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Adelaide Cottage may lack space compared to Kensington Palace and the 10-bedroom Anmer Hall home the Wales family spends time at in Norfolk, but it offers in turn ample green space for the nature-loving Wales family to enjoy.

Prince William and Princess Kate have a number of royal homes that have all had costly renovations (Image: Getty)

Adelaide Cottage is the Grade-II listed residence in Windsor that the Prince and Princess of Wales moved to during the summer of 2022.

Far from the grandeur of the 20-room, four-storey Apartment 1A at Kensington Palace that Kate and William called their home for several years prior to moving to Berkshire, Adelaide Cottage is nestled in the heart of the 655-acre Windsor estate.

The property has four bedrooms, just enough for Princess Kate, Prince William and their three children – Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6 – but not to provide live-in accommodation for Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo, the family’s beloved nanny.

Adelaide Cottage may lack space compared to Kensington Palace and the 10-bedroom Anmer Hall home the Wales family spends time at in Norfolk, but it offers in turn ample green space for the nature-loving Wales family to enjoy.

While not many details are known about the residence, a historic painting of Adelaide Cottage’s garden shows an outdoor fountain and circular flowerbeds

Being within the Windsor estate, this home offers incomparable privacy to the family and allows George, Charlotte and Louis to play outside unbothered by the public eye.

This cottage was created by architect Jeffry Wyatville in 1831 and has counted, among its previous residents, Princess Margaret’s lover Peter Townsend.

Some of its still existing decorations are reportedly a nod to the 19th century – including golden dolphins and ceiling rope decorations in the primary bedroom and a marble fireplace in the living room.

One of the reasons why Princess Kate and Prince William are believed to have chosen to relocate to this home is its proximity to both the Princess of Wales’ family and Windsor Castle.

Princess Kate made a return to royal duties this year after pulling through her cancer treatment (Image: Getty)

Adelaide Cottage is also close to the Berkshire home shared by Kate’s sister Pippa and her husband James Matthews. The Princess of Wales’ parents are just a 45-minute drive away, as they live in Bucklebury.

There is also a dilapidated annexe building on the grounds which, if converted, could provide extra space for staff and guests.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are said to have had discussions with the Crown Estate about renovating the property.

Earlier this month, six months after revealing that she was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, Princess Kate shared the welcome news that she had finished chemotherapy.

EXCLUSIVE: Prince Harry has chosen to avoid staying at a royal residence on his upcoming visit to the UK and a meeting with his father King Charles is “highly unlikely”.

Prince Harry and King Charles were once extremely close (Image: Getty)

Prince Harry will be staying within a stone’s throw of Buckingham Palace during his upcoming trip to the United Kingdom but is unlikely to meet with his father, King Charles.

According to a well-placed source, the Duke of Sussex, 40, will be within a very short distance of his family’s main residence when he arrives in the capital for the WellChild Awards on September 30.

The news comes as Prince Harry took to the stage at a Kevin Costner charity event on Friday evening to honour fellow helicopter pilot Loren Courtney with an award.

At the Santa Barbara One805Live! fundraiser for first responders, Harry appeared solo as “sick” Meghan Markle was forced to miss the event after making an appearance last year.

The Duke of Sussex is also set to head to New York alone this week for a number of engagements, including an appearance at a Diana Award event to honour his late mother, before he heads to London for his scheduled engagement.

The Sunday Express is aware of where Prince Harry will be staying during his upcoming visit to London but has agreed to withhold the information for security reasons.

The source adds that although the prince has chosen to avoid staying at a royal residence, a meeting with his father King Charles, 75, has not been ruled out but is “highly unlikely”.

“The King is due to head south in late September,” said the source. “The King and Queen will mark the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament on September 28 and will have several free days afterwards.”

“There are currently discussions ongoing about finding a mutually agreeable place in the diary.”

However, the source adds that a father and son reunion is looking extremely doubtful due to the speed in which both will be in and out of the capital.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s visit to Colombia was deemed a success (Image: Getty)

“If the King decides to head to London in the evening of Sunday 29 for meetings pencilled inearly that week, it is still looking highly unlikely that there will be time to meet with his son,” said the source. “It still hasn’t been decided if His Majesty will head to Highgrove or London on the tail end of Scotland or how his plans will pan out during that week.

