Keeping Princess Diana’s bridal gown a secret until the big day meant having a number of backup plans — find out the best-kept secrets from her big day

Princess Diana. Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage; Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

01of 09

The Train Didn’t Fit

Princess Diana. Princess Diana Archive/Getty

Like a real-life fairy tale, Princess Diana arrived to her wedding ceremony to the future King Charles in a horse-drawn carriage. There was just one issue: the 25-foot train on her bridal gown didn’t quite fit. The train had to be “folded like a bedsheet” to make it inside, resulting in wrinkles as she entered St. Paul’s Cathedral.

02of 09

Designers Planted Fake Clues

Princess Diana. Getty

Designers Elizabeth and David Emanuel knew details of Diana’s wedding dress couldn’t leak to the press before the big day. They would even create “false trails” by putting the wrong fabrics in the garbage for the press to find, according to Royal Style in the Making exhibit curator Matthew Storey.

03of 09

Something Old, Something New…

Princess Diana. Anwar Hussein/Getty

Keeping with tradition, Princess Diana wore something old (antique lace from Queen Mary), something new (the dress itself), something borrowed (the Spencer family tiara) and something blue (a bow inside the bodice).

04of 09

There Was an Extra Dress Just in Case

Fox Photos/Getty

The Emanuels were prepared for any scenario, even a wedding day accident. They created an extra skirt should something spill on the dress and even had an entire backup gown ready to be completed in case the design was leaked before the big day.

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The Dress Wasn’t White

Princess Diana. Anwar Hussein/Getty

The silk taffeta of Diana’s dress was specially woven and dyed ivory rather than pure white.

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Diana’s Dress Had to Be Altered

Princess Diana. Anwar Hussein/Getty

Designer Elizabeth Emanuel has said that the young bride-to-be morphed as the weeks elapsed before her July 29, 1981, wedding to Prince Charles, losing a notable amount of weight.

“Most brides do lose weight,” Emanuel previously 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.”

Years later, Diana spoke publicly about her struggle with bulimia during the time of her wedding.

“The bulimia started the week after we got engaged (and would take nearly a decade to overcome),” Diana said in Andrew Morton’s book, Diana: Her True Story — in Her Own Words.

“My husband put his hand on my waistline and said: ‘Oh, a bit chubby here, aren’t we?’ and that triggered off something in me. And the Camilla thing,” she said, referencing Charles’ relationship with future Queen Camilla.

07of 09

Diana Spilled Perfume on Her Gown

Princess Diana and Prince Charles. Terry Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images

Princess Diana walked down the aisle of St. Paul’s Cathedral wearing one of her favorite scents: Quelques Fleurs. But according to her makeup artist, it almost wore her.

Barbara Daly famously revealed that the young princess, then 20 years old, accidentally spilled some perfume on her dress as she tried to put some on her wrists after getting dressed in the world-famous bridal gown.

According to Daly, she told her to simply hold that spot on her dress as she was walking to make it seem like she was lifting the front of her dress so she didn’t step on it. She was even spotted trying to cover the spot where the perfume spilled with her hand as she approached the altar.

08of 09

The Dress Featured a Secret Charm

Princess Diana. Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images

Although it wasn’t visible in photographs, there was a hidden good luck charm in Princess Diana’s dress: an 18-carat gold horseshoe trinket studded with white diamonds.

09of 09

The Unseen Umbrella

Princess Diana’s wedding dress. Samir Hussein/WireImage

The Emanuels created a parasol that matched her dress just in case the weather didn’t cooperate.

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

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

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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.”

Princess Diana and King Charles on their July 29, 1981 wedding day. Anwar Hussein/WireImage

“Because I knew the real person, it just looks like pantomime to me,” said Sam McKnight, who worked with the late Princess of Wales for seven years

Princess Diana attends a dinner at the British Embassy in Washington, D.C, in November 1985. Photo: Terry Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty

Portrayals of the late Princess Diana on screen are “hard to watch,” according to her former hairstylist.

Speaking in a recent episode of haircare expert and social media personality Jonathan Van Ness’ podcast Pretty Curious, Sam McKnight, who styled the former Princess of Wales’ hair for seven years before her death in 1997, said it was difficult to watch fictional dramatizations of her onscreen because of “all the mistakes.”

Princess Diana has been played onscreen by multiple actresses on Netflix’s The Crown, which wrapped up at the end of last year after six seasons, and the 2021 film Spencer, where she was portrayed by Kristen Stewart.

