzi, The Princess tells the story of Princess Diana’s public life through real-life archival audio and footage

Princess Diana. Photo: VINCENT AMALVY/AFP

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Life in the Spotlight

Tim Graham Photo Library

Just before their wedding, Prince Charles and Princess Diana sat down for a joint interview and spoke about the glare of the royal spotlight.

“If you don’t try to work out in your own mind some kind of method for existing and surviving this kind of thing, you would go mad, I think. In the end, you do get used to it,” Charles says before turning to Diana and asking: “Don’t you find that after the last six months you’re beginning to get used to it?”

Diana quietly responds, “Just.”

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The Wedding

Princess Diana and Prince Charles. Anwar Hussein/Getty

As Princess Diana and Prince Charles leave their wedding ceremony, a commentator says, “Usually fairy tales end here with the phrase ‘and they lived happily ever after.’ ” While footage shows celebrations throughout the U.K., including dancing and popping champagne in the streets, we know now that Princess Diana never got her storybook ending. The couple seemed to know something was amiss at the time too — as they pulled up to Buckingham Palace in their carriage, they were completely silent with no loving interactions or cheerful expressions expected of newlyweds.

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Diana’s Popularity

Princess Diana and Prince Charles. Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty

During a 1983 tour of Australia, overwhelming crowds gathered everywhere that Princess Diana and Prince Charles visited. But it was clear that they were there to see Diana — as one commentator noted in the documentary, “You can’t give pictures of him away, but Diana is very big news everywhere.” Prince Charles recognized that he was playing second fiddle to his new wife, asking photographers, “Am I in the way?”

“Charles doesn’t like the fact that she’s a superstar, and he isn’t,” another commentator notes.

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“Trapped”

Princess Diana, Prince William and Prince Charles. Diana Archive/Getty

In an interaction between the royals and members of the media, Prince Charles talks to a young Prince William as Princess Diana looks on glumly. As Prince William peers through a video camera lens, Charles tells his son, “The people in there, look at them…trapped.” The irony of the statement is not lost on viewers.

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Diana’s Loneliness

Princess Diana. Anwar Hussein/Getty

While Prince Charles “continued to live like a bachelor” despite being a husband and father, Princess Diana was clearly feeling isolated in her royal life. During a 1992 visit to the Taj Mahal, a monument built by a man to pay tribute to his wife, Princess Diana ironically posed for photos alone — and it spoke volumes about the state of the couple’s marriage at the time.

Diana looks uneasy as she’s being photographed on a bench in front of the Taj Mahal, putting on her sunglasses as she stood. She then walked over to another bench and sat with her back towards the photographers in a moment of solitude.

“So she’s just sitting there, is she?” one cameraman is heard asking.

“Thinking about her marriage,” says another.

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Dodging Paparazzi

Princess Diana. Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Getty

After Princess Diana and Prince Charles announced their separation, paparazzi climbed on ladders and ran into traffic to capture Diana on everyday outings, such as going to the gym and attending Prince William and Prince Harry’s school events. As Princess Diana tried to escape them, her car is shown speeding away — an ominous foreshadowing of her tragic death just a few years later.

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William and Harry Run from the Cameras

Princess Diana. Princess Diana Archive/Getty

The documentary intercuts Princess Diana’s 1993 speech, in which she announced she would be reducing her public appearances, with shots of her and her sons avoiding paparazzi. Both Prince William and Prince Harry are seen running away from the cameras and shielding their faces with hats.

“When I started my public life 12 years ago, I understood the media might be interested in what I did. I realized then their attention would inevitably focus on both our private and public lives,” Diana said in her speech. “But I was not aware of how overwhelming that attention would become, nor the extent to which it would affect both my public duties and my personal life in a manner that’s been hard to bear.”

However, she was again met with criticism: “It’s very Diana, isn’t it, to call a press conference to announce that she wants to be left alone,” said one commentator. “Very in character.”