“Harry is also making a flying visit and his travel plans have already been booked and organised.

“There still could be something worked out as nothing is set in stone but it doesn’t look promising.”

The last time King Charles and Prince Harry saw each other was in February when it was announced that the monarch had cancer and the prince flew from the US to see his father for just 45 minutes.

When the Duke returned in May, the King was too busy to meet, although His Majesty did offer his son accommodation in one of the royal properties, contrary to reports. Harry chose to stay in a hotel instead.

It has been made clear by sources close to the Sussexes on a number of occasions that the prince is keen to reconcile with his father.

The Princess Royal is alleged to have told her sister-in-law that her title is Queen Consort and not Queen, according to Princess Diana’s dressmaker, David Emanuel.

He claimed that the topic of Camilla’s new title is “highly charged” and that “a lot of people” are “unhappy” that she will be referred to as Queen rather than Queen Consort.

The King’s wife was reportedly confronted by Anne as the designer said the “whole situation” is “very difficult” amid claims that not everyone accepts Camilla’s new title.

Speaking to Dan Wootton on GB News, Mr Emanuel, who designed Princess Diana’s wedding dress in 1981, said: “I heard that there was a Coronation dinner with which obviously the King and Camila were there, and apparently the Princess Royal said, ‘You’re not Queen, you’re the Queen’s consort’.”

He added: “I understood from Her Majesty the Queen, she said she should be Queen Consort. Now suddenly she’s now going to be Queen.

“And it’s very difficult because a lot of people have told me they were unhappy about it.”

During the Coronation, Princess Anne will feature in the procession as the prestigious “Gold-Stick-in-Waiting”, a position historically handed to a person entrusted with the personal safety of the sovereign.

As a “personal aide-de-camp” to His Majesty, Anne will travel on horseback behind the new King and Queen after they are crowned at Westminster Abbey on May 6.

As Charles and Camilla ride in the Gold State Coach back to Buckingham Palace, Anne will lead the larger procession featuring 6,000 armed services personnel.

The privilege dates back to the 15th century in Tudor times, when two officers – a Gold Stick and a Silver Stick, were placed close to the sovereign to protect him or her from danger.

One of the guests at the Coronation is Camilla’s former husband Andrew Parker Bowles, who was married to her for 22 years from 1973 to 1995.

Friends of the 83-year-old said he is “a bit of a rogue” and “very naughty with women”, according to a source who spoke to The Times.

YOU’RE A FAILURE TO THE ROYAL FAMILY! Zara Tindall Destroyed Meghan On Mike Talk Show

If drama were currency, the British Royal Family would be rolling in riches. In the latest episode of this real-life soap opera, Zara Tindall—Princess Anne’s sporty horse-riding daughter and Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest granddaughter—has thrown her gauntleted hat into the ring.

But this isn’t about equestrian excellence; Zara has been candid and rather spicy in her commentary on the ongoing Royal Family feud, especially when it comes to Meghan Markle.

From subtle shade to outright criticism, her statements have set tongues wagging and created ripples in the usually stiff-upper-lip world of royalty.

yOU’RE A FAILURE TO THE ROYAL FAMILY! Zara Tindall Destroyed Meghan On Mike Talk Show

If drama were currency, the British Royal Family would be rolling in riches. In the latest episode of this real-life soap opera, Zara Tindall—Princess Anne’s sporty horse-riding daughter and Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest granddaughter—has thrown her gauntleted hat into the ring.

But this isn’t about equestrian excellence; Zara has been candid and rather spicy in her commentary on the ongoing Royal Family feud, especially when it comes to Meghan Markle.

From subtle shade to outright criticism, her statements have set tongues wagging and created ripples in the usually stiff-upper-lip world of royalty.

In the latest episode of the ongoing royal drama, Zara Tindall, known for her sporty prowess and royal lineage as Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest granddaughter, has boldly stepped into the spotlight with her unfiltered commentary on the tumultuous dynamics within the Windsor family.

Her remarks, laden with subtle jabs and outright criticisms, particularly aimed at Meghan Markle, have ignited a frenzy of speculation and debate in the typically reserved world of royalty.

Zara, often maintaining a low profile compared to her more media-friendly cousins, Prince William and Prince Harry, has recently made headlines for her outspokenness.

