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Princess Diana married Prince Charles in 1981 wearing a stunning wedding gown designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel

Photo: David Levenson/Getty

Princess Diana’s 1981 wedding gown is arguably one of the most iconic bridal looks of all time. When she married Prince Charles, Diana was only 20 years old and quickly became one of the world’s most publicized figures. In anticipation of the July 29 ceremony, fans and media outlets alike were wild with curiosity about what Diana would wear down the aisle.

Designers Elizabeth and David Emanuel were tasked with creating the royal wedding gown and took several precautions to keep the dress a secret prior to the nuptials. According to Royal Style in the Making exhibit curator Matthew Storey, the team put scraps of fabric that were not used on the actual dress in the garbage in case any members of the press went looking for clues. When July 29, 1981, finally arrived, Princess Diana arrived at St. Paul’s Cathedral wearing a voluminous ivory ball gown with a sparkling veil and record breaking 25-foot train.

Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty

In 2018, Elizabeth Emanuel, who now runs her own fashion line, told PEOPLE, “[Diana] was just lovely, really kind of easy going. We never had any special instructions about how to make the wedding dress. That added a bit to the fun of it all, made it bit of an adventure.”

From the gown to the accessories and a secret second look, here is a complete guide to Princess Diana’s wedding dress.

Princess Diana’s Wedding Dress

Princess Diana and Prince Charles. Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty

Designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel, Diana’s gown was truly fit for a princess — and embodied plenty of bridal trends from the early 1980s. The silk taffeta dress was specially woven and dyed ivory and featured a ruffled collar, puffed sleeves, voluminous skirt and, perhaps most notable, a dramatic 25-foot train and 153-yard tulle veil.

The grand train broke records as the longest in royal wedding history. The length was suggested by David in response to the then-reigning length of 20 feet. “Halfway through, we realized, ‘We’re not going to finish this,’ ” he recalled to E! News. “Behind the scenes we’re thinking, ‘Maybe we’ve bitten off too much … keep sewing!’ “

However, the train was so long that it had to be “folded like a bedsheet” to fit inside the horse-drawn carriage that transported the bride to St. Paul’s Cathedral, resulting in wrinkles.

Ron Bull/Toronto Star

It was also rather cumbersome to carry: Prince Charles’ goddaughter India Hicks, who was in charge of guiding it down the aisle with the Queen’s niece Sarah Armstrong-Jones, recalled to Harper’s Bazaar that as Diana entered the cathedral, she told the girls, “Do your best.”

“We knew what that meant: If we pulled too much, straightening the material, her tiara and veil would slip,” Hicks said. “But if we didn’t pull enough, the effect of the train would be lost.”

The girls even practiced with a long dust cloth that they tied to Diana’s waist. “​​She stood patiently as we were shown how to fold and unfold the fabric so it would glide effortlessly behind her,” Hicks wrote.

In addition to including antique lace from Queen Mary as Princess Diana’s “something old,” the wedding dress also included a blue bow inside the bodice as the bride’s “something blue.” Diana put a hidden good luck charm on her dress, too: an 18-carat gold horseshoe trinket studded with white diamonds.

Princess Diana’s Wedding Accessories

Princess Diana and Prince Charles. Princess Diana Archive/Getty

Princess Diana wore the Spencer Tiara on her wedding day, a Spencer family heirloom. The garland-style crown features diamonds shaped into tulips and stars interspersed with continuous running scrolls and was originally gifted to Diana’s grandmother, Lady Cynthia Hamilton, on her wedding day in 1919.

In addition to the tiara and her sapphire engagement ring from Prince Charles, Diana also wore a pair of diamond earrings with a pear-shaped diamond at the center and 50 smaller ones surrounding it that belonged to her mother, Frances Shand Kydd, according to Express.

Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty

Her custom tulle veil was hand-stitched by Peggy Umpleby of embroidery S. Lock (now Hand & Lock). Umpleby was tasked with creating a special visual effect on Diana’s veil using 10,000 micro pearls. “I asked that the tiny mother of pearl sequins looked as if they were scattered on the tulle. As the sequins were almost transparent, only the sparkles of light would be visible, creating a fairy dust effect,” Elizabeth Emanuel told Vogue U.K. in 2021. “We used the same sequins on the gown itself, so that it would also sparkle as Diana walked down the aisle.”