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Coming Into Her Own

Princess Diana. Princess Diana Archive/Getty

Following her divorce, Princess Diana focused on charities and causes with special meaning to her, from homelessness to HIV/AIDS. “Good work and associating one’s self with good voluntary causes, that, I think, is the sort of direction that the Princess of Wales see herself moving in,” one commentator said before adding, in a now-ominous statement: “She has 20, 30, 40 years of active public life ahead of her. So people who think this is the end of something, you’re misunderstanding. This is the beginning of something.”

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The Crash

GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP

Home video showed a group of friends playing Uno as the news that Princess Diana was involved in a car crash in Paris unfolded on television. Although the men were making light of the coverage, the mood quickly shifted and they all fell silent when it was announced that Diana had died. The scene reflects how Princess Diana had become a source of entertainment for many, and it wasn’t until her untimely death that there was concern for her as a person.

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William and Harry in Mourning

Prince William, Prince Harry and Prince Charles. Tim Graham Photo Library

Prince William and Prince Harry, just 15 and 12 at the time, had just lost their mother. However, in the days following her death, they played the roles of consolers to members of the public. In the documentary, the grieving brothers are seen shaking hands and greeting people gathered outside Kensington Palace.

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are also shown viewing the public memorial to Diana outside the palace. In one tense moment, a woman calls out: “Take care of the boys.” Philip then curtly responds: “That’s what we’ve been doing.”

The exchange reflects the public criticism at the time that the Queen hadn’t been doing enough to comfort her subjects in the wake of Diana’s death.

The eldest son of Victoria and David Beckham is an aspiring chef an recently launched his own hot sauce brand

Brooklyn Peltz Beckham (Image: Nathan Congleton/NBC via Getty I)

Brooklyn Beckham has addressed the criticism that ‘nepo babies’ often face. The eldest son of Victoria and David Beckham, 25, has been accused on several occasions of leveraging nepotism to advance his career.

However, the aspiring chef, hot sauce brand owner, entrepreneur and photographer has set the record straight. After his recent feature on the cover of Grazia magazine, he told the publication: “Obviously I am one. But I couldn’t help how I was born, at all.”

While he acknowledges why the public might be annoyed by ‘nepo babies’, Brooklyn said he tries to disregard the ‘rubbish’ people say rather than dwell on it. He added: “There’s always going to be people that say rubbish.

Read moreKate Garraway gets excited as she shares ‘really really good’ job offer amid huge debt

“But as long as you do something that makes you happy and you’re kind to people, that’s all that matters. I’m always gonna get it, no matter what I do. And I’m fine with that.

“It makes me work harder, because I’m like, I’m gonna prove these people wrong.”

Brooklyn has been in the spotlight since the day he was born, following the path of his famous parents Posh and Becks. Last month, the former model announced the launch of his new hot sauce brand.

Brooklyn married Nicola Peltz, an actress and model by profession, in April 2022. She first became known in the entertainment industry due to her family. Her mother Claudia Heffner is a renowned model and her brother Will Peltz is an actor.

David was on the BBC ceremony to present an award as Oppenheimer, Emma Stone and Cillian Murphy were the night’s big winners.

David was on the BBC ceremony to present an award as Oppenheimer, Emma Stone and Cillian Murphy were the night’s big winners.

BAFTAs 2024 viewers blasted David Beckham for “pandering to Americans” as he presented an award. David was on the BBC ceremony to present an award as Oppenheimer, Emma Stone and Cillian Murphy were the night’s big winners.

The 48-year-old retired sportsman was jokingly introduced as “an up and coming” football star by host David Tennant before taking to the stage. But during his speech, Beckham- the former Manchester United star – used the word “soccer”.

A fan replied on Twitter/X saying: “‘that might be true in football, or soccer-‘ DAVID BECKHAM YOU ARE ON THE BAFTAS DON’T YOU DARE PANDER TO THE AMERICANS!!!” A second said: “David beckham calling football soccer at a British awards show.”

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Another commented: “David Beckham it’s a British awards show, you don’t need to mention soccer #EEBAFTAs.” And a fellow fan said of the ex-Real Madrid, Los Angelex Galaxy, Paris Saint Germain star said: “Don’t say soccer, Dave. Pandering to the Americans #DavidBeckham #BAFTAs.”

