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| The Princess will take at least six outfits for each day to cover any eventuality and weather condition. She'll bring a stack of hats, gloves and handbags. She'll also carry a black outfit in case she has to go back home for a funeral. The Spencer family tiara will be packed for the White House dinner next Saturday, or perhaps a more grand one borrowed from the Queen. – Plaid Princesss: “She likes bold designs. She's revitalized British fashion,” Stephen Barry says. – By Lionel Cherruault |
As the USA rolls out the red carpet for her first visit next weekend, a former royal valet gives us an inside look at her life with Charles.
When Prince Charles went to Washington, D.C, in 1970, President Nixon tried to match him up with his pretty daughter Tricia. But both the Prince and Tricia had different ideas. The next time he went to the USA, it was 1977 and he had me for company. This time around, there was no threat of matchmaking. Amy Carter was too young. “At least I won't have a daughter to face,” he said before we left.
This time he brings a wife. When the prince arrives in the States next Friday, he'll be accompanied by the beautiful and exceptional Princess Diana. And one thing is certain: Princess or not, Diana is tremendously excited by the prospect of her first trip to the United States. The purpose of this voyage is to visit an exhibit of paintings, silver and furnishings from the great homes of Britain The Treasure Homes of Britain at the National Gallery of Art in Washington and also to raise money for Prince Charles' pet charity, United World Colleges, at a dinner in Palm Beach, Fla.
The couple will spend the first three days in Washington and will fly to Palm Beach on Tuesday. Knowing that the cameras will be upon Princess Diana, she has been having a field day with her clothing allowance. During the summer, she made trips to London from Balmoral Castle in Scotland for fittings for her brand-new wardrobe. Her bags will be laden with evening gowns from Belville Sassoon and day clothes from Bruce Oldfield, her favorite designer. It looks as if the color scheme will be autumnal.
The Princess will take at least six outfits for each day to cover any eventuality and weather condition. She'll bring a stack of hats, gloves and handbags. She'll also carry a black outfit in case she has to go back home for a funeral. The Spencer family tiara will be packed for the White House dinner next Saturday, or perhaps a more grand one borrowed from the Queen.
When the royal couple dine with the Reagans, the First Lady will find that Princess Diana is very different from the 20 year-old former kindergarten teacher whose wedding Nancy Reagan attended on July 29, 1981. The difference will also be noted by the millions of USA citizens who watched the royal wedding on TV.
Even though Princess Diana coped su perbly that day, I never would have imag ined her becoming the poised performer she is now.
She always was radiant. But now the Princess, at 24, has matured and become much more stylish and confident. She has grown into her royal role; she's everyone's idea of what a Princess should be.
Royalty is a bit like Dynasty and Dallas without the double dealing. But, while the royals are much richer, they are much less grand. There aren't a lot of champagne corks popping about the palace. In fact, champagne has just been banned at diplomatic receptions as an economy measure. And the Queen, obsessed with conserving electricity, is often seen switching off lights. Princess Diana, however, is putting a new shine on the royal image. She's very beautiful, incredibly photogenic and she wears clothes well.
The Princess was a triumph throughout the Australia tour which took place in 1983, shortly after the birth of Prince William. That was an easy trip because Australians treat the British royals like members of the family, so if they make the odd mistake, nobody takes much notice. During that trip, she looked to Prince Charles for guidance and he was always close at hand.
The princess's equally triumphant tour of Italy last spring was a gentle ride, too. All Italians love a pretty girl and, as she can't speak Italian, she just had to smile a lot.
Both these tours were the nursery slopes. The Queen’s advisers now believe Diana is ready and experienced enough for this United States trip. She has had practice at being a Princess and she is poised enough to handle the press and the pressures involved in a trip to the USA.
This visit will mark one of her biggest challenges, but I can’t see Princess Diana failing
She has learned to love the limelight. In fact, Prince Charles is the first to admit that his wife is usually the main attraction. When the couple toured Australia, the Prince said with a grin: “I might as well have stayed in the car.”
I believe she’ll draw the largest crowds Washington has seen in years. In my trav els around the States, I have found a boundless curiosity about the British royal family. People in the USA are fascinated by the glamour of it all.
The Prince, for his part, loves the United States and is looking forward to introducing Princess Diana to your country. Though normally he moans and groans about overseas trips, an invitation to the USA is accepted with alacrity. – By Stephen Barry for the San Bernardino Sun, 1985
The Princess will take at least six outfits for each day to cover any eventuality and weather condition. She'll bring a stack of hats, gloves and handbags. She'll also carry a black outfit in case she has to go back home for a funeral. The Spencer family tiara will be packed for the White House dinner next Saturday, or perhaps a more grand one borrowed from the Queen.
When the royal couple dine with the Reagans, the First Lady will find that Princess Diana is very different from the 20 year-old former kindergarten teacher whose wedding Nancy Reagan attended on July 29, 1981. The difference will also be noted by the millions of USA citizens who watched the royal wedding on TV.
Even though Princess Diana coped su perbly that day, I never would have imag ined her becoming the poised performer she is now.
She always was radiant. But now the Princess, at 24, has matured and become much more stylish and confident. She has grown into her royal role; she's everyone's idea of what a Princess should be.
Royalty is a bit like Dynasty and Dallas without the double dealing. But, while the royals are much richer, they are much less grand. There aren't a lot of champagne corks popping about the palace. In fact, champagne has just been banned at diplomatic receptions as an economy measure. And the Queen, obsessed with conserving electricity, is often seen switching off lights. Princess Diana, however, is putting a new shine on the royal image. She's very beautiful, incredibly photogenic and she wears clothes well.
The Princess was a triumph throughout the Australia tour which took place in 1983, shortly after the birth of Prince William. That was an easy trip because Australians treat the British royals like members of the family, so if they make the odd mistake, nobody takes much notice. During that trip, she looked to Prince Charles for guidance and he was always close at hand.
The princess's equally triumphant tour of Italy last spring was a gentle ride, too. All Italians love a pretty girl and, as she can't speak Italian, she just had to smile a lot.
Both these tours were the nursery slopes. The Queen’s advisers now believe Diana is ready and experienced enough for this United States trip. She has had practice at being a Princess and she is poised enough to handle the press and the pressures involved in a trip to the USA.
This visit will mark one of her biggest challenges, but I can’t see Princess Diana failing
She has learned to love the limelight. In fact, Prince Charles is the first to admit that his wife is usually the main attraction. When the couple toured Australia, the Prince said with a grin: “I might as well have stayed in the car.”
I believe she’ll draw the largest crowds Washington has seen in years. In my trav els around the States, I have found a boundless curiosity about the British royal family. People in the USA are fascinated by the glamour of it all.
The Prince, for his part, loves the United States and is looking forward to introducing Princess Diana to your country. Though normally he moans and groans about overseas trips, an invitation to the USA is accepted with alacrity. – By Stephen Barry for the San Bernardino Sun, 1985
🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia
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