Umpleby worked on the tulle piece from her own home. “In truth, she sat at her kitchen table embroidering for two solid weeks,” Hand & Lock in-house fashion historian Robert McCaffrey told the outlet. “The veil was completed, sent to the Emanuels and she returned to work, only to have her colleagues remark on how pale she was despite her two-week ‘holiday.’ “

Diana’s wedding shoes, which had a heart design on top and were covered in 542 sequins and 132 pearls, were created by cobbler Clive Shilton. “Her main concern was that she wouldn’t appear taller than Prince Charles, and because she was very tall — 5’10” — the shoes would have to have a low heel,” Shilton told the Daily Mail. The letters “C” and “D” with a heart positioned between them were also painted just below the heel.

Anwar Hussein/Getty

Finally, the bride carried a cascading bouquet of gardenias, stephanotis, odontoglossum orchid, lily of the valley, Earl Mountbatten roses, freesia, veronica, ivy, myrtle and tradescantia down the aisle.

Princess Diana’s Wedding Dress Secrets

Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty

Diana lost so much weight in the lead-up to her wedding that five different bodices reportedly had to be made for her gown. “Most brides do lose weight,” Elizabeth told PEOPLE. “So we weren’t that worried when she did. She ended up with a 23-inch waist from a 26- to 27- inch.”

According to Diana herself, who spoke about her rapid weight loss in Andrew Morton’s book Diana: Her True Story — in Her Own Words, it came on the heels of a comment about her figure by the groom. “The bulimia started the week after we got engaged (and would take nearly a decade to overcome),” she shared. “My husband [Prince Charles] put his hand on my waistline and said: ‘Oh, a bit chubby here, aren’t we?’ and that triggered off something in me.” Additionally, Diana said that she was contending with feelings about her husband’s ex, Camila Parker Bowles. “And the Camilla thing,” she added.

On the day of the wedding, Princess Diana also spilled perfume on her dress while applying her favorite scent, Quelques Fleurs by classic Parisian perfume house Houbigant, creating a stain. Her bridal makeup artist, Barbara Daly, told PEOPLE in 2018 that she instructed Diana to hold that spot on her dress as she was walking, making it look like she was merely holding up her skirt so as not to trip over it.

Princess Diana’s Alternate Wedding Dress

Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty

Emanuel shared that the team had constructed an alternate wedding dress for Princess Diana in case the dress design was leaked prior to the wedding. “At the time we wanted to make absolutely sure that the dress was a surprise,” the designer told PEOPLE. “Had the secret of the real dress got out it’s possible that Diana would actually have worn this one.”

The alternate dress, which was revealed for the first time in 2011, was also an ivory silk taffeta gown with the same ruffles around the neck as the original but without the signature lace. Luckily, the dress was never needed — and it was also never finished.

“We didn’t try it on Diana. We never even discussed it,” said Emanuel. “We wanted to make sure that we had something there; it was for our own peace of mind, really.”

In August 2023, Emanuel shared a never-before-seen photo of a woman working on the dress as it lay on a table.

While the designer was able to locate this rare picture, she says the actual gown is missing. “I don’t know where it went. It just disappeared,” she said.

Beckham used his brother Romeo’s longtime tattoo artist, London-based Certified Letter Boy, for the new ink

Kimberlee Speakman is a digital writer at PEOPLE. She has been working at PEOPLE since 2022. Her work has previously appeared in Forbes and she has also worked in broadcast television as a reporter for Hawaii-based news station KHON2 News.

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Photo: Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty; Certified Letter Boy

Cruz Beckham has some new ink, seemingly in tribute to his mother, Victoria Beckham.

The youngest son of David and Victoria Beckham, who turned 18 in February of this year, got a special gift for himself to commemorate his mom — in the form of a special tattoo with her Spice Girls moniker.

