The Princess & The Platypus Foundation

  Before she was a global icon, Lady Diana Spencer was just a teen who loved flowers and lace. Many people don’t realize how much one designer really changed her look. She wore a lot of Laura Ashley designs in the late 1970s. This style was all about being soft, shy, and very British. It’s what made the world fall in love with her. Flowers and Frills for a Future Princess Diana loved the floral skirts and white blouses from this brand. They were made in Wales and had a very "countryside" feel to them. The clothes were simple but elegant. For a young girl living at Althorp, these outfits were perfect for formal events without looking too old or stuffy. Saving History from the Trash Bin Did you know many of these clothes were almost lost forever? In the early 80s, Diana’s room was cleaned out by her stepmother. Items like her favorite straw hat and skirts were given to staff or donated. Luckily, the Princess Diana Museum has saved these pieces for us to see today. If ...

  Some weddings are big. This one was huge. On July 29, 1981, millions of people stopped what they were doing to watch Princess Diana marry Prince Charles. It wasn’t just a royal wedding. It felt like the whole world was watching at once. That’s why people still call it the Wedding of the Century . The Whole World Tuned In Around 750 million people watched the ceremony on TV. That number was massive for the time. No streaming. No social media. Just live television and pure attention. In the UK, streets were packed. Families gathered around one TV. Neighbours held street parties. It felt like a national holiday, even if it wasn’t officially one everywhere. The keyword Princess Diana wedding still trends because people haven’t stopped searching for it. St Paul’s Cathedral Made It Grand The wedding took place at St Paul’s Cathedral. It was chosen because it could hold more guests than Westminster Abbey. About 3,500 people were inside. Outside? Over 600,000 lined the stree...

  Before she was the most famous woman in the world, Diana Spencer was just a quiet girl with a love for pretty dresses. Everyone talks about her wedding gown, but the real change started earlier.  The Dress That Started It All In 1979, Diana wore a beautiful turquoise silk gown to a ball at Althorp. It had tiny ruffles and a sweet look. This was her "coming out" moment to the public. It showed a young girl who was ready to step into the royal spotlight. At The Princess Diana Museum , you can see these types of artifacts in 3D. The museum uses high-tech 360 views so you can see every thread of these dresses from your home. Why This Gown Was Different This dress wasn't just about fashion. It was about a message. Diana looked "shy," but the choice of color and style showed she had an eye for detail. Her hairdresser, Richard Dalton, who was part of her "A-Team," says this was the beginning of her style journey. The museum uses photogrammetry to sho...

When most people imagine a princess, they picture tiaras, shiny gowns, and very perfect outfits. Princess Diana didn’t always fit into that image. She understood something early on. If you want to feel strong and modern, sometimes you borrow from the boys. Diana was one of the first royal women to really wear menswear for women in a natural way. Not a soft copy made for women, but actual menswear. She went straight to the source. One key piece came from Turnbull & Asser , a British brand known more for dressing men like Prince Charles and even James Bond. Borrowing Style from a Men’s Brand At the time, Turnbull & Asser was mostly about gentlemen’s clothing. Shirts, tailoring, classic British style. Diana didn’t seem bothered by that at all. She chose a single-breasted blazer made from finely checked wool. The jacket had soft tones of green, blue, and brown. It looked structured but not stiff. Practical, but still stylish. When Diana wore it, the message was clear. A woman ...

  Do you remember standing in the checkout line at the grocery store in the 1980s? You weren't looking at a phone. You were looking at the magazine rack. And 9 times out of 10, one face was staring back at you. Blue eyes. Shy smile. Maybe a tiara, maybe a baseball cap. It didn't matter if it was Vogue or People or Woman’s Weekly . If Diana was on the cover, you bought it. We didn't have social media feeds back then. We had paper. And looking back now, Princess Diana’s most iconic media moments happened right there on those glossy pages. The "Cover Girl" Who Changed Everything Nowadays, celebrities fight for attention on TikTok. But Diana didn't have to fight. She just had to step outside. She graced the covers of thousands of magazines. Literally thousands. It wasn't just about fashion, though her style was amazing. It was about connection. She once said, "I touch people. I think everyone needs that." Even through a photo on a newsstand, ...

We all know the photos. Princess Diana stepping off a plane in Australia or wearing a stunning gown in America. She always looked perfect. The hair was perfect, the smile was bright, and the crowds were cheering. But have you ever wondered what happened before the plane door opened? In our new weekly series, DIANA: Stories Behind the Icon , we are finally letting the people who carried the bags and fixed the hair tell their side of the story. The Reality of the Royal Tour Entourage When we see the news clips, we think a royal tour is just a fancy vacation. It’s not. It is work. grueling work. The Royal Tour Entourage—the stylists, the security, the ladies-in-waiting—they saw the real Diana. They saw her when the cameras were off. They saw her when she was jet-lagged. They saw her when she was nervous about a speech. They saw her kicking off her heels in the back of the car and laughing about something silly that happened at a dinner. These are the moments you don't read in h...