The Bafta fellowship went to Samantha Morton, who dedicated her award to “every child in care today, or who has been in care, or who is suffering, or who didn’t survive”. During the event, the former England captain was seen laughing as he shook hands with Prince William who attended the event as president of Bafta.

And Beckham also posed with Michael J Fox backstage. Becks wrote: “I cannot believe I got to meet Michael J Fox. Also a little starstruck to meet so many talented people that I’ve watched on the big screen at Bafta.” Fox had everyone up on their feet as he came on stage in a wheelchair to present Best Film.

The Back to the Future star – who has Parkinson’s – was cheered as he took the final steps to the podium to announce Oppenheimer’s success

The royals have enjoyed spending Christmas at Sandringham for decades, and after creating so many special memories there with the late Queen, the King seems keen for them to keep making more. “Christmas at Sandringham has been absolutely central to the family for years, and that legacy looks certain to continue with Charles,” says royal expert Duncan Larcombe.

“The estate has more of a country house feel than other royal residences, and it reflects the family’s love of the great outdoors.” Queen Victoria bought the 20,000-acre estate for £22,000 in 1862. When the pandemic struck in 2020 it prevented Queen Elizabeth II hosting Christmas there for the first time in 32 years.

King Charles won’t rip up the royal rule book when it comes to Christmas ( 
Image:
Tim Graham/Getty Images)

“Sandringham had a very special place in the Queen’s heart,” Duncan adds. “It was where her father George VI passed away in 1952, which always gave it extra meaning for her.”

The estate was also a favoured hideaway of her grandfather George V, who once described it as “dear old Sandringham, the place I love better than anywhere else in the world”.

Former royal chef Darren McGrady catered for Christmas at Sandringham for many years, and says, “Unlike Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace, which belong to the State, Sandringham is owned by the royals so it’s a real home from home, and somewhere to really relax.

For the Queen, it was a place where she swapped her tiara for a headscarf and boots, and where she just loved hanging out with her family.”

The late Queen typically spent Christmas at the Sandringham estate ( 
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Getty Images)
After making the 100-mile train journey from King’s Cross in London to King’s Lynn in Norfolk, she would oversee a strict 72-hour festive timetable, with precise time slots for guests who arrived on Christmas Eve.

The schedule included exact timings for when the royals should wake up, gather for drinks, eat meals and go to bed.

Duncan says, “I don’t think Charles will exactly rip up the rule book, but there’s a strong chance he’ll loosen some of the rules. I think a lot of the more stoic aspects of Christmas were down to the Duke of Edinburgh, who was a stickler for timings. But I think the King is more relaxed about these things.”

Sandringham is smaller than other family properties and the youngest royals are required to share bedrooms, while some family members often spill over into the staff quarters.

Sandringham House is typically where the Royal Family spend Christmas ( 
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Indigo/Getty Images)
The Prince and Princess of Wales do not need a room at Sandringham, because they stay at their nearby 10-bedroom home, Anmer Hall, with their three children.

The festivities formally kick off with afternoon tea on 24 December, after which the family follow the European tradition of exchanging presents a day early. There is then a dash to glam up for the Christmas Eve drinks reception and candlelit banquet.

Men wear black Windsor coats with red lapels and cuffs and the women don ball gowns. Again, there are strict rules to follow while dining. “Traditionally they’ve never been allowed to engage in political talk over dinner, and they can’t leave the table until the monarch does,” says Duncan. “But again, those protocols may be gently phased out by Charles now.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales stay at their Anmer Hall home during Christmas ( 
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After dinner, card games are played, while there might be an action movie or romcom on offer in the ballroom – though nothing with too much swearing. Prince William previously revealed that Elf is a firm family favourite, while the late Queen’s festive flick of choice was apparently Flash Gordon.

William also once told how the family embrace the rare sense of togetherness during Christmas at Sandringham.