Her candid observations have not minced words when addressing the royal family’s inner turmoil, notably exacerbated by Meghan Markle’s entry into the fold.

Critics and supporters alike have polarized opinions on Zara’s outspoken stance. Some applaud her for daring to voice what many perceive as lingering tensions and frustrations within the royal ranks. They see her as a refreshing voice of honesty in a milieu often cloaked in discretion.

Others, however, argue that her comments add unnecessary fuel to already contentious issues, suggesting diplomacy might serve better in maintaining family unity.

The repercussions of Zara’s words ripple through both the public and within royal corridors.

They have sparked intense scrutiny and raised questions about the future dynamics of the royal family. Will her outspokenness lead to a much-needed airing of grievances and foster understanding? Or will it deepen existing divides, casting shadows over familial bonds?

As the saga unfolds, one thing is certain: Zara Tindall’s voice has carved out a significant role in the ongoing narrative of royal controversy.

Whether seen as a provocateur or a truth-teller, her contributions promise to resonate through the corridors of royal intrigue for some time to come.

Others, however, argue that her comments add unnecessary fuel to already contentious issues, suggesting diplomacy might serve better in maintaining family unity.

The repercussions of Zara’s words ripple through both the public and within royal corridors.

They have sparked intense scrutiny and raised questions about the future dynamics of the royal family. Will her outspokenness lead to a much-needed airing of grievances and foster understanding? Or will it deepen existing divides, casting shadows over familial bonds?

As the saga unfolds, one thing is certain: Zara Tindall’s voice has carved out a significant role in the ongoing narrative of royal controversy.

Whether seen as a provocateur or a truth-teller, her contributions promise to resonate through the corridors of royal intrigue for some time to come.

The moment may have been a partial nod to Ice Spice’s song ‘Princess Diana,’ which features the Queen of Rap

Nicki Minaj; Princess Diana. Photo: Kevin Mazur/Getty; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

The Queen of Rap is paying tribute to Princess Diana.

During her Sunday, May 26 Pink Friday 2 Tour stop in Birmingham, United Kingdom, Nicki Minaj, 41, led a seemingly impromptu moment of silence for the late Princess of Wales, who died in 1997.

In between songs, Minaj interacted with fans at Resorts World Arena, giving them her microphone to learn where they are from, a fan-captured clip of the concert shows.

After a fan told her they were from Wales, the rapper repeated, “Wales,” and switched over to a British accent.

“It always reminds me of a dear friend of mine,” she continued, still speaking in the accent. “Well, she’s not here anymore, but the Princess of Wales.”

Nicki Minaj Brings Out ‘Icon’ Cyndi Lauper as Surprise Guest at Brooklyn Concert to Duet ‘Pink Friday Girls’

Nicki Minaj performing in California in March 2024.Kevin Mazur/WireImage

As the crowd roared in response to the name-drop, the “Superbass” rapper put her hands together — and her head down — and asked fans to hold “a moment of silence for her.”

Following a few-second-long pause, the rapper then resumed her show, with the Barbz in the audience also returning to business as usual.

Though Minaj and Diana are certainly not “dear friends” — the pair never met prior to the princess’s death, at which time Minaj was just 14 years old — the rapper is certainly an admirer.

She was featured on Ice Spice’s popular song named after the late royal, “Princess Diana.” In the track, both artists rap, “When we come out, it look like Princess Diana on the street.”

Elsewhere in the song, Ice Spice references the royal again, rapping, “Callin’ my phone, but they know I don’t answer / In the hood, I’m like Princess Diana,” and Minaj’s verse also includes several references to both London and a “princess.”

Nicki Minaj Throws Item Back into Crowd After Nearly Getting Hit by Object Onstage

‘Princess Diana’ collaborators Ice Spice and Nicki Minaj.Courtesy of Atlantic Records

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The May 26 show came a day after Minaj was arrested in the Netherlands (an interaction she recorded and shared on social media) on May 25 for allegedly “carrying drugs” while she was on her way to Manchester, England for a concert.

Later that same day, the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee fined and released the rapper, the law enforcement officials confirmed in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).

“We have just released a 41-year-old American woman who we arrested this afternoon at Schiphol on suspicion of exporting soft drugs,” the statement (translated from Dutch) read. “After consultation with the Public Prosecution Service, the suspect was fined and can continue her journey.”