London-based celebrity tattoo artist Pablo, who goes by Certified Letter Boy on social media, showed off the new tattoo on Cruz’s right arm in a series of black-and-white photos on Instagram. The first photo shows the tattoo that reads, “Posh,” an apparent nod to his mom’s nickname “Posh Spice,” in cursive letters right below his elbow.

A second photo shows Cruz making eye contact with the camera as he gets his arm tattooed, and a black-and-white video shows the whole process, zooming in on Cruz’s arm as the letters are being inked.

Cruz poses for a photo as he gets his tattoo done by tattoo artist Certified Letter Boy.Certified Letter Boy

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“Posh @cruzbeckham 💫,” the tattoo artist captioned the Instagram carousel. “I think we all get the vibe here don’t we? 💥Thank you for the trust my g 🙏”

Cruz’s brother Romeo Beckham, 21, has been a long-time client of Certified Letter Boy and even got two tattoos from the popular tattoo artist, including one that read “freedom to dream” on his torso and “free spirit” on his hand.

This comes six months after proud parents Victoria, 49, and David, 48, celebrated Cruz’s birthday by sharing a slideshow of photos of him throughout the years, set to Beyoncé’s “Love on Top.”

Cruz Beckham and David Beckham attend the Dior Homme Menswear Fall-Winter 2023-2024 show as part of Paris Fashion Week on January 20, 2023 in Paris, France.Victor Boyko/Getty

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“Happy 18th Birthday to our baby boy ❤️ to the most amazing boy with the most amazing energy and the biggest heart x we are so proud of you and we love you so much Cruzie ❤️,” David wrote.

Victoria also shared her own birthday wishes for her son at the same time by posting the same clip and writing, “Happy Birthday Cruzie!! We all love you so much and are so proud of the incredible young man you have become 🙏🏼 You are our everything. Happy 18th superstar ⭐️ 💫 🌟 ❤️.”

The proud mom also shared a photo of her husband and the birthday boy enjoying his first legal beer in the U.K., writing on top of the photo, “18 today!!!!!! Finally!!!!!! 😂”

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Cruz posted his own photo on Instagram in honor of his first pint, which showed him drinking a beer in a pub with his dad and big brother Romeo while wearing a New York Knicks cap.

Cruz captioned the photo, “Feels good to be 18.”

“I think he copied me,” David Beckham’s sister Joanne joked from her baby girl’s point of view, captioning a snap of Beckham gazing down at his new niece

It’s been almost seven years since David Beckham had a newborn of his own to fawn over, but luckily, his family’s got him covered.

The former professional soccer player looks completely enamored with his 7-week-old niece Peggy in a sweet photo shared by the baby’s mama: Beckham’s younger sister Joanne.

As Beckham gazes animatedly down at the adorable newborn, it’s impossible not to notice that the twosome are rocking similar hair styles.

“L O V E . M Y . U N C L E … as if me and uncle david have the same hair! I think he copied me 😂@davidbeckham ! ❤,” she captioned the too-cute snapshot.

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Four days after Peggy’s birth, the proud uncle shared a photo and video gallery to Instagram of himself posing with the adorable newborn.

“Welcome to the world little Peggy ❤ So proud of my little sis and congrats @krissydonners #Daddy such a beautiful family #proudUncle @joannebeckham,” Beckham wrote in the caption.

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 David Beckham Spends New Year’s Eve With His “Beautiful Boys” Brooklyn, Romeo and Cruz

The father of four, 42, and wife Victoria Beckham regularly use social media to express their love for their own children: Harper Seven, 6½, Cruz David, 13 this month, Romeo James, 15, and Brooklyn Joseph, 18.

“The best daddy in the world x We Love u so so much 💕💕💕 💕 kisses,” the former Spice Girls member, 43, captioned a sweet January photo of her husband and daughter sharing a pasta noodle, Lady and the Tramp-style.

The former Manchester United soccer star has always had the support of his dad and mom

Sandra and Ted Beckham at the 2002 World Cup. ; David Beckham prior to the Manchester United ’99 Legends v FC Bayern Legends match in 2019. Photo: Dave Hogan/Getty ; Matthew Ashton – AMA/Getty

The love of soccer runs deep in David Beckham’s veins, thanks to his parents, Ted Beckham and Sandra West.