“It’s always lovely because we’re quite spread out doing our things a lot of the time throughout the year,” he said. “When I see my children meet up with some of my cousins’ children and they will have a wonderful time playing together, it’s very special.”

On Christmas morning, the customary church service at St Mary Magdalene is a must, after which a traditional turkey lunch is served.

The Royal Family attend a church service on Christmas morning ( 
Image:
Getty)
With food playing such an integral part in proceedings, there’s usually plenty of interest in the action behind the kitchen doors. Diana, the former Princess of Wales, liked to drop in on the chefs.

“I worked for the Princess at Kensington Palace from 1993 until she died in 1997, so I got to know her pretty well,” says Darren. “She would often pop in for a chat and ask me for a piece of fruit or a glass of juice. She was always interested in what we were cooking too.”

Diana was famously said to find the Sandringham Christmas a huge ordeal, and Darren adds, “I think half the time she was bored, so she just enjoyed being in the kitchen and chatting.”

However, the late Queen was not one to wander among the pots and pans. “She never had time, and she wasn’t a foodie at all,” recalls Darren. “Charles and Prince Philip came in quite a lot though, and would sometimes change the menu a bit.”

The royals would watch the Queen’s Christmas speech on the television at 3pm ( 
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Getty Images)
After the big Christmas Day lunch, the family pull bespoke crackers, complete with corny jokes that the late Queen used to love reading aloud. She was even said to personally pick the cracker gifts, which might include cuff links or gold or silver jewellery.

Paper hats are worn by most of those around the table, but Her Majesty always declined out of respect for the real Crown Jewels.

At 3pm, the family gather around the TV to watch the pre-recorded Christmas message, usually in silence. Queen Elizabeth reportedly never liked seeing herself on screen, and was known to take a stroll through the grounds instead. Once the television is switched off it is time for the games, with family favourites including charades and Scrabble.

Monopoly is said to be frowned upon by some members of the family, with one source claiming, “It brings out the worst in the family, with one over-competitive royal once throwing the board across the room.” If the weather allows it, a team of royals may also enjoy a game of football with staff members on the lawns.

The fun spills over into Boxing Day, when a range of outdoor activities swing into action, before everyone goes their separate ways.

The royal Christmas is steeped in tradition ( 
Image:
2022 Getty Images)

Rumour has it that at the beginning and end of the Sandringham Christmas, guests have traditionally been weighed. It was a practice said to date back to Edward VII, who wanted to make sure everyone was well fed, with 3lb considered an acceptable gain.

Tina Brown wrote in The Palace Papers, “As anyone who saw the movie Spencer knows, there’s a honk-honk tradition of family members getting weighed like French geese, first on arrival and then on departure, to record precisely how much justice they, and their livers, have done to the artery-clogging feast.”

However, Darren suggests that if such a custom ever did take place, it probably fizzled out many generations ago. “I don’t believe Princess Margaret would ever have agreed to step on to the scales – and nor would Princess Diana,” he says.

As the King celebrates his birthday on November 14, alongside his wife, Queen Camilla, will he also perhaps reflect on what might have been. It could just as easily have been Diana as his Queen if his mother Queen Elizabeth II had had her way.

As heir to the throne at the time, Charles had to seek the permission of Her Majesty to marry, as all those in the line of succession had to. He might have followed the earlier example of his sister, Princess Anne, who when asked how difficult it was, replied: ‘Not half as difficult as asking permission to get divorced.’ Which they both were required to do at some time.

These days, Anne is so far down the line that it isn’t necessary for her to ask anyone’s permission.

A royal birthday still attracts a lot of publicity, from newspapers and television, which is then lapped up by the public. It seems nearly everyone wants to know every detail of Royal Family life.

And if there is any spice in the story, so much the better. When Charles was still Prince of Wales, serving the longest apprenticeship ever by an heir to the throne (he was over 70 before he became monarch), he was allowed the comparative freedom that he lost the day he donned the crown.