Nicki Minaj Apologizes to Fans for Postponing Amsterdam Concert After Her Arrest

“I love you, and I’m so sorry this happened tonight,” Minaj said in a video shared by a fan account on social media.

Egyptian billionaire Mohamed Al-Fayed invited the Princess of Wales on his yacht the summer of 1997

Princess Diana and Mohammed Al Fayed attending a charity dinner for the Harefield Heart Unit held at Harrods London in February 1996. Photo: Jayne Fincher/Getty

Mohamed Al-Fayed was a wealthy Egyptian businessman who once owned the upscale London department store Harrods and the famed Ritz in Paris. He was also the father of Dodi Al-Fayed, the man Princess Diana was dating at the time of their deaths in 1997.

Al-Fayed wasn’t always an easily digestible person for some. His origin story was shrouded in confusion and misleading details, and the man himself offered different and contradictory versions of his childhood. He and author Samira Khashoggi married in 1954 and welcomed one child, a son they named Dodi. After their divorce, Al-Fayed assumed full custody of their son.

His business exploits were well documented, particularly the purchase of the Ritz in 1979 and House of Fraser, which included Harrods, in 1985. Al-Fayed made the purchases alongside his brothers, Ali and Salah.

The moment the billionaire met the royal family has not been made clear, but by the late ’80s, Al-Fayed had introduced himself to Princess Diana. He would maintain a friendship with the Princess of Wales through 1997 and invited Diana and her sons to spend part of her summer aboard his yacht that year — where the princess reconnected with Dodi after meeting him at a polo match in 1986.

Diana’s relationship with Dodi and friendship with Al-Fayed is a subject of The Crown‘s later seasons, the hit Netflix show that premiered in 2016. Salim Daw joined the cast in season 5 as Al-Fayed, acting alongside Elizabeth Debicki (Princess Diana) and Khalid Abdalla (Dodi). Season 6, which premieres on Nov. 16, depicts the final months of Diana’s life and the aftermath of the fatal car crash that killed both her and Dodi.

After Al-Fayed’s death in 2023, many said that they believed the billionaire never recovered from the loss of his son.

Here is a look at the life of Mohamed Al-Fayed, the father of Dodi Al-Fayed and friend of Princess Diana.

He gave different stories about his childhood

Mohamed Al Fayed arrives at the High Court on February 20, 2008 in London.Peter Macdiarmid/Getty

Throughout his life, Al-Fayed gave several varying stories about his childhood and how he grew up. In 1985, The New York Times reported that he hailed from a long line of wealthy Egyptian cotton growers, though that claim was later disproven by British investigators.

According to his 2023 obituary in The New York Times, Al-Fayed was born in 1929. His father, Aly Aly Fayed, was a schoolteacher in Egypt, and he had four siblings.

He married Samira Khashoggi in 1954

Al-Fayed and Samira Khashoggi married in 1954 and welcomed one child together, a son named Emad El-Din Mohamed Abdel Mena’em Fayed. To the world, he would be known as Dodi.

Al-Fayed and Khashoggi were only married for two years. She went on to found Al-Shakirah Magazine and also published several books under a pseudonym.

The businessman received custody of Dodi after the pair’s divorce, though Khashoggi was a regular fixture in Dodi’s life. A friend of Dodi’s told The Mirror in 1997, “He was absolutely devoted to Samira and there was hardly a day he didn’t talk to her from wherever he was. They’d talk for up to an hour and no matter how beautiful the girl might be he was with at the time, he’d drop her in a second if his mother called.”

He moved to England in the 1970s and bought the Ritz in Paris

Mohamed Al Fayed in 1989 in London, England.Georges De Keerle/Getty

Al-Fayed moved to England in the 1970s and soon began moving in elite social circles. In 1979, he and his brothers bought the Ritz in Paris for $20 million. He later told Vanity Fair that he kept the Ritz family close to his heart and mind after the purchase.

“When I bought the Ritz, I had in mind to refurbish the hotel in César Ritz’s image — to do things here that would excite me and at the same time make Monsieur Ritz proud of his place if he were to see it today,” he told the magazine. “It took us years, but I’m sure we brought a smile to Monsieur Ritz’s face. It was a joyful experience.”

That renovation didn’t come cheaply. Al-Fayed spent another $50 million on remodeling the hotel to its original state. From 2012 to 2016, he closed the hotel for another round of extensive renovations, per The New York Times.

He bought the parent company of Harrods in 1985

Mohamed Al Fayed opening Harrods sale.Jeff Overs/BBC News & Current Affairs/Getty

The Ritz wasn’t Al-Fayed’s only sizable purchase. On March 12, 1985, The Guardian reported that the Al Fayed Investment and Trust company bought the House of Fraser, which, among other investments, owned Harrods. The Al-Fayed family had previously controlled 29.9% of the House of Fraser, and the purchase bumped their ownership up to 51% shares.

Al-Fayed purchased the House of Fraser alongside his brothers, Ali and Salah, and Fraser’s directors celebrated their efforts. Chairman Professor Roland Smith said at the time, “We are pleased that the Al Fayed family have secured their majority shareholding in the House of Fraser and look forward to working with them.”

The House of Fraser’s businesses included the Army and Navy, Rackhams, Binns, Dingles and Dickins and Jones stores.

He invited Princess Diana on his yacht in 1997

Princess Diana, Prince Charles, and Mohamed Al-Fayed during the Harrods Polo Cup at Smith’s Lawn in Windsor, UK, July 1987.Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty

It’s not known exactly how Al-Fayed and Princess Diana met, but the businessman and the royal both attended a 1986 polo match that King Charles played in. Al-Fayed’s son Dodi also played in the match. The moment was depicted in season 5 of the Netflix series The Crown.

In the show, Al-Fayed sponsored the match in hopes of meeting Queen Elizabeth. Instead, the monarch pawned him off on Diana, whom he struck up a friendship with.

In the summer of 1997, Al-Fayed invited Diana and her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry — who were 15 at 12 at the time — to his yacht in St. Tropez. It’s presumed that Diana and Dodi reconnected on that trip, despite the younger Al-Fayed’s engagement to someone else.

He didn’t believe the car crash that killed his son and Diana was an accident

Following the August 1997 car crash that killed Princess Diana, Dodi, and the pair’s driver, Henri Paul, Al-Fayed blamed the British royal family for their deaths. He accused Diana’s former father-in-law Prince Philip of ordering British security services to assassinate the Princess of Wales to stop her marrying Dodi, a Muslim.

In August 2000, lawyers for Al-Fayed announced the businessman’s plans to sue U.S. government agencies that he believed had unreleased information about the fatal crash. ABC reported that in his statement, Al-Fayed said, “I believe they are withholding some of the documents at the request of the British secret services. They cannot afford to let the truth be known because they know exactly where the truth lies.”

However, Al-Fayed abandoned his legal battle after a 2008 British inquest into the deaths of Diana and Dodi. The inquest ruled that the late princess and the film producer were unlawfully killed by the grossly negligent driving of their chauffeur while being pursued through a Paris road tunnel by photographers.

“I’m leaving the rest for God to get my revenge, but I’m not doing anything any more,” he said, according to Reuters. “I’m a father who lost his son and I have done everything for 10 years. But now with the verdict, I am accepting it but with all the reservations which I have mentioned.

He never became a British citizen

Queen Elizabeth and Mohammed Al Fayed at the Royal Windsor Horse Show.Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty

Despite his several business ventures and decades of residency in the U.K., Al-Fayed was repeatedly denied British citizenship. After his application was denied for a second time in 1999, The Guardian wrote that he told reporters, “I’m here to stay. It’s okay, it’s no problem, I’m not desperate, I’m not leaving the country, I’m here forever — I’m staying.”

The outlet also reported that Al-Fayed’s requests for citizenship were denied because of his involvement in a number of controversies. Jack Straw, the home secretary at the time, did not reveal the reasons why Al-Fayed’s citizenship was denied, but it’s believed that Al-Fayed’s insistence that the deaths of his son Dodi and Princess Diana were part of a conspiracy was a factor.

He died in 2023

Mohamed Al-Fayed attends the Royal Film Performance of “Spectre” at Royal Albert Hall on October 26, 2015 in London, England.Mike Marsland/WireImage

Al-Fayed died on Aug. 30, 2023, at the age of 94. The news was confirmed by his family, who released a statement that read, “Mrs. Mohamed Al Fayed, her children, and grandchildren wish to confirm that her beloved husband, their father, and their grandfather, Mohamed, has passed away peacefully of old age on Wednesday, August 30, 2023. He enjoyed a long and fulfilled retirement surrounded by his loved ones.”

