Princess Diana would have celebrated her 60th birthday on Thursday, a day that will be commemorated by the unveiling of a statue of the late Princess of Wales in the gardens of Kensington Palace by her sons, the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex.
What had begun as a fairy-tale story about a princess aged 19, but ended in tragedy in Paris in August 1997, is highlighted by a dazzling display of her wedding dress in the palace's Orangery.
A wedding dress to remember
It is the first time the two dukes have permitted their mother’s wedding dress to be displayed. The design by David and Elizabeth Emanuel captivated the world. Matthew Storey, curator of Historic Royal Palaces and the exhibition Royal Style in the Making, tells The National that he was bowled over when he saw the dress in person for the first time.
“Like the 750 million, I tuned in to watch the wedding, but it is only up close you realise how beautifully made it was and how it comes alive in the details and sparkle,” he says. The Emanuels wanted and delivered “a fairy-tale princess dress”.
Thousands of brides copied the look for their own wedding gowns, starting a feverish appreciation of Diana’s sartorial choices long before it-girls and fashion influencers took over social media feeds. During the 1980s and 1990s, Princess Diana was the most photographed woman in the world, each of her style choices carefully documented by the local and international press.
Now a younger generation is introduced to her through Emma Corrin's portrayal of Diana in The Crown.
A designer's dream
Designer David Sassoon, of Bellville Sassoon, who created the princess’s “going-away” outfit (that is also part of the Royal Style in the Making exhibition) and her wedding trousseau recalls a splashy floral printed dress he designed for Diana, which she dubbed the caring dress.
“Children relate to very bright colours, and she would often pick up a child and they would stroke the dress,” Sassoon tells The National, “but she was told by the newspapers not to wear it any more as she wore it so often.”
New dresses, after all, ensured front-page photographs.
Sassoon, now 88, and the late French-born designer Catherine Walker were a couple of Diana’s most enduring fashion relationships. “I was lucky, she was very charismatic and a great joy to work with because she had a great sense of humour,” says Sassoon. However, every fashion designer wanted to dress this tall, slim, beautiful woman, including Jasper Conran, Rifat Ozbek, Gina Fratini and Victor Edelstein – and she obliged.
Princess Diana had star power and appealed madly to young women. She also dared to buck the old established royal rule that making a fashion statement is mildly suspect and should be avoided wherever possible. She eschewed gloves, wore diamond necklaces as headbands and even sported a tuxedo.
“In terms of fashion, she could just wear it, as she had a tall frame, good wide shoulders, a narrow waist and hips, a size 10, and she looked great in most things,” specialist auctioneer Kerry Taylor, who has auctioned 32 of Diana’s dresses and ensembles over the past 20 years, tells The National.
The people's princess
“The interest in the princess is enduring,” Taylor says, referring to the buzz that surrounds each dress that comes up for sale. “We had a beautiful white moss crepe dress by the Emanuels that the princess wore on a visit to the Gulf, which created a lot of excitement with people from the Middle East bidding on it. The more the pieces she wore have been photographed, and she wore them on a few occasions, it helps raise the price. That dress sold in 2018 for £130,000 ($180,000).”
Bidders from countries that the princess visited “would like to have a little bit of Diana to take back”, says Taylor, who also sold the Emanuels’ strapless black taffeta ball gown Diana wore to Goldsmiths’ Hall soon after her engagement announcement.
It had caused a huge stir in the press for its low neckline; “Di takes the plunge” read many a headline. “She must have been so embarrassed,” says Taylor.
Learning the ropes
The voluminous romantic gown, however, was typical of the fashions in the early 1980s; along with the piecrust frill necklines and pleated skirts, it was rather conservative. The eveningwear, however, got ever more flamboyant until 1985, when Princess Diana swept into Washington, DC with such a volume of cargo that the British tabloids dubbed her “Dynasty Di”. The criticism stung.
Diana was a romantically minded woman, brought up in the tradition of obedience and deference to the Crown. “She was only 19 when she got engaged and she had not had clothes made for her before,” says Sassoon, and so it was a bit of a learning process. “It was an exciting experience [for her], like being a child in a sweetie shop.”
Diana helped put British fashion on the map with guidance in the early days from Anna Harvey, senior fashion editor at British Vogue. While she enjoyed fashion, as Said Cyrus, Walker’s widower who worked alongside his designer wife, points out, "people forget that the princess was doing a job as an ambassador, and we were giving her the tools to do that job".