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Prince Charles turned 18 on the 14 November 1966 and was  taken at Balmoral Castle wearing the Balmoral tartan

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Prince Charles was considered the most eligible and famous bachelor before he married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981

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There was trouble on both asides. Five years after they married, Diana resumed a relationship with a former old boyfriend, James Hewit, in 1986 when this family photograph was taken

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The couple undertook  a royal tour of Korea in November 1992 and shortly after John Major announced in the House of Commons that the couple were to separate

Charles was regarded as the most eligible and famous bachelor in the world and when he married Lady Diana Spencer, in July 1981, making her the Princess of Wales, and she became the most famous woman on the planet.

But, as we now know, it wasn’t to last. Charles never stopped talking about Camilla Parker Bowles and his friendship with her, even when at last he married Diana. She accepted this, knowing that to object would place her at odds with the Royal Household, as well as against the most powerful family in the world.

On the day Charles and Diana married they became the most photographed couple ever.

However, there were problems almost from the beginning . And, contrary to the general belief, it wasn’t all Charles’s fault. There was trouble on both asides. Five years after they married, Diana resumed a relationship with a former old boyfriend, James Hewit, in 1986.

 Much later, Charles admitted that the love of his life had always been Camilla, and they began another affair. It would never end. To many people throughout the world, it remains one of the greatest love stories ever.

He said at the time that his relationship with Mrs Parker Powles was ‘non-negotiable’.

If there has ever been a year that Charles would describe as the worst in his life, it could well be 1992. His birthday that year was not a time for celebration. Perhaps relief was all he felt now that at last it was all over. This was when he and Diana finally separated.

When the divorce was finalised, the financial settlement was never revealed, as with all royal matters. But it was believed to be around £15million.

There had always been a great deal of speculation about what went wrong with the Waleses. Was it Charles never really having loved her? The massive age difference between them – he was 13 years older than Diana. Or maybe the difference in their upbringing.

Charles had grown up used to the rigid discipline of Palace life and all it involved. With Diana, even though hers was an aristocratic background, there was a certain amount of informality in the Spencer family that was missing with the House of Windsor. She was a tactile, affectionate woman while Charles never really forgets who and what he is or was.

The only bright light being that the way was now clear for him to marry Camilla at last, which he did on April 9, 2005, in a civil ceremony in Windsor Guildhall, followed by a blessing by the Archbishop of Canterbury at Windsor Castle. His mother, the Queen, did not attend the civil ceremony as she believed it would be inappropriate as the Head of the Church of England.

A few years earlier there was another tragedy that had caused Charles to try to forget the past. Diana was involved in a car crash in Paris in 1997, and died immediately.

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Prince Charles and Prince Harry after the devastating news that Diana had died in a crash in Paris the previous night

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There was international mourning for Diana after the crash and the same amount of derision and scorn, aimed at Charles who was blamed, unfairly

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There was happiness for Prince Charles after marrying Camilla Parker Bowles in a Civil Ceremony at the Guildhall in Windsor

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Charles has recently completed an arduous but wonderful tour of Australia and Samoa while continuing to recover from his cancer diagnosis

There was international mourning for her and the same amount of derision and scorn aimed at Charles who was blamed, unfairly, by many millions of men and women. All watched by a worldwide audience.

If there was one thing both Charles and Diana would be jointly proud of it was the fact that they produced two wonderful sons, William and Harry, though Harry, as a typical younger son, is causing certain problems at the moment.

They both love their father and understand the difficulties both parents faced in their early days.

William is working with his father, helping as much as possible and preparing for his own future role.

Anyway, things appear to have settled down for the Royal Family, at last. Charles is behaving impeccably as monarch and has recently completed an arduous tour of Australia while continuing to recover from his cancer diagnosis.

He deserves to enjoy this birthday, more than we know. He’s hard working. He never stops. Now is the time for him to relax, with his wife, and Queen, alongside him. And may we join with many more people, everywhere, in wishing him a Respectful Happy Birthday.

When most people meet King Charles they might get a firm handshake and exchange a few pleasantries.

But as you would expect, he acts in a far more relaxed manner around those close to him – especially his two sons William and Harry in their younger days.