His dad and mom were such fanatical supporters of the professional soccer club Manchester United that they frequently traveled 200 miles from their London home just to attend matches with their kids. The couple wed in 1969 and welcomed three children, including their son David and daughters Lynne Georgina and Joanne Louise. In 2002, Ted and Sandra got divorced after 33 years of marriage.

David has said that he bonded with his father over their mutual passion for soccer and Manchester United, for whom the U.K. superstar eventually went on to play. More significantly, Ted taught him how to play soccer from childhood, every night after work, to hone his skills.

“We’d started by kicking a ball about in the back garden, but I was murdering the flowerbeds so, after he got in from his job as a heating engineer, we’d go to the park together and just practise and practise for hours on end,” David wrote in his 2003 autobiography, David Beckham: My Side.

The former English soccer star, once the highest-paid player in the world, also credits his mother for his success. “My mum was the one that was driving me to training, to games when my dad was working,” he said in the Disney+ 2022 docuseries Save Our Squad with David Beckham. He later said, “I as a parent now, realize how much my parents gave up for me.”

David paid tribute to Sandra on her 75th birthday in June 2024, sharing a photo of her with all three of her kids taken during his childhood on Instagram.

“Happy Birthday Mum love you so much x The sun is shining and you deserve to have the best day ❤️ we love u so much ❤️ Lots of love your favorite child 😂,” he wrote.

From their personal careers to their constant support, here’s everything to know about David Beckham’s parents, Ted Beckham and Sandra West.

David credits his parents for his work ethic

Left to right: Sandra West, Ted Beckham and David Beckham.Netflix

Ted was an Essex heating engineer and appliance repairman who installed domestic boilers for a living, while Sandra worked as a hairstylist in nursing homes.

In an interview with The Father Hood, David spoke about their tireless work ethic, opening up about what it was like seeing them put in the effort for their family of five.

“When we were kids he used to go out to work at six o’clock in the morning and often come home at nine o’clock at night,” David said. “My mum was the same — she used to work during the day and then in the evenings, once my sisters and I were in bed, she’d do hairdressing until 12 o’clock at night.”

Ted and Sandra have three children

David Beckham’s parents, dad Ted Beckhamand Sandra West, with his sister Joanne Beckham at an event in February 2012.Richard Young/Shutterstock

Ted and Sandra first welcomed daughter Lynne in 1972, followed by David in 1975 and Joanne in 1982.

The former couple are also grandparents of eight. David shares four children — Brooklyn, Romeo, Cruz and Harper — with his wife Victoria Beckham. Meanwhile, Lynne has three kids — Freddie, Georgina and Josh — with her ex-husband Colin Every. Joanne has a daughter, Peggy, with Big Brother U.K. participant Kris Donnelly, from whom she separated shortly after giving birth.

Ted and Sandra also have one great-granddaughter, who is the child of their granddaughter, Georgina, named Winter Rose.

They divorced in 2002

David Beckham and Ted Beckham.David Beckham Instagram

In his autobiography, David wrote about his parents’ relationship and noted that Ted loved Sandra, although he didn’t show affection toward her in front of him or his sisters.

“He’s quite hard-faced and can be sarcastic,” David wrote. “He also gets fired up easily … The quality I like least in myself is my short temper. I think I get it from my dad.”

Nearly two decades after Ted and Sandra divorced, David’s dad found love again. In December 2021, Ted married Hilary Meredith, a law professor and advocate, in London. The couple met through their charity work for military veterans at Broughton House Veteran Care Village and announced their engagement in March 2020.

David stood by his father’s side as his best man and later posted a photo on Instagram of himself fixing Ted’s tie right before the ceremony.

“Beautiful day celebrating my dad and Hillary’s wedding,” he captioned pictures of him and the newlyweds at the special event. “Amazing to be together with all the family. So proud to be there for my dad like he’s always been there for me. Love you dad.”