He was survived by his wife Heini Wathén, whom he married in 1985. The pair had four children: Jasmine, Camilla, Karim and Omar.

Elizabeth Emanuel tells PEOPLE her project big project is the “sequel” Princess Diana’s bridal style

Princess Diana’s wedding dress designer is going to “climb back into the time machine” and make a modern version of the iconic bridal gown the late Princess of Wales wore to marry the future King Charles in 1981.

“I’m going to try and capture the spirit of the original — but through my eyes now,” Elizabeth Emanuel tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week’s issue. “I want to preserve all the sparkles and pearls but with a completely different vision.”

The designer adds of the “sequel” to the original gown, “It’s a really exciting thing because I often get asked, ‘Would you do the same dress again?’ Well, I wouldn’t change a thing on the dress in 1981, but if I was looking at it through my eyes now, there’s so many possibilities.”

Elizabeth and her former husband David famously made the ivory wedding dress that Lady Diana Spencer wore for her royal wedding at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London on July 29, 1981, which instantly defined a decade of style. All eyes were on the royal bride, whose gown featured a ruffled collar, puffed sleeves, a voluminous skirt and a show-stopping 25-foot train.

Elizabeth Emanuel (right) helps straighten out Princess Diana’s wedding dress on July 29, 1981.Ted Blackbrow/Daily Mail/Shutterstock

Princess Diana’s Wedding Dress Secrets: Fake Clues, Hiccups and Hidden Touches by the Designers

Unbeknownst to the 20-year-old bride and the millions watching on television, the Emanuels crafted a second dress as a precautionary measure.

“I was a bit neurotic, and I thought, ‘What happens if somebody breaks in and steals the dress or something spills or there’s a fire or it gets stolen?’ ” Elizabeth says. “So I thought, ‘I’m gonna make a backup dress.’ “

Inspired by a pink gown that she and David made for Diana to wear at a private ball a few days before her royal wedding, Elizabeth got to work. The extra dress differed from Diana’s iconic bridal gown, notably lacking a long train. The silk was white, “not the deep ivory that the royal wedding dress was made of” and while the actual wedding dress had puffed sleeves, Elizabeth says the backup had “slim ones, more fitted to her arms” with frilly cuffs.

Elizabeth Emanuel at her London studio with the recreated spare Princess Diana wedding dress on March 7, 2024.Lauren Fleishman; Hair & Makeup: Graziella Cawthorne Vella

As for the fabric, Elizabeth hand-embroidered the intricate designs on the dress Diana wore, while the material for the backup was used ready-made.

The spare dress was never finished, and the designer isn’t sure what became of it. Today, the 70-year-old London-based creative has reproduced it for a special reason: to exhibit at the virtual Princess Diana Museum.

“We never got to see that dress on Diana and thought it would be lovely to envision it,” says Renae Plant, the museum’s director and curator. “You cannot put a price tag on history,” she adds of the acquisition for an undisclosed sum.

Elizabeth Emanuel and Princess Diana at Kensington Palace in August 1986.Tim Graham/Getty Images

Princess Diana’s Most Glamorous Looks of All Time

As nerves mounted in the run-up to her wedding day, Diana found the design studio to be an “oasis of peace,” Elizabeth says.

“She would go upstairs and chat with all the seamstresses. She loved browsing through the rails because this was a new world for her,” the designer says.

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Princess Diana and Prince Charles after their wedding on July 29, 1981.Terry Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty

Princess Diana’s relationship with Elizabeth and David began shortly after they provided a blouse for a photo shoot marking the royal’s engagement to Prince Charles in February 1981. A month later, Diana was a vision in a black strapless gown created by the couple, prompting her to set the husband and wife design team on the path to stardom.

“She said, ‘Would you do me the honor of making my wedding dress?’ ” recalls Elizabeth, who was in a fitting with another bride when Diana rang. “It was hard to control myself.”

In a new book, Richard Dalton talks about styling the former Princess of Wales’ hair for a decade — and giving both of her sons their first haircuts

Prince Harry and his mother, Princess Diana.