She was minimally involved in the design process: “The briefs got shorter and shorter. I would do the drawings for the presentation to the princess who would write notes on the back,” Cyrus tells The National.
Lydia Slater, editor of British Harper’s Bazaar, describes Princess Diana as “absolutely brilliant at communicating with her clothes”, noting the famous “revenge dress”, with its daring off-the-shoulder silhouette that she wore to an event on the very night Charles, the Prince of Wales, confessed infidelity on national television. It was, says Slater, “a statement of defiance”.
Style evolution
Princess Diana’s clothes were a semaphore for the changing patterns of her life. After the Dynasty Di barb in the late 1980s, she developed a sleeker, low-key style that reflected her emergence as a confident woman. Walker helped her evolve that graceful, elegant look that better suited the princess’s needs as she went about her charitable and humanitarian work.
The designer developed a refined style of tailoring that suited Diana well: lean suits and coats with a strong shoulder-line and no waistline, which looked impeccable but never uptight. She also always chose a great colour that would be spotted in crowds.
“She had massive blue eyes and picked things to emphasise them,” says Taylor. And, says Storey, “she loved it when the press made a fuss about a garment of hers”.
After her divorce, Diana shrugged off the stilted dress codes and wore what she liked, so her dresses became a bit more alluring.
She started wearing Chanel, Dior, figure-hugging Versace, as well as sticking with Catherine Walker. She embraced contemporary gym culture, mixed designer and high-street fashion, and wore accessories such as Tod’s Gomminos, and Dior and Ferragamo handbags that were subsequently renamed in her honour.
The current piecrust collar trend, the slogan sweatshirts, the tailored blazers are all throwbacks to looks that Lady Diana popularised and that are now endlessly mined on social media. She was a style icon for one generation and now, potentially, for another.
Royal Style in the Making is on until January 2, 2022 at Kensington Palace, London; hrp.org.uk
Scorebox
Sharjah Wanderers 20-25 Dubai Tigers (After extra-time)
Wanderers
Tries Gormley, Penalty
Cons Flaherty
Pens Flaherty 2
Tigers
Tries O’Donnell, Gibbons, Kelly
Cons Caldwell 2
Pens Caldwell, Cross
Pros%20and%20cons%20of%20BNPL
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPros%3C%2Fstrong%3E%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EEasy%20to%20use%20and%20require%20less%20rigorous%20credit%20checks%20than%20traditional%20credit%20options%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EOffers%20the%20ability%20to%20spread%20the%20cost%20of%20purchases%20over%20time%2C%20often%20interest-free%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EConvenient%20and%20can%20be%20integrated%20directly%20into%20the%20checkout%20process%2C%20useful%20for%20online%20shopping%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EHelps%20facilitate%20cash%20flow%20planning%20when%20used%20wisely%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECons%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cul%3E%0A%3Cli%3EThe%20ease%20of%20making%20purchases%20can%20lead%20to%20overspending%20and%20accumulation%20of%20debt%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EMissing%20payments%20can%20result%20in%20hefty%20fees%20and%2C%20in%20some%20cases%2C%20high%20interest%20rates%20after%20an%20initial%20interest-free%20period%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3EFailure%20to%20make%20payments%20can%20impact%20credit%20score%20negatively%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3Cli%3ERefunds%20can%20be%20complicated%20and%20delayed%0D%3C%2Fli%3E%0A%3C%2Ful%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ECourtesy%3A%20Carol%20Glynn%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs: Macan Turbo
Engine: Dual synchronous electric motors
Power: 639hp
Torque: 1,130Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Touring range: 591km
Price: From Dh412,500
On sale: Deliveries start in October
Company%20Profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJune%202022%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounder%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMohammed%20Alnamara%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%20%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EMicrofinance%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ECurrent%20number%20of%20staff%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E16%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%20stage%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeries%20A%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFamily%20offices%0D%3Cbr%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Company Profile
Name: JustClean
Based: Kuwait with offices in other GCC countries
Launch year: 2016
Number of employees: 130
Sector: online laundry service
Funding: $12.9m from Kuwait-based Faith Capital Holding
Ziina users can donate to relief efforts in Beirut
Ziina users will be able to use the app to help relief efforts in Beirut, which has been left reeling after an August blast caused an estimated $15 billion in damage and left thousands homeless. Ziina has partnered with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to raise money for the Lebanese capital, co-founder Faisal Toukan says. “As of October 1, the UNHCR has the first certified badge on Ziina and is automatically part of user's top friends' list during this campaign. Users can now donate any amount to the Beirut relief with two clicks. The money raised will go towards rebuilding houses for the families that were impacted by the explosion.”