In their company he could be seen fooling around, laughing and joking, playing rough and tumble, and even hugging and kissing, according to one royal biographer.

However in recent years, the King’s private character has come under fire from the disillusioned Prince Harry, who claimed in his tell-all book Spare that the ‘older generation’ of royals had a ‘nearly zero-tolerance prohibition on all physical contact’.

Despite the mound of photo evidence proving the contrary, he wrote: ‘No hugs, no kisses, no pats. Now and then, maybe a light touching of cheeks – on special occasions.’

Here, on the day King Charles turns 76, MailOnline goes inside his private life and reveals his family persona.

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Prince Charles laughs with his sons as he lifts Prince Harry on to Prince William’s shoulder in Kensington Palace for this sweet family photo in 1985

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Prince Charles and his sons Prince Harry and Prince William at his favourite ski resort in Klosters, Switzerland, on March 28, 2002

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Prince Harry is pictured greeting his father during the 10th Anniversary Memorial Service For Diana, Princess of Wales in 2007

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Despite the mound of photo evidence proving the contrary, Prince Harry (pictured in Klosters)  later claimed in his autobiography that there was ‘nearly a zero-tolerance policy’ on physical contact with senior royals

Throughout Charles’ life, there have always been cameras focused on him, so he makes sure to grab the rare moments of privacy he does have with both hands.

Behind the high walls of his palaces and country estates, Charles’ private persona is ‘completely different from his public one’, writes Penny Junor in the 1998 book Charles: Victim or Villain?

The royal author writes: ‘He fools around with the boys, they tease each other laugh, joke, rough and tumble, and even hug and kiss.

‘On the last farewell dinner party in their hotel restaurant, in the middle of the dinner Harry got to his feet and, in front of a table full of people, made a little speech to thank “Papa” as both boys call him (rhymes with super), for giving him such a wonderful holiday.

‘He then walked smartly up to his father and smothered his face in kisses, until, in mock embarrassment, the prince begged for mercy. It was a touching scene…’

However the scene painted in the biography is far different from the one Harry outlines in his 2023 memoir Spare.

There he wrote: ‘The older generation maintained a nearly zero-tolerance prohibition on all physical contact.

‘No hugs, no kisses, no pats. Now and then, maybe a light touching of cheeks – on special occasions.

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Prince William shares a joke with his father and  his brother during a photocall on the ski slopes in Klosters

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Prince Charles playing football with Prince William when he was young

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Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince Harry at Klosters on April 6, 2000

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Prince Harry with his arm around his father, Prince Charles, on a Christmas card in 1994

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Prince Charles with the Princess of Wales and sons Harry and William at Balmoral August 1988

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Charles, William, and Harry play on the bank of the River Dee, near Balmoral Estate, Scotland, on April 10, 1987

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A photo showing the touching moment Prince Charles hugged Prince Louis was shared on the young prince’s second birthday

‘No matter how much you might love someone, you could never cross that chasm between, say, monarch and child. Or Heir and Spare.’

Harry also details feeling like he was born to be the ‘spare kidney’ for his elder brother.

But Junor’s biography of Charles seems to contradict the claims later made by the prince.

She wrote: ‘When William and Harry were small, one of the biggest problems Charles’ valets had was keeping his suits clean.

‘Whenever Charles arrived home at Highgrove by helicopter, it would land in the front field, where sheep graze. As soon as William and Harry heard it overhead, they could come running out to meet him.

‘Once it had landed safely, they would race across the field and jump up into his arms for a hug, smearing one suit after another with the sheep droppings they had trodden in on the way.’

The book also claimed Charles built his sons a ‘massive’ tree house in a holly tree, which became affectionately known as Holyroodhouse after Holyroodhouse Palace, the Queen’s official residence in Edinburgh.

And like their father, both boys were funny mimics, doing better impressions of him than anyone else.

Although most of the King’s physical affection is thought to have happened away from the camera, there were also many instances that were captured on camera.