Princess Diana’s longtime hairstylist Richard Dalton was in charge of styling the most famous woman in the world’s hair for a decade, but she wasn’t his only royal client.

For the then-Wales family — Princess Diana, the future King Charles, and their sons, Prince William and Prince Harry — hairstyling was a true family affair with Richard Dalton.

He tells PEOPLE he is responsible for both William and Harry’s first haircuts and held that responsibility “up until they were 10 and 7.”

It’s an anecdote Dalton details in the new book It’s All About the Hair — My Decade with Diana, which he collaborated on with his friend Renae Plant, curator of The Princess Diana Museum.

“The first time I cut Harry’s hair, the windows were open, and I was holding his lock of reddish hair, thinking, ‘Oh, if this blows away, I’m in trouble. I’ll be put in the Tower of London,’” he tells PEOPLE exclusively. It didn’t, and Diana placed it in her baby books, Dalton writes in the book.

Princess Diana, Prince William and Prince Harry at the piano in Kensington Palace.Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty

Princess Diana’s Personal Hairdresser Reveals the Reason Prince William Liked Childhood Haircuts

Of the brothers, “They were so sweet, the boys,” Dalton says in the book. “I would cut their hair in their nursery. Every time they saw me coming into the nursery, William would get terribly excited. He’d run and get the little white chair and would put it on top of the square coffee table. They would sit in the chair and watch television while I cut their hair.”

Dalton adds, “They always knew they got ‘extra’ TV when we had haircuts, so they thought it was great.”

Prince William, Princess Diana and Prince Harry at the Heads of State VE Remembrance Service in Hyde Park on May 7, 1995.Anwar Hussein/Getty

After Princess Diana recommended it, “I cut Prince Charles’ hair on occasion,” Dalton tells PEOPLE. In the book, Dalton remembers Diana telling him, “Please just do it and do something with it,” adding that she “wanted me to fix it and make it a little more modern.”

Dalton would see Prince Charles when he popped into his then-wife’s dressing room from time to time. “I think Charles was reserved, as he was brought up with an understanding of how to behave in front of staff,” Dalton writes. “He was very nice, but you would not see him express himself openly or passionately.”

Not so for the former Princess of Wales. “Diana was a woman in love,” Dalton writes

In his book, Dalton shares that the most significant transformation he observed in Diana was when she became a mother—a journey he was privileged to witness from the beginning, having worked with her even before her July 29, 1981, wedding to the then Prince of Wales. Dalton recalls how Diana truly blossomed with the births of William in 1982 and Harry in 1984.

Princess Diana, Prince Harry, Prince Charles and Prince William leaving Italy on the royal yacht Brittania in April 1985.Diana Archive/Getty

“She absolutely loved and adored her boys, and she also craved affection,” Dalton shares in the book. “Her boys gave her that. The princess was at her very best as a mother.”

Dalton writes of the “great memories” of the boys always wanting to be around their mother — “and under my feet when I was trying to do her hair,” he shares.

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‘It’s All About The Hair – My Decade with HRH Diana Princess of Wales’.The Princess and the Platypus Foundation

Preserving Diana’s legacy is why Plant created The Princess Diana Museum and why she encouraged Dalton to share his memories.

“Diana will one day soon become the king’s mother when William becomes king, and I hope that the work I have done will inspire future generations to understand who Diana really was,” Plant tells PEOPLE.

She adds, “It’s just so sad that we never got to see her become a grandmother, and I always imagine what she would be doing today if she were alive.”

Princess Diana’s Hairdresser Reveals Why She Once Wore a Necklace as a Headband — with ‘Knicker Elastic!’

Princess Diana in Hong Kong, Nov. 8, 1989.Kent Gavin/Daily Mirror/Mirrorpix/Getty

For a limited time, Plant is offering a special bonus: a free one-week membership to the Princess Diana Museum for anyone who purchases the book between Aug, 31 and Sept. 7.

“I decided to create the Princess Diana Museum to honor her incredible life and legacy,” Plant says. “I never imagined it would grow this big — housing the largest private collection in the world with over 2,700 items.”

Yes, Wonder Woman’s birth name is Princess Diana!

