TOMORROW: HOW DIANA MADE THE SWIMSUIT SEXY

She loved showing off her gym-honed back

There was no better public signal of Diana’s body confidence than the way she repeatedly showed off her back on the red carpet.

For years, officially representing the royal Family as the Princess of Wales, she’d had to adhere to the rules of appropriate, cleavagehiding, covered-up gowns.

Now her powerful swimmer’s back and perfectly muscled arms were showcased to devastating effect in every possible combination of straps, plunging scoops and lace inserts.

As Jacques Azagury observes, at this point in her life she was completely secure about ‘going without a bra’ in public.

healthy and radiant, she was the opposite of that hunched- over girl whose fragile shoulders were so tellingly exposed in the fairytale ballgowns of the early eighties. Now she was carrying herself like a star.

Today, every designer strives to make stars look fabulous from all points of the compass on the red carpet: Diana had already perfected the art at least a decade ahead of them.

Rear view: Her Catherine Walker peach and white dress in 19 9

Over the shoulder: At the 19 9 Washington gala

Space age: In Bruce Oldfield with Eighties’ Dynasty shoulder pads in Melbourne in 19 5

Velvet and pearls: A Walker gown at a London film premiere in 19 5

Laced up: In midnight blue Catherine Walker in 19 5

Racy: Walker’s corded back in Riechers lace in 1997