“To most people, they’re not mistakes because they’re only going on what their perception is, but because I knew the real person, it just looks like pantomime to me,” McKnight said. “Although I have to say, I thought the clips I saw of Elizabeth Debicki in the last season of The Crown, I thought she actually was the first one who kind of [caught her].”

Princess Diana visits the Theatre Museum in 1990. Julian Parker/UK Press
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Debicki’s portrayal of Princess Diana in seasons 5 and 6 of The Crown earned her a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress and two Emmy nominations for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Emma Corrin, who played Princess Diana on The Crown before Debicki took over the role, also won a Golden Globe for her performance as the late Princess of Wales.

McKnight said Corrin “caught a glimpse of her too, but the wigs weren’t so great. But Elizabeth Debicki, I feel that they kind of got it right, you know. It was as close [as the show got].”

Elizabeth Debicki in 2023; Princess Diana in 1996.Michael Buckner/Getty; Julian Parker/Getty

McKnight met Princess Diana at a 1990 British Vogue photoshoot and worked together for the rest of her life.

“We were booked on a shoot to shoot young royals for British Vogue, and she happens to be the last one,” McKnight said on the podcast. “We didn’t know it was going to be her — and then this sort of tall, leggy blonde comes bouncing up the stairs and, you know what, she had us at ‘Hello.’ ”

Of the Princess of Wales, McKnight added, “She was just so disarming and charming and funny, and stuck her hand out with a big smile and [said], ‘Hi, I’m Diana. What are we gonna do?’ “

McKnight detailed how he pinned Princess Diana’s permed hair up to give the impression that it had been cut short and anchored it with a tiara for the now-famous photo taken by fashion photographer Patrick Demarchelier.

Princess Diana’s on the cover of British Vogue in 1990, seen here at a 2016 exhibition in London.

After the British Vogue shoot, McKnight said Princess Diana approached him eager for a change in her hairstyle.

“At the end of the day, after we’d done the shoot, she said, ‘What would you do with my hair if I said, ‘Do anything?’” McKnight said. “And I said, ‘Do you know what? It’s 1990. I would cut it all off and start again.’ Get rid of the perm, make it more streamlined — and that’s what we did.”

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Kate Moss and Sam McKnight attend the V&A Summer Party on June 19, 2024.Dave Benett/Getty

He continued, “We did that before she went home. We kind of got the kit back out — ‘Okay, let’s do it.’ And that was it. And that was seven years I spent with her after that.”

Princess Diana died on August 31, 1997, as a result of injuries sustained in a Parisian car accident. She was 36 years old.

In a new book, Richard Dalton, who worked with the Princess of Wales for a decade, calls her wedding day hair in 1981 “a disaster”

The Prince and Princess of Wales return to Buckingham Palace by carriage after their wedding on July 29, 1981. Photo: Princess Diana Archive/Getty

If Princess Diana’s former hairdresser Richard Dalton could say anything to his most famous client today, he tells PEOPLE he’d keep it pretty simple: “How do you want your hair done?”

August 31 marked 27 years since the death of Princess Diana following a car crash in Paris at just 36 years old. Though Dalton hadn’t worked with Diana for six years at the time of her passing—having left her employ in 1991 after a decade of service—he always held his memories of her close. Now, with the encouragement of his friend Renae Plant, curator of The Princess Diana Museum, Dalton has shared those memories in his new book with Plant, It’s All About the Hair—My Decade with Diana (out now), offering never-before-told stories about the beloved royal.

“As a loyal subject to the royal family, I never shared anything publicly until now to protect her,” Dalton tells PEOPLE exclusively. “I am 76 years old, [the] same age as [King] Charles, and I wanted to document my real story. [It’s] not a hairdresser’s job to kiss and tell. Now I feel comfortable — 27 years have passed, and nothing in my book is detrimental to Diana’s character. Just wonderful memories.”

Princess Diana wearing an emerald necklace as a headband at a gala in Melbourne, Australia on Oct. 31, 1985. Anwar Hussein/Getty
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Dalton had been responsible for styling Diana’s hair leading up to her wedding to Charles on July 29, 1981, though he wasn’t the one who styled her hair on the big day. That task was handled by his colleague, Kevin Shanley.

In the book, Dalton calls Diana’s wedding day hair “a disaster” — and the bride agreed.

“Diana did express to me that she wished she could do the wedding over again to ‘get the hair right,’ ” Dalton tells PEOPLE. “However, she never mentioned any other regrets while I did her hair.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day on July 29, 1981.Terry Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty

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Though he would sometimes only get 15 minutes to style the most famous woman in the world’s hair (and did so everywhere from airplane bathrooms to over the kitchen sink at his own home!), he “never felt pressure,” Dalton tells PEOPLE.

Princess Diana and Dalton loved to push the boundaries with her hair, which had to be styled every which way, including with a myriad of tiaras and hats atop her head that completed her look.

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

“I loved taking risks with Diana’s hair by trying new things like the orchards in Thailand,” he says, referring to his favorite hair moment he ever did for the princess. (Dalton says Diana liked it, too.)

For an event on February 4, 1988, Princess Diana wore a fuschia and purple Catherine Walker dress (which Dalton also wrote in the book was his favorite dress of hers). They were staying at the Imperial Hotel in Bangkok, Dalton writes, “and I literally went around the hotel all day pinching orchids from the floral arrangements to use as accessories in Diana’s hair to match her dress,” according to the book. “Whatever I saw, I took — and nobody stopped me. Eventually, I got all the colors I wanted to use — they represented Thailand and also matched her dress.”

For the event, Dalton styled Diana’s hair in a chignon updo and pinned the flowers to one side of her hair, one by one, he recalls.

“Fresh flowers had never been done before, and she looked sensational that night — and she knew it,” Dalton tells PEOPLE.

Princess Diana wearing a red and purple chiffon evening dress designed by Catherine Walker with silk flowers in her hair, attends a dinner on Feb. 4, 1988 in Bangkok, Thailand.Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

During their decade together, Dalton saw Princess Diana at her best — her witty sense of humor, her dedication to motherhood, her commitment to royal work (“Diana was very conscious that she did not want her hair to overshadow the charity she was representing that day and supporting,” Dalton says). He also saw the former Princess of Wales at her worst, including moments of intensely low self-esteem during the valleys of her marriage to the future King Charles, which ultimately ended in a 1992 separation, the year after Dalton stopped working for her. (Charles and Diana’s divorce was finalized in 1996.)

“Some days she would be happy, some days quiet, some days talkative and some days sad,” Dalton shares in the book. “I experienced all of these with Diana.”

He added that, on her lower days, “sparks would be flying off the hair dryer,” he quips in the book. “I got used to the stress.”

It was only after he stopped working with her in 1991 that Dalton says he realized how much stress he was under as the man responsible for the hair of the most photographed woman in the world.

When he did her hair for the last time, Dalton says she “was going through a really rough stage of her life with Charles and wanted a fresh staff and could tell I wanted my life back,” he tells PEOPLE. “She said, ‘I think [you want] your freedom back’ — and it was mutual. I didn’t realize how much pressure I was under until I left.”

Princess Diana during a visit to Canada on June 27, 1983.Anwar Hussein/Getty

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Much like the 2,700 items in The Princess Diana Museum, Plant tells PEOPLE she saw preserving Dalton’s stockpile of memories as a preservation of history. Plant is also 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.

“Once these people pass away, their memories are gone forever,” she says, adding “and we know hairdressers are like best friends and get to hear it all.”

It’s All About the Hair—My Decade with Diana is out now.

Although Meghan and Kate never got to meet their mother-in-law, they frequently keep her memory alive with gorgeous reminders of her iconic style

Photo: Emmanuel Osodi/Anadolu via Getty; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

Princess Diana, who died in 1997 at the age of 36, left a powerful legacy of charitable work and caring, and inspired her sons Prince William and Prince Harry to carry on her mission, as well as to forge their own paths in the fields of mental health and veterans’ aid.

Though William and Harry’s wives (Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, respectively) never had a chance to meet their late mother-in-law, they have each spoken warmly about her role in their family, and honor her through wearing pieces of her jewelry. In addition to the sapphire engagement ring worn by Kate and Diana (both of whom held the Princess of Wales title) and the diamonds in Meghan’s engagement ring that used to belong to Diana, the two women have been seen in other sentimental pieces of the late Princess’ jewelry.

Read on to see Meghan and Kate’s many special moments wearing jewelry that belonged to the late Princess Diana.

01of 18

Diana and Kate’s Engagement Ring

Princess Diana and Kate Middleton wearing the sapphire engagement ring by Garrard. Chris Jackson/Getty Images; Tim Graham/Getty Images

When Kate Middleton and Prince William stepped out to announce their engagement, the bride-to-be was wearing a very familiar piece of jewelry on her left ring finger: Princess Diana’s engagement ring!

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Diana and Kate’s Engagement Ring

Chris Jackson/Getty

The sapphire and diamond ring was the perfect tribute to William’s mother, who died in 1997.

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Meghan’s Engagement Ring

AP/REX/Shutterstock

Meghan Markle’s engagement ring also has ties to her mother-in-law. It is made up of three diamonds, with one large stone in the center flanked by two smaller stones on the sides. The two side stones are from his late mother, Princess Diana’s personal collection, while the center stone is from Botswana, a country that is close to Harry’s heart.

04of 18

Meghan’s Engagement Ring

Dominic Lipinski/PA Images/INSTARimages

It is made up of three diamonds, with one large stone in the center flanked by two smaller stones on the sides. The two side stones are from his late mother, Princess Diana’s personal collection, while the center stone is from Botswana, a country that is close to Harry’s heart.

05of 18

Lover’s Knot Tiara

John Stillwell – WPA Pool/Getty; Anwar Hussein/Getty

Diana and her first daughter-in-law share a similar taste in style. On several occasions, Kate has worn the Lover’s Knot tiara. Sometimes referred to as the Cambridge Lover’s Knot, it is one of the best-known tiaras in the British royal family’s collection, mostly thanks to it being a favorite of Princess Diana.

06of 18

Collingwood Pearl and Diamond Earrings

Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images; Tim Graham/Getty Images

Given to Diana as a wedding present from Collingwood jewelers, the gorgeous pearl earrings are now part of Kate’s collection.

07of 18

Pearl Bracelet

Chris Jackson – Pool/Getty; Tim Graham/Getty

Both Diana and Kate are pearl girls! The pearl bracelet designed by Nigel Milne that Diana wore with her “Elvis” outfit has been seen on her daughter-in-law. Kate wore the piece during her July 2017 trip to Berlin.

08of 18

Sapphire and Diamond Earrings

Samir Hussein/WireImage; Tim Graham/Getty Images)

This set of earrings, which perfectly pair with the women’s engagement ring, were modernized by Kate. Although they featured a double sapphire drop when worn by Diana, Kate opted to use just one of the blue jewels.

09of 18

Aquamarine Ring

Steve Parsons – WPA Pool/Getty Images; Tim Graham/Getty Images

Meghan wore Princess Diana’s aquamarine ring on her right hand, which was visible while she waved at photographers as she and Harry drove to their evening wedding reception.

Diana famously wore the emerald-cut aquamarine stunner to an auction of her own clothes at Christie’s in 1997. The jewel is part of a set; the other piece is a large aquamarine stone at the center of five strands of pearls. She wore both to a gala dinner in Australia in 1996 (pictured here).

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Butterfly Earrings

Phil Noble – Pool/Getty; Georges De Keerle/Getty

Shortly after announcing that they were expecting their first child, Meghan and Harry were photographed out in Sydney, Australia as part of their first royal tour.

For the outing, Meghan opted for a fitted white sleeveless dress by Australian designer Karen Gee. She paired the timeless look with a pair of butterfly earrings previously worn by Princess Diana. Meghan’s late mother-in-law wore them during a trip to Canada on May 3, 1986 — a year after she gave birth to Harry.

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Aquamarine Ring

Samir Hussein/WireImage

Meghan sported the piece again during their royal tour stop in Tonga. The stunning ring was a gift from Diana’s good friend Lucia Flecha de Lima to wear in place of her engagement ring after her divorce from Prince Charles in 1996.

12of 18

Gold Bracelet

Samir Hussein/WireImage; Georges De Keerle/Getty

During the royal tour, Meghan was also spotted in her mother-in-law’s gold bracelet, which Diana wore while visiting the Lord Gage Centre for Old People, a Guinness Trust Home, in Newham, East London in 1990.

13of 18

Sapphire and Diamond Set

Getty Images (2)

Kate Middleton has previously been spotted in the earrings fashioned from her late mother-in-law’s famous sapphire-and-diamond suite (a wedding gift to Diana from the Saudi royal family), but in September 2020, she debuted a delicate sapphire-and-diamond pendant on a thin gold chain while receiving the President of Ukraine and his wife at Buckingham Palace.

It’s believed that it was fashioned from the earrings in the set, which was made by Asprey and included a bracelet and a watch, plus the enormous Burmese sapphire-and-diamond necklace seen here with the earrings, which Diana wore to an event in Melbourne, Australia in 1988.

