‘Don’t worry, it will only get worse,’ Princess Grace told me on my first night out with Charles
IN MARCH 1981, Diana accompanied Prince Charles on their first joint public engagement, a black-tie event at Goldsmith’s Hall in aid of the Royal Opera House development appeal. She wore a strapless black taffeta evening gown designed by Elizabeth and
David Emanuel, who would go on to design her wedding dress.
I remember my first engagement so well. So excited. I got this black dress from the Emanuels and I thought it was OK because girls my age wore this dress. I hadn’t appreciated that I was now seen as a Royal lady. I remember walking into my husband-to-be’s study, and him saying: ‘You’re not going in that dress, are you?’
I replied: ‘Yes, I am.’
And he said: ‘It’s black! But only people in mourning wear black!’ And I said: ‘Yes, but I’m not part of your family yet.’
Black, to me, was the smartest colour you could possibly have at the age of 19. It was a real grownup dress. I was quite big-chested then, and they [the press] all got frightfully excited. I learned a lesson that night. I remember meeting Princess Grace and how wonderful and serene she was but there was troubled water under her; I saw that.
Princess Grace noticed how frightened she was and whisked her off to the Ladies’ for a chat. Diana poured her heart out to her about her sense of isolation and her fears for the future. ‘Don’t worry,’ Princess Grace joked. ‘It will only get worse.’
It was a horrendous occasion. I didn’t know whether to go out of the door first. I didn’t know whether your handbag should be in your left hand or your right hand. I was terrified, really – at the time everything was all over the place. I remember that evening so well. I was terrified – nearly sick. I was just pushed into the fire.
I missed my girls so much. I wanted to go back there to the girls in Coleherne Court and sit and giggle like we used to, and borrow clothes and chat about silly things – just being in my safe shell again.