Photo: Warner Bros.; TIM ROOKE/Rex Features

Sure, you think you know Wonder Woman. And we know you know Princess Diana. But, dear royals fans, did you know Wonder Woman is Princess Diana?

Yes, the Amazonian superhero is not only royal, but she shares a name and title with one of our all-time favorite royals. So let’s leave the fist fights to the fellas and focus on the match-up we’d really like to see: Princess Diana vs. Princess Diana.

1. They share royal roots.
Both Dianas share a namesake with the Roman goddess of the hunt – and childhood homes set in gorgeous locales. In her tropical homeland of Themyscira, Wonder Woman is known by her birth name, Princess Diana. When she travels beyond her Amazonian nation – which, incidentally, is populated and governed entirely by women with a distinct disdain for men – she is known by her alias, Diana Prince. (See what she did there?) Her mother is Hippolyta, the Amazonian queen from Greek mythology.

Princess Diana – whose childhood was rooted in bucolic Sandringham – acquired her title when she married Prince Charles. Her mother, Frances Shand Kydd, had royal roots that traced back to Ireland in the 16th century.

Title by marriage vs. title by birth? Advantage (slight): Princess Diana

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2. They both rock tiaras.
In addition to her bracelets and golden lasso, Wonder Woman wears a tiara – which she occasionally hurls at bad guys as a sort of weaponized royal accessory. Princess Diana wore many tiaras throughout her reign but never threw one. (We’re certain she was tempted.) Still, Wonder Woman has but one tiara, while Diana had many – and hers were far sparklier. With real diamonds. Advantage: Princess Diana

3. They weathered complicated love lives.

Wonder Woman’s first true love is Steve Trevor, a U.S. Army intelligence officer whose plane crashed on Themyscira. (She nursed him back to health.) In Batman v Superman, Trevor is briefly glimpsed in an old photo (he’s played by Chris Pine) alongside Wonder Woman (Gal Gadot). She later hints that something terrible occurred after the WWI-era photo was taken, leading her to quit the superhero biz for 100 years. Other comic book iterations have seen Wonder Woman romance Aquaman, Batman and yes, Superman. (There’s a love triangle with seismic implications.)

Princess Diana’s own love triangle was grounded in the flaws of mortals but would become iconic in its own right. Advantage: Wonder Woman

In summary, both Princess Dianas are obviously queens. But if lassoed to choose a favorite, the real-life royal wins – though we’d prefer to see her team up with Wonder Woman for the ultimate royals-comic mash-up. Together, they could rule the world.

Ken Wharfe also shares how Kristen Stewart’s performance as Princess Diana rates against his experience with the Princess of Wales

Kristen Stewart in “Spencer”; Princess Diana. Photo: Neon; Getty

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Kristen Stewart in “Spencer”; Princess Diana. Neon; Getty

Ken Wharfe, who was Princess Diana’s bodyguard in the late 1980s and early 1990s, joined the royal family for the Christmas holiday celebrations at Sandringham that provide the backdrop for Pablo Larraín’s Spencer.

“It was purgatory for her,” Wharfe tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.

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Kristen Stewart in Spencer; Princess Diana. Neon; Julian Parker/Getty

According to Wharfe, the Princess of Wales “confined herself to spending time in the kitchen with the chef or with people like me, in the hope that time would while away, and she could get back to London.”

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Kristen Stewart in Spencer; Princess Diana. Neon; Anwar Hussein/Getty

Royal biographer Ingrid Seward, a journalist with whom Princess Diana was friendly, confirms that Diana hid her struggles during royal family gatherings.

“She would have put on a good front for the Queen and the family,” said Seward. “She was a properly brought-up girl and would have considered it rude to make a scene or a spectacle of herself.”

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Kristen Stewart in Spencer; Princess Diana. Neon; Nils Jorgensen/Shutterstock

Spencer does exercise some dramatic license, though, including one surprising scene featuring a heart-to-heart between Princess Diana and her dresser, played in the film by Sally Hawkins.

“From my experience, Diana never once confided in her dressers,” recalled Wharfe.

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Kristen Stewart in Spencer; Princess Diana. Neon; Getty

Wharfe praised Kristen Stewart’s portrayal of the late royal: “Out of all the people who have played Diana over the past 10 years, she’s the closest to her,” he said. “She managed to perfect her mannerisms.”