David wanted to win for Ted

Ted Beckham holds his son David Beckham.David Beckham Instagram

In the Save Our Squad docuseries, David said, “My dad was my inspiration, I wanted to win for him.” By the time David was a toddler, Ted was making balls out of rolled-up socks for him to kick.

“All the strengths in my game are the ones Dad taught me in the park 20 years ago,” David wrote in My Side. His father pushed him tirelessly until he was satisfied with his performance, but he revealed that it was all Ted wanted to do anyway. “I was lucky Dad was so willing to do it with me,” he shared.

When asked to recall his father’s best piece of advice in an interview with The Father Hood, David said it was to “never give up — no matter what.”

“If I got a kick in a game, I’d look over to him and he’d be like, ‘Get up! Get up! Don’t show people that you’re hurt!’ ” he continued. “There was a steeliness that he kind of instilled into me on that side. It actually made me stronger as a person.”

They were not initially supportive of David’s relationship with now-wife Victoria

David Beckham with his wife Victoria Beckham and parents, Sandra West and Ted Beckham, March 2019.Meg Oliphant/Getty

David’s mother has admitted that she was worried he would get sidetracked from his career at Manchester United when David began dating former Spice Girl Victoria in 1997.

In David’s four-part Netflix documentary, Beckham, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Fisher Stevens, Sandra opened up about what it was like seeing their relationship begin.

“We were worried he would lose all that he worked for because football had always come first and then all of a sudden it wasn’t,” she said in a trailer.

Today, David and Victoria have been married for more than 20 years. For their 24th wedding anniversary in 2023, he dedicated a tribute to her on Instagram. “On this day 4.7.99 ❤️ 24 years and counting 👵🏼 👴🏼 To the best wife , mummy & drinking partner ( most of the time 🤪 ) Happy Anniversary love u so much ❤️,” he wrote.

Ted’s book caused a rift between him and David

Ted Beckham at the launch of The David Beckham Football Academy ; David Beckham at the 2023 U.S. Open Cup Final.Fred Duval/FilmMagic ; Hector Vivas/Getty

Ted wrote in his unauthorized 2005 book, David Beckham: My Son, that it was difficult for him and Sandra to cope with David’s fame.

“All the hype, all the stress, all the attention — it wasn’t a world we were used to and it was very tough. I don’t think we were really prepared for it — although I’m not sure there’s much you can do to prepare yourself,” he wrote, per The Mirror.

He added, “You just get swept along in it and bowled along. But it does wear you down.”

Ted’s relationship with David previously experienced hardship when the soccer star signed with the Spanish team Real Madrid in 2003. Ted reportedly disagreed with the transfer and was insulted that he heard the news through David’s manager, saying it hit him like a “sledgehammer,” according to The Sun.

After publicly accusing Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson of being behind the “betrayal,” Ted wasn’t invited to David’s signing. The father of three wrote that he feared he’d lost his son forever at the time.

David and Ted reunited after a health scare

Ted Beckham and David Beckham in December 2021.David Beckham Instagram

In September 2007, David reconciled with his father when Ted suffered a near-fatal heart attack and was rushed into surgery.

David immediately flew to his father’s bedside from the U.S., where he had just transferred to the L.A. Galaxy team. The traumatic incident was a wake-up call for the pair, who have remained close ever since. They talked about their bond in a short Father’s Day film for David’s whisky brand, Haig Club, in June 2019.

Reminiscing about his childhood, David shared, per The Sun, “The moment I got home from school, I’d turn around to you and say, ‘Let’s go to the park or let’s go out in the garden.’ And you never said no to me.”

He continued, “When you actually become a parent, it changes you in so many different ways,” to which Ted replied, “You just want to be with them. It does make you grow up and feel special.”

David’s father then added: “You’ve turned out exactly how I wanted you.”

During an in-depth interview, Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, revealed that she has ‘really made an active effort’ to heal relations and find forgiveness for the Royal Family

When Meghan Markle married Prince Harry and officially became the Duchess of Sussex she was already established within public life, as a successful actress.