Important questions to consider
1. Where on the plane does my pet travel?
There are different types of travel available for pets:
- Manifest cargo
- Excess luggage in the hold
- Excess luggage in the cabin
Each option is safe. The feasibility of each option is based on the size and breed of your pet, the airline they are traveling on and country they are travelling to.
2. What is the difference between my pet traveling as manifest cargo or as excess luggage?
If traveling as manifest cargo, your pet is traveling in the front hold of the plane and can travel with or without you being on the same plane. The cost of your pets travel is based on volumetric weight, in other words, the size of their travel crate.
If traveling as excess luggage, your pet will be in the rear hold of the plane and must be traveling under the ticket of a human passenger. The cost of your pets travel is based on the actual (combined) weight of your pet in their crate.
3. What happens when my pet arrives in the country they are traveling to?
As soon as the flight arrives, your pet will be taken from the plane straight to the airport terminal.
If your pet is traveling as excess luggage, they will taken to the oversized luggage area in the arrival hall. Once you clear passport control, you will be able to collect them at the same time as your normal luggage. As you exit the airport via the ‘something to declare’ customs channel you will be asked to present your pets travel paperwork to the customs official and / or the vet on duty.
If your pet is traveling as manifest cargo, they will be taken to the Animal Reception Centre. There, their documentation will be reviewed by the staff of the ARC to ensure all is in order. At the same time, relevant customs formalities will be completed by staff based at the arriving airport.
4. How long does the travel paperwork and other travel preparations take?
This depends entirely on the location that your pet is traveling to. Your pet relocation compnay will provide you with an accurate timeline of how long the relevant preparations will take and at what point in the process the various steps must be taken.
In some cases they can get your pet ‘travel ready’ in a few days. In others it can be up to six months or more.
5. What vaccinations does my pet need to travel?
Regardless of where your pet is traveling, they will need certain vaccinations. The exact vaccinations they need are entirely dependent on the location they are traveling to. The one vaccination that is mandatory for every country your pet may travel to is a rabies vaccination.
Other vaccinations may also be necessary. These will be advised to you as relevant. In every situation, it is essential to keep your vaccinations current and to not miss a due date, even by one day. To do so could severely hinder your pets travel plans.
Source: Pawsome Pets UAE
RESULTS
6.30pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group One (PA) US$65,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
Winner RB Money To Burn, Fabrice Veron (jockey), Eric Lemartinel (trainer).
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $175,000 (Turf) 1,200m
Winner Ekhtiyaar, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
7.40pm UAE 2000 Guineas Trial Conditions (TB) $100,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Commanding, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm Singspiel Stakes Group Two (TB) $250,000 (T) 1,800m
Winner Benbatl, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
8.50pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Zakouski, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
9.25pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round-1 Group Two (TB) $350,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Kimbear, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
10pm Dubai Trophy Conditions (TB) $100,000 (T) 1,200m
Winner Platinum Star, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
10.35pm Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner Key Victory, James Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
Glossary of a stock market revolution
Reddit
A discussion website
Redditor
The users of Reddit
Robinhood
A smartphone app for buying and selling shares
Short seller
Selling a stock today in the belief its price will fall in the future
Short squeeze
Traders forced to buy a stock they are shorting
Naked short
An illegal practice
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Specs%3A%202024%20McLaren%20Artura%20Spider
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0-litre%20twin-turbo%20V6%20and%20electric%20motor%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20power%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20700hp%20at%207%2C500rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EMax%20torque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20720Nm%20at%202%2C250rpm%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eight-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E0-100km%2Fh%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%203.0sec%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETop%20speed%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E330kph%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh1.14%20million%20(%24311%2C000)%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
The%20specs
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%201.8-litre%204-cyl%20turbo%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E190hp%20at%205%2C200rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320Nm%20from%201%2C800-5%2C000rpm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESeven-speed%20dual-clutch%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFuel%20consumption%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%206.7L%2F100km%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh111%2C195%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Liverpool's all-time goalscorers
Ian Rush 346
Roger Hunt 285
Mohamed Salah 250
Gