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.
The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!
“My favorite [hairstyle] would be Thailand,” he said at Fotografiska, recalling the floral look from 1988. “[She wore a] purple and shocking pink dress and I said, ‘Why don’t we do orchids?’ I went into the hotel, stealing flowers for the princess. This was my favorite. She loved it.”
Princess Diana at a dinner in Bangkok, Thailand, on Feb. 4, 1988.Anwar Hussein/Getty Images
Dalton is set to publish a new book titled It’s All About the Hair — My Decade with Diana, with The Princess Diana Museum founder Renae Plant, and cited the surprising impact of Diana’s tresses.
“We decided whatever charity she was representing, the hair would sometimes take away from what she was doing,” Dalton recalled. “[In] Saudi Arabia, she wanted it short. We would cut it every day about a quarter of an inch,” he said. “[After] eight weeks, nobody noticed!”
Princess Diana in Saudi Arabia during an official visit in November 1986.Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty
Every Time Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton Have Worn Princess Diana’s Jewelry
The choker that Princess Diana memorably wore on her head to the gala dinner in Melbourne was paired with a cerulean one-shoulder gown by her wedding dress designer Elizabeth Emanuel, who also spoke at the Styling Princess Diana panel.
During the conversation, moderated by PEOPLE’s Senior Royals Editor Erin Hill, Emanuel said the assignment of a lifetime was Diana’s 1981 wedding day.
“The aim was to make a fairytale princess dress,” said Emanuel, who famously created the voluminous ivory ball gown with 25-foot train with her former husband David — along with a secret backup dress the bride never knew about.
“We were students, we loved drama, we had free rein, nobody told us what to do, and I think that was the fun of it. That was why the dress was so special,” Emanuel explained. “There was an innocence about her and us.”
Elizabeth Emanuel (left) and Princess Diana (right) coordinating outfits for a royal tour in 1986.Tim Graham/Getty Images
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!
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
News
Cardi B Says ‘NO Album’ in 2024 After Heated Fan Exchange Online: ‘I Don’t Care I’m Relaxing This Year’
The “Enough (Miami)” rapper went back and forth with fans on X on Tuesday over her long-delayed sophomore album Cardi B performs in London in July 2022. Photo: Joseph Okpako/WireImage On Tuesday, May 14, Cardi B informed fans that she’s no longer…
Everything Cardi B and Offset Have Said About Their ‘A Lot of Drama’-Filled Relationship
Cardi B filed for divorce from husband Offset after nearly three years of marriage It’s over for Cardi B and Offset. On Tuesday, the “WAP” rapper (née Belcalis Marlenis Almanzar) filed for divorce from the Migos rapper (né Kiari Kendrell Cephus) five days before their…
Cardi B Confirms Split from Offset: ‘I’ve Been Single for a Minute Now’
The rappers privately tied the knot in 2017, and share daughter Kulture, 5, and son Wave, 2 Cardi B has confirmed her single status in the wake of rumors about her relationship with Offset. The rapper, 31, got candid on Instagram Live…
Cardi B Shows Off Daughter Kulture’s Custom Diamond Nameplate Bracelet
Many fans fawned over Kulture’s new accessory, while others pointed out the cost with remarks like, “This baby got my whole college tuition on her wrist” Where Kulture Kiari‘s mama’s got rings, she’s got bracelets. Cardi B took to Instagram Wednesday to…
Cardi B Rocks Elegant All-Black Look and Chic Bangs at the Hollywood Unlocked Impact Awards
The rapper received Hollywood Unlocked’s 2024 Inspiration Award at the June 21 awards Cardi B knows how to make a red carpet impact. The rapper, 31, outdid herself in the style department when she arrived at the Friday, June 21 Hollywood…
Cardi B’s Sculptural Grammys Gown Is Hot Off the Paris Fashion Week Runway — See Her Bold Look!
Cardi B’s royal purple Gaurav Gupta design made its debut on the catwalk just five days ago at Paris Fashion Week From runway to red carpet! Cardi B’s 2023 Grammys red carpet look just made its debut on the Paris Fashion Week runway….
End of content
No more pages to load