However, she has admitted since that she was not entirely prepared for how intense the spotlight the Royal Family lives within would be, and has been candid about the fact that she struggled with mental health issues and suicidal thoughts whilst a working royal. This led to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex realising that they needed to make a change and that operating as full-time, tax-payer-funded representatives of the crown wasn’t suitable for their young family. Whilst the couple initially hoped that they would be able to continue to be working royals on a part-time basis, the late Queen Elizabeth deemed this model impossible and they made a full break from the House of Windsor.

Since then, relations have been strained between the Sussexes and some of the other senior royals, with Meghan and Harry’s candour about the issues they faced inside the monarchy and allegations levied at Queen Camilla and Prince William amongst others reportedly becoming points of contention. However, in a wide-ranging interview, Meghan opened up about the importance of “forgiveness” and explained that she had made “an active effort” in this regard toward her royal in-laws.

Speaking to The Cut magazine in 2022, when she was promoting her podcast Archetypes, Meghan was asked if, despite everything that had gone on with the Windsors and her own family over the years, forgiveness was still possible. The Duchess replied “I think forgiveness is really important. It takes a lot more energy to not forgive…But it takes a lot of effort to forgive. I’ve really made an active effort, especially knowing that I can say anything”.

She also said that there were no practical blockages getting in the way of her voicing her opinions about her experiences: “It’s interesting, I’ve never had to sign anything that restricts me from talking…I can talk about my whole experience and make a choice not to,” and later in the interview noted, “I have a lot to say until I don’t. Do you like that? Sometimes, as they say, the silent part is still part of the song.” Elsewhere in the interview, Meghan revealed that she had packed up her UK home of Frogmore Cottage whilst visiting the country for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, a weekend of celebration that coincided with Princess Lilibet’s first birthday.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly keen to spend the Christmas holidays with the Spencer family in the UK, but do you think they should? Vote in our poll below.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have received an invitation to spend Christmas with the Spencers (Image: Getty)

Christmas Day is only 11 weeks away and families around the world are already beginning to decide their festive and winter holiday plans – including the Royal Family.

According to a well-placed source, Express.co.uk has revealed this year Prince Harry is keen to spend the holidays in the United Kingdom with his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Prince Archie, five and Princess Lilibet, three.

This comes as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex received an invitation to spend Christmas with Harry’s uncle, Charles Spencer at the family home in Althorp, Northamptonshire.

The source claimed: “Harry is keen for the Sussexes to spend time in the UK this Christmas with family. However, there are still concerns lingering over their security.

“Meghan has always shown a reluctance to travel to the United Kingdom and finds it quite a challenge with all that’s been going on.”

Our poll asks Express.co.uk readers ‘Should Prince Harry and Meghan Markle join the Spencer family for Christmas?’

Althorp has been home to the Spencer family for more than 500 years (Image: Getty)
If Meghan Markle were to attend, which is looking highly unlikely at this stage, it would be the first time the Duchess has properly set foot in the UK since the late Queen’s funeral in 2022.

Previously, Harry has previously expressed “genuine concerns” about Meghan Markle returning to the UK. He told ITV’s ‘Tabloids on Trial’ about his worries: “And whether it’s a knife or acid, these are things that are genuine concerns for me. It’s one of the reasons why I won’t bring my wife back to this country.”

The source adds that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have not yet received an invitation to join the Royal Family at their annual Sandringham gathering – and it’s not thought they would accept even if one was extended.

It comes as both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were also absent at last year’s Royal Family Christmas gathering at Sandringham.

Prince Harry was last at Althorp House, the final resting place of his late mother, in August, after going to the memorial service for Diana’s brother-in-law, Lord Robert Fellowes.

EXCLUSIVE: Meghan Markle showed off a major hair change last week at an event in Los Angeles.

Meghan Markle sported loose waves on Saturday night (Image: Getty)

Meghan Markle’s hair change appears to hint at three major changes in her life, according to MAYFIVE’s co-founder Katie Allan.

The Duchess of Sussex, who stepped out at the LA Children’s Hospital Gala on Saturday night, had her long locks styled in loose “effortless” beach waves. Many fans noticed Meghan’s new look, and it seemingly posed a difference from her usual sleek hairstyle.

As well as likely wanting to switch up her hair, celebrity stylist and MAYFIVE co-founder Katie Allan believes there could be three life changes behind Meghan’s look.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, she said: “Meghan debuted a fresh new hairstyle at the LA Children’s Hospital Gala. We’re used to seeing Meghan with sleek and polished hairstyles, but her new natural, relaxed tousled look was a lot more laid back with an effortless vibe.

“The waves are a lot softer than we are used to seeing on Meghan, and is a contrast to her usual style of low buns or bouncy blow dries.”

Speaking of the potential changes, she added: “This natural yet glamorous look could suggest that she’s feeling more relaxed, relatable and approachable.

“We often change up our style when we are embracing a lifestyle or attitude change, so this new look could reflect that.

“This style also reflects current trends as laid back, effortless styles are rising in popularity and will continue to be popular into 2025.”

As well as Meghan’s hair, her dress also sparked marked fan frenzy after sporting a recycled £4,595 ($5,990) red Carolina Herrera dress.

Meghan Markle looked stunning in red (Image: GETTY)

Taking to X, one fan commented: “She looks young, beautiful and healthy. Her hair is lovely [pink-heart emoji]”, whilst another added: “She stepped out so beautifully.”

Prince Harry was noticeably absent from the event as he had travelled to Lesotho for a series of engagements for his charity, Sentebale.

According to a well-placed source, Harry was due to head back to California this weekend to reunite with Meghan and their two children, but has chosen to prolong his solo trip by an extra few days.

The source added that the Duke will likely head to Johannesburg and Cape Town for “private time” with family and friends.

The Duchess of Sussex could be undergoing some life changes, with rumours rife that her and Prince Harry are going their separate ways professionally.

Meghan debuted a new hairstyle on the red carpet (Image: Tommaso Boddi/Getty Images)

Meghan Markle could be in the midst of a major life change after her latest red carpet appearance.

The Duchess, 43, stepped out at the LA Children’s Hospital Gala on Saturday without Prince Harry by her side, however this did not stop Meghan making quite the statement.

Rewearing her £4,595 red Carolina Herrera dress, which she had previously debuted in 2021 in a different style, Meghan also showcased a hairstyle not commonly seen on the mum-of-two.

As opposed to the usual sleek style, Meghan instead chose to debut a new look on the carpet with effortlessly beachy waves, a style more commonly seen on Princess Kate.

Celebrity stylist and MAYFIVE co-founder Katie Allan has now said that this change away from her usual style may hint that the Duchess has experienced a change in her life

She exclusively told Express.co.uk: “Meghan debuted a fresh new hairstyle at the LA Children’s Hospital Gala.

“Were used to seeing Meghan with sleek and polished hairstyles, but her new natural, relaxed tousled look was a lot more laid back with an effortless vibe.

“The waves are a lot softer than we are used to seeing on Meghan, and is a contrast to her usual style of low buns or bouncy blow dries.”

She continued to tell the Daily Express: “This natural yet glamorous look could suggest that she’s feeling more relaxed, relatable and approachable.

Meghan often goes for a slicked back hairstyle (Image: Karwai Tang/WireImage)

“We often change up our style when we are embracing a lifestyle or attitude change, so this new look could reflect that.”

The red carpet appearance came after rumours were already rife that the Duchess and her husband Prince Harry were going their separate ways professionally.

This came after the prince jetted off from his Californian home for a string of solo engagements /news/royal/1958212/prince-harry-meghan-markle-solo-childrenin New York, the UK and Africa.

Meghan is believed to have been at home with the couple’s two children Archie, five, and Lilibet, three.

Meghan Markle was criticised by a royal expert for “alienating” any friend that “upsets” her.

Meghan Markle was brutally savaged by a royal expert after she was accused of “alienating a lot of former friends” and “cutting them dead” if they upset her.

The latest blow came following the Duchess of Sussex’s appearance at a children’s hospital gala last Saturday.

