Diana, Princess of Wales is still remembered as a global fashion icon for using her outfits to make pivotal public statements.
Princess Diana is still celebrated today as a global fashion icon (Image: Getty)
Princess Diana set a precedent on how members of the Royal Family should dress when undertaking official duties abroad, a royal expert suggested.
Nearly 30 years after her death, the former Princess of Wales is still celebrated around the world as a leading figure in fashion.
She is still remembered today for repeatedly using her outfits to make important statements – a lesson royal commentator Jennie Bond suggested the Royal Family should practice more often.
The former BBC correspondent cited the example of a visit to Angola that Diana carried out only a few months before her death.
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Bond said: “Diana, towards the end of her life, looked quite different. Think about going to Angola in 1997, in January, February.
Princess Diana donned a simple white shirt and jeans as she walked down a minefield in Angola (Image: Getty)
“I remember there was a male correspondent who said, ‘oh, what’s she going to be wearing?’ I said, ‘I don’t really care what she’s wearing, she’s here for a really serious purpose. I really don’t care what she’s wearing.’
“As it happened, what she wore, in fact, was important because it was a pair of jeans, a jacket. She came to work, hardly any jewels, no frills, no expensive stuff at all.”
Speaking to Times Radio, she added: “And I just thought that was a statement from Diana and she maintained that throughout the tour, we didn’t see any dressy stuff.
“And I think that’s how you should carry out a visit be it a royal visit or not.”
The former royal correspondent contrasted Diana’s fashion picks with the expensive wardrobe selection Meghan Markle brought along during her recent visit to Nigeria.
Diana went for a simpler style to avoid stealing the spotlight from the causes she focussed on (Image: Getty)
The Duchess of Sussex is estimated to have spent approximately £120,000 on new outfits and jewels for the three-day visit.
She said: “I personally have a bit of a problem with Meghan or anyone, including members of the Royal Family, wearing such expensive outfits and dripping with jewels that are worth thousands and thousands of pounds when you’re going somewhere like Nigeria.
“Personally, I don’t see how you do that, it feels a bit out of tune when most Nigerians are thinking where the next meal is going to come from. But it’s not only Meghan who does that, the royals do as well.
Perhaps Meghan felt that was what was expected of her because she does still feel royal even though she doesn’t want to be part of the royals.”