Prince Harry’s claim that Charles gave no affection to him growing up was put into further doubt in December 2023, when the King was seen kissing his grandsons while filming a documentary for the coronation.

When the King was a baby! Adorable moments from monarch’s childhood

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Prince George, Louis and Princess Charlotte gave great big hugs to their grandfather while rehearsing the coronation

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Prince William kisses his father King Charles on the cheek during the monarch’s coronation ceremony in 2023

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Prince William looks on as the his father and brother share a joke during the presentation ceremony of the Gurkha Welfare Challenge Trophy at Cirencester Park Polo Club

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Prince Harry and Prince William greet their father, Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, at the Service to celebrate the life of Diana, Princess of Wales at the Guards Chapel on August 31, 2007

Royal fans noticed that during a rehearsal for the Westminster Abbey ceremony in May of that year, Charles is seen bending over to hug and kiss Prince George and Prince Louis.

The King also embraced Princess Charlotte, who curtseyed in homage to him.

However the King’s private enthusiasm for physical contact also sometimes spills over into his public facing role.

A Palace source told The Telegraph in September that the King ‘is a genuinely warm and affectionate man who is not embarrassed to express that in a public way. He’s a human and relatable person’.

They noted that if the late Queen was not hugged, it was out of ‘generational respect’, meaning it ‘would have felt wrong to even attempt it’.

Robert Jobson, author of Charles’ biography Our King, said the monarch has ‘always been a pretty good hugger, pretty relaxed about it’.

The royal expert added: ‘The people around the Royal Family can be strict, but the actual royals themselves have always been fairly relaxed. He [the King] is quite tactile and always has been. He’s got a twinkle in his eye.’

Showcasing his sometimes ‘informal approach’, Charles, as Prince of Wales, was seen breakdancing in 1985 and was even kissed on the cheek by a Spice Girl in 1997.

Meanwhile, King Charles has often been dubbed ‘approachable’ – and the well-earned label is proven through his sweet and compassionate interactions with the public.

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Prince Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry play on the bank of the River Dee, near Balmoral Estate, Scotland, on April 10, 1987

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Prince Charles puts his arm around his son Harry, with William watching on, at Klosters in 2005

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Prince Charles and Prince William board the Queen’s Flight plane at Aberdeen Airport in Scotland on September 7, 1984 after a holiday in Balmoral

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Charles and Prince Louis at the Platinum Jubilee Pageant in London on June 5, 2022

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Prince Charles gives Harry a piggy back while swimming

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After his mother died in September 2022, the new King put on a brave face for the country as he shook the hands of well-wishers at Buckingham Palace. In an outpouring of affection, one woman leaned over to kiss his hand (pictured)

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During the King’s trip to the Channel Islands in July, one mischievous 91-year-old local, Kathleen Moriarty, planted a kiss on the monarch’s cheek, much to the delight of onlookers

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Charles was even kissed on the cheek by a Spice Girl in 1997 (pictured)

After his mother died in September 2022, the new King put on a brave face for the country as he shook the hands of well-wishers at Buckingham Palace.

In an outpouring of affection, one woman leaned over to kiss his hand, while another landed one on his cheek.

It was the first sign of what has been dubbed the ‘informal formality’ of King Charles’s reign, reflecting his chilled-out approach to enthusiastic members of the public.

Meanwhile, during the King’s trip to the Channel Islands in July, one mischievous 91-year-old local, Kathleen Moriarty, planted a kiss on the monarch’s cheek, much to the delight of onlookers.

The loud smooch was picked up by nearby cameras, cutting through the noise of the crowd that was gathered in the small town of St Peter Port in Guernsey.

Again, King Charles took it in his stride, shaking Kathleen’s hand and giving her a wry smile.

Yet an act of such intimacy may have provoked a very different response during the reign of the late Queen.

Royal biographers such as Andrew Morton have said Queen Elizabeth II would ‘never’ have allowed a member of the public to kiss her, noting that she had a ‘different kind of style’ from her son.

But it seems for Prince Harry, King Charles’ family persona was still not affectionate enough.