Meghan was seen mingling with celebrities at the charity event with the likes of Demi Lovato and Kaley Cuoco.

However, one of her former pals was also at the glitzy gala, British socialite Lizzie Cundy, who was very critical of the duchess.

She told the Mail: “There wasn’t a great deal of warmth from people when she arrived. She wasn’t there long – she seemed to be there for the photographs. Meghan needs LA more than LA needs her. LA people feel they’ve been played by her.”

Meghan Markle was slammed by a royal expert (Image: Getty)

Meghan and Lizzie were close since 2013 after meeting at a charity gala, however, the duchess allegedly “ignored and ghosted her” after she met Prince Harry.

She told the outlet: “She ghosted me once the engagement hit. She’s ghosted quite a lot of people, obviously, including her family, so I’m not the worst person she’s ghosted.”

But now royal author Ingrid Seward slammed the duchess’s “pattern” of “alienating” anyone who “upsets” her.

She told the Sun: “Well, I think that Meghan has managed to alienate a lot of her former friends. She does something which is very distressing for people. She actually sort of just cuts them dead and ghosts them, as it’s called.

“But to me, it’s just called cutting them dead and not wanting to see them anymore. And if they upset her, that’s what she does and it’s very difficult to deal with somebody like that. I think that people are just fed up with Meghan.”

The author added: “The point is that people are starting to be actually, you know, speak out about being unhappy with the way that Meghan is.

Meghan Markle attends Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Gala (Image: Getty)

“She was all smiles at one stage, and now she just looks different, and it doesn’t look real.”

Meanwhile, Meghan’s close friend Kelly McKee Zajfen, who was snapped with the duchess on the red carpet on Saturday, sang her praises following the charity event.

Ms McKee Zajfen thanked her friend for turning up in honour of the hospital, which has cared for Kelly’s daughter Lily, who has had a heart condition since the age of two.

She wrote on Instagram: “I was also beyond grateful to share in this beautiful evening with one of my closest friends. Meg, your commitment to supporting Children’s Hospital Los Angeles and community is truly inspiring. I’m so grateful to have you by my side.”

The Princess Royal spoke about the concept of the slimmed down monarchy and how that looked after certain members of the firm quit.

Princess Anne may have made a subtle dig at the couple earlier this year (Image: Karwai Tang/WireImage)

Princess Anne was seen to have made a discreet dig at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle when asked about the concept of a “slimmed down” monarchy.

The Princess Royal, 74, has never spoken about the couple outright since their exit from the Royal Family in 2020, and was once of the only royals seen talking to Harry at events such as the King’s Coronation.

However, when being interviewed by CBC earlier this year, Anne said that her brother’s decision to slim down the number of senior working royals was made before certain senior people stepped down from their duties.

She said at the time: “Well, I think the ‘slimmed-down’ (monarchy) was said in a day when there were a few more people around to make that seem like a justifiable comment.

“I mean, it doesn’t sound like a good idea from where I’m standing, I have to say. I’m not quite sure what else, you know, we can do.”

Although rarely seen in public together, Princess Anne reportedly knew that Meghan had a “short shelf-life” in the monarchy as she failed to take the veteran royal’s precious advice on board.

Royal expert Neil Sean said of the incident: “According to a very good source Meghan Markle failed to warm to Princess Anne. And Princess Anne always knew that Meghan would have a very short shelf-life in the world of the British monarchy.

“Apparently, when Meghan Markle joined the Royal Family, she sought out Princess Anne. According to a very good source, Princess Anne gave very sage advice to the new royal.

“Princess Anne reiterated this mantra, she pointed out that it wasn’t a working monarchy, it was a job, you turn up on time, you do your research, and do the duty.

Anne spoke to Harry at the King’s Coronation (Image: Richard Pohle – WPA Pool/Getty Images)

“It’s all about the project at hand. She also pointed out that whatever charities you are involved in you, you needed to get involved and get immersed.”

The Princess Royal has the title of one of the most hardworking members of the family, despite the fact she is also one of the oldest.

Despite suffering an injury earlier this year, Anne only took a brief period of time away from work to recover before returning back to her royal duties.