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Diamond Tennis Bracelet

Harpo Productions; getty

The delicate tennis bracelet belonging to her mother-in-law that Meghan wore during her interview with Oprah is the same one from which Harry removed stones to make Meghan’s engagement ring.

She chose it for the interview for a sentimental reason. “They wanted to wear the bracelet to have [Harry’s] mother there with them during the interview,” a spokesperson for the couple told TODAY. And she often wears it for major engagements: She previously paired it with a blue gown in Fiji and again in Tonga during their royal tour.

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Princess of Wales Feather Brooch

Anwar Hussein/WireImage; Samir Hussein/WireImage

Originally made for Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1863 as a gift upon marrying the then-Prince of Wales, King Edward VII, the brooch has been passed down to the woman who has held the title ever since.

Princess Diana first wore the brooch as a pendant in 1981, after receiving it as a wedding gift from Queen Elizabeth II; it most recently was worn as a brooch by now-Queen Camilla when she held the title, and was passed to Kate when she became the Princess of Wales upon the accession of her father-in-law to King Charles. Kate wore it (along with her late mother-in-law’s famous Collingwood pearl earrings) for the first time in November 2022 while welcoming the president of South Africa to London.

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Emerald Choker

Kate Middleton and Princess Diana in the emerald and diamond choker. Karwai Tang/WireImage; Anwar Hussein/Getty

For her visit to Boston in celebration of Prince William’s Earthshot Prize initiative, the newly-minted Princess of Wales chose a rented Solace London dress in green (fitting for a sustainability initiative), with jewels to match.

Royal fans immediately recognized the emerald choker as a favorite of Princess Diana’s, who wore it many times between 1981 and 1996, perhaps most famously as a headband during a 1985 royal tour of Australia. According to royal biographer Kitty Kelley, Diana decided to wear the necklace (which was initially made for Queen Mary and given to Diana by Queen Elizabeth II after her marriage to Charles) across her forehead after it got stuck there during a fitting and she liked the way it looked.

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Aquamarine Ring

AFP via Getty; Mike Coppola/Getty

To receive the Robert F. Kennedy Ripple of Hope award at an event in N.Y.C., Meghan selected her late mother-in-law’s striking blue sparkler (seen here with the matching bracelet on Diana) to accent her simple white Louis Vuitton dress.

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Cross Necklace

KOLA SULAIMON/AFP via Getty

During a trip to Nigeria with Prince Harry, Meghan attended a reception at the reception held at the Defense Headquarters in Abuja wearing a delicate diamond cross on a gold chain. PEOPLE learned it formerly belonged to Princess Diana and had been recently given to her by Prince Harry as a gift.

Princess Diana made a huge statement without saying a word

Princess Diana wearing her black ‘revenge dress’ while arriving at a gala at the Serpentine Gallery in London on June 29, 1994. Photo: Jayne Fincher/Getty Images

Princess Diana was a style icon, and no outfit got as much buzz as her “revenge dress.”

On June 29, 1994, Princess Diana stepped out for a gala at the Serpentine Gallery in London wearing a fitted, black, off-the-shoulder dress with an asymmetrical hemline and chiffon train that flowed in the wind.

The revealing ensemble was unusual for a member of the typically buttoned-up royal family — but that’s not the only reason it grabbed headlines: Diana wore the head-turning number the same night Prince Charles confessed on national television that he had been unfaithful to her.

As reported by The New York Times, in an ITV documentary that aired a year and a half following the couple’s split, Queen Elizabeth’s eldest son and heir said he remained faithful to Diana “until it became irretrievably broken down,” confirming rumors of his affair with now-wife Camilla Parker-Bowles. “It is a deeply regrettable thing to happen, but it does happen, and unfortunately, in this case, it has happened,” Charles said.

“On a human level, for Diana, you can only imagine how upsetting that would have been, not only to hear that but to know that now the world has heard it. Effectively, Charles has aired some serious dirty laundry,” explained PEOPLE Executive Editorial Director Michelle Tauber in PEOPLE’s “Diana Diaries.” “Some may have decided this was altogether too much and tried to avoid the cameras, stay out of the limelight — just let the storm pass. That is not what Diana chose to do that night.”

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Princess Diana kept her scheduled appearance at the gala hosted by Vanity Fair.

“Of course, Diana knew that all eyes were going to be on her,” PEOPLE Deputy Style Director Brittany Talarico explained. “She didn’t have to say anything with words. It was a fashion response — that dress became her clear message to Charles and the world.”

Princess Diana donning her black ‘revenge dress’ as she walks into a gala at the Serpentine Gallery in London on June 29, 1994. Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
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However, she did change her outfit plans. Princess Diana was initially going to wear a Valentino dress to the event, but when the ensemble was leaked to the press, she made a last-minute switch to the famous black number by designer Christina Stambolian she’d kept in her closet.

“Three years went by and she hadn’t worn it. I was very disappointed,” Stambolian recalled in Claudia Joseph’s 2022 book Diana: A Life in Dresses, per HuffPost UK. “Then I realised she had been waiting for the right occasion. She looked like a beautiful black bird in it.”

With that dress, Princess Diana made a major statement without having to say anything at all.

“She decided that she was going to fight back, and she decided that she would choose a dress that she had previously rejected as being a little too much. And she would put that on and go out on the town,” said William Ivey Long, costume designer for the Broadway musical Diana.

Princess Diana wearing the short black ‘revenge dress’ made by Christina Stambolian for a gala at the Serpentine Gallery in London on June 29, 1994. Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

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Three years later, Princess Diana put what became dubbed the “revenge dress” by the media up for auction along with more of her clothes. It sold for $65,000. The money benefitted cancer and AIDS-related charities.

In 2017, the “revenge dress” was displayed in the Museum of Style Icons, located in Ireland. The exhibition, Diana: A Fashion Legacy, was a way to honor the late princess on the 20th anniversary of her death.

Elizabeth Debicki, who portrayed Princess Diana in seasons 5 and 6 of The Crown, wore a replica of the iconic little black dress, which Left Bank Pictures auctioned off in early 2024 along with more than 400 other props from the critically acclaimed Netflix series.

Author Omid Scobie writes in his new book ‘Endgame’ that “Diana cosplay has become a royal staple”

Meghan Markle, Princess Diana and Kate Middleton. Photo: Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage;  David Levenson/Getty Images; Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage

Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton’s style tributes to their late mother-in-law Princess Diana are no coincidence, according to a new book.

Omid Scobie writes in his new book Endgame that the palace “shamelessly leverages” Princess Diana’s lasting popularity, including encouraging Prince Harry and Prince William’s wives to replicate her fashion in an attempt for “some of Diana’s shine to rub off on them.” In addition to sporting looks reminiscent of Diana’s past ensembles, both Meghan and Kate regularly wear pieces of jewelry from their mother-in-law’s collection.

“Diana cosplay has become a royal staple,” Scobie says in the book, out now.

The author adds that a source told him that these decisions are “always discussed” with Prince William and Prince Harry.

Scobie writes while Meghan and Kate’s tributes to Diana could be a “sweet gesture,” he also called it “slightly queasy” as the move is “orchestrated” by the palace — which he says contributed to Diana’s “living misery.”

Kate Middleton and Princess Diana in polka dots. Chris Jackson/Getty; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty
Every Time Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton Have Worn Princess Diana’s Jewelry

Princess Kate, 41, regularly wears outfits that remind royal watchers of Princess Diana’s style.

“I think we have seen lots of examples where the reference is very intentional and I think that Kate uses fashion to pay tribute to Diana in a very positive way,” Bethan Holt, Fashion News and Features Director of The Daily Telegraph, previously told PEOPLE.

From timeless patterns like polka dots to a houndstooth coat dress, the new Princess of Wales is making these classic looks her own.

“What’s really key about these times when Kate references Diana, it’s not like a costume. She brings it right up to date so she makes it look relevant for now,” Holt, the author of The Queen: 70 Years of Majestic Style, said. “She’s not doing an ’80s power shoulder or a puffball skirt, she’s making it look sleeker and more contemporary. She makes it her own without looking like she’s playing ‘dress up as Diana.’ “

Kate Middleton and Princess Diana.David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock; Bettmann/Getty

One of Kate’s most memorable nods to Princess Diana was in 2018 when Kate and William introduced their third child, Prince Louis, to the world outside the hospital. The new mom of three wore a red dress with a white Peter Pan collar — 34 years after Princess Diana presented Prince Harry to the public in a similar look.

Princess Kate also has a number of jewelry pieces from Princess Diana’s collection, including a piece she wears constantly: their shared sapphire and diamond engagement ring.

During their official post-engagement interview, where Kate wore a royal blue dress by Issa that perfectly matched the ring, Prince William explained why the piece was so special to him.

“It’s my mother’s engagement ring so, I thought it was quite nice because obviously, she’s not going to be around to share any of the fun and excitement of it all — this was my way of keeping her sort of close to it all,” he said.

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Meghan Markle and Princess Diana. Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty;

During her time as a working member of the royal family, Meghan was also known for her style tributes to Diana. The first major moment came on her wedding day to Prince Harry in 2018, when her outfit changed for the evening reception included an aquamarine ring with special meaning to her mother-in-law. The accessory was a gift for Diana to wear in place of her engagement ring after her divorce from then-Prince Charles in 1996.

The Duchess of Sussex’s decision to often lean toward pants and menswear during public outings is a nod to Diana, who loved both styles and wore them often.

During her pregnancy with Prince Archie, Meghan also followed Diana’s maternity style cues, including a bold and unusual red and purple combination.

Meghan Markle and Princess Diana. Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage; Tim Graham/Getty

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Recently speaking to PEOPLE about Endgame, Scobie said that Meghan has “moved on” from the royals, but things are different for Harry.

“Quite early on in the [book-writing] process, some of those Meghan sources that I really leant on in the earlier years this time were like, ‘You know what? She doesn’t want anything to do with it,’ ” says the author, who has covered the royal family for more than a decade.

“For Harry it’s different. He still has unfinished business when it comes to his battles with the press. His challenge will be to find something that balances that out so we can see him working in a space that isn’t connected to the ties that bind from the past,” Scobie adds.

Following her death on Aug. 31, 1997, Princess Diana received a royal ceremonial funeral

Photo: Thierry Chesnot/Getty

Princess Diana’s death was a pivotal moment in history and her funeral reflected her impact on millions.

On Aug. 31, 1997, Diana and her partner Dodi Fayed were traveling by car in Paris — with a driver and bodyguard – pursued by paparazzi when their vehicle slammed into a support column, flipped and landed in front of oncoming traffic. Dodi and the driver died instantly, while medical workers attempted to keep Diana alive for hours before her death was announced at nearly 5 a.m. on Aug. 31.

Her death was met with widespread public mourning in the United Kingdom and worldwide. As people paid their respects to Princess Diana, it’s said that over one million bouquets were left at her London residence, Kensington Palace.

Though she was no longer a member of the royal family (following her divorce from then-Prince Charles in 1996), she received a ceremonial funeral that was attended by 2,000 people and watched by over 2 billion people worldwide.

As her funeral is shown on The Crown season 6, here’s everything to know about the royal ceremonial.

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When was Princess Diana’s funeral?

Anwar Hussein/WireImage

Following her death on Aug. 31, Princess Diana’s funeral was held on Saturday, Sept. 6 1997. The funeral procession started at 9:08 a.m. and the ceremony started at 11:00 a.m., lasting an hour and 10 minutes.

Where did Princess Diana’s funeral take place? 

Joel Saget/AFP/Getty

After Princess Diana’s coffin was taken through London, her official ceremony was held at Westminster Abbey. Later that day, a private burial occurred for her family and friends at her childhood home of Althorp, her final resting place.

Who walked behind Princess Diana’s coffin at the funeral? 

David Levenson/Getty

During her funeral procession, Prince Philip, Prince Charles, Princess Diana’s brother Charles Spencer and her two children, Prince William and Prince Harry, walked behind her coffin. At the time, William and Harry were just 15 and 12 years old, respectively.

The decision to have Prince William and Prince Harry walk behind the coffin was a topic of contention. William confirmed in the 2017 BBC documentary Diana, 7 Days, “It wasn’t an easy decision, and it was a collective family decision to do that. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. But we were overwhelmed by how many people turned out, it was just incredible. There was that balance between duty and family and that’s what we had to do.”

Harry recalled, “I think it was a group decision. But before I knew it, I found myself with a suit on with a black tie and a white shirt, I think, and I was part of it. Genuinely, I don’t have an opinion on whether that was right or wrong. I am glad I was part of it. Looking back on it now, I am very glad I was part of it.”

Who attended Princess Diana’s funeral? 

Anwar Hussein/Getty

The ceremony in Westminster Abbey was attended by 2,000 people, including members of the royal family, Princess Diana’s relatives, political figures and her close celebrity friends.

Among the attendees were Hillary Rodham Clinton, Steven Spielberg, Mariah Carey, Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman and Elton John, the latter of which sang a rendition of “Candle in the Wind” during the service, with new lyrics written as a tribute to Diana.

How many people watched Princess Diana’s funeral? 

Thierry Chesnot/Getty

Not only was the funeral attended by many, but countless people tuned in on television. It’s said that the funeral brought in over 32 million British television audiences and over 2 billion people worldwide, making it one of the biggest televised events in history.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s globe-trotting endeavors have once again caught the public eye, but not for the reasons they may have hoped.

Following controversial trips to Nigeria and Colombia, their attempts to secure a high-profile visit to India have reportedly been met with an unexpected setback.

 

According to Royal commentator Lady C, the Sussexes were hoping for an invitation from India but were turned down, leaving many speculating about the reasons behind the snub.

India, a nation rich in culture, history, and growing global influence, appears uninterested in hosting the former royals. Reports suggest that Harry and Meghan were keen on visiting the iconic Taj Mahal, potentially recreating the famous photo of Princess Diana.

However, India’s decision to decline raises questions about the Sussexes’ reputation and whether their visits are seen as beneficial or more of a PR liability.

This latest development adds to a pattern of criticism surrounding the couple’s recent travels. Both their trips to Nigeria and Colombia were intended to highlight charitable causes, yet they ended up drawing significant backlash.

 

In Colombia, for instance, citizens criticized the couple for freeloading off taxpayer money and flaunting wealth in a country struggling with poverty.

India’s decision may signal a growing global sentiment toward the Sussexes. While private organizations might still welcome them, the idea of Meghan Markle attempting to replicate Diana’s iconic moment at the Taj Mahal is likely to be met with skepticism.

The world, it seems, is becoming increasingly wary of Harry and Meghan’s motives, and their quest for relevance on the global stage may prove more difficult than they anticipated.

Meghan Markle’s Business Hits Snag: Backlash and Trademark Refusals Amid Exploitation Claims

 

It seems Meghan Markle’s business endeavors are facing significant hurdles. First, her attempt to trademark “American Riviera Orchard” was rejected, and now she’s encountering heavy criticism over her recent investment in Assessa Collective, which some are dubbing “poverty porn.” 

But now it’s reached a whole new level. The way she and her Sussex Squad are defending this is puzzling, especially considering the accusations of exploiting Rwandan women. Let’s start with the latest news, which, despite attempts to downplay it, is a major misstep.

How does Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, launch a high-profile business like this without first securing her trademarks? It’s almost unbelievable. Sure, there’s an argument that you need to publicly announce a business to establish it before securing trademarks. But this is basic business practice—one should ensure their name and brand are protected before making a public announcement.

Here’s the problem: Meghan was warned that businesses cannot trademark geographical names. “American Riviera” references Santa Barbara, where Markle lives with her family. The addition of “Orchard” doesn’t change the fact that the primary issue is the geographical descriptiveness of the name. The trademark office noted that since the name includes a location, there’s a presumption that the goods and services are associated with that place. Markle’s team anticipated pushback and plans to respond, but they’re now facing a significant challenge in proving their case.

Moreover, the trademark application faced issues because the product descriptions could potentially fall into multiple trademark categories. The document even included evidence of another Santa Barbara company using the term “American Riviera” to sell candles, indicating the nickname is already associated with the area.

Now, let’s shift to the other controversy surrounding Markle’s investment in Assessa Collective. The backlash here is intense, with many accusing her of “poverty porn” in her support of the brand. For context, Assessa Collective sells handwoven basket bags made by a Rwandan collective and finished in Italy. The co-founders claim to pay the Rwandan artisans 5 to 7 times the national average salary, but according to international standards, this is still a fraction of what these artisans could earn elsewhere.

Critics argue that this business model—buying low from the global South and selling high in the West—is exploitative. A recent New York Times article featured promotional imagery of Western women alongside Rwandan artisans, which many find problematic. The use of these women as marketing tools without providing them with a share or stake in the business is seen as a form of exploitation.

Georgie JX James, a TikTok commentator, pointed out that while the artisans are paid more than the national average, they’re still not receiving a fair share of the profits. The idea that Western companies can use impoverished individuals as props to boost their own image while not providing them with real benefits or ownership is deeply troubling.

In essence, Meghan Markle’s investment, while ostensibly aimed at supporting Rwandan women, is criticized for exploiting their labor and using their stories to market overpriced handbags. Critics argue that if the artisans are to be featured prominently in marketing materials, they should be compensated fairly and given a stake in the business.

Markle’s approach has been widely criticized, and it’s clear that her business ventures are facing significant challenges. Will she be able to rectify these issues and regain public trust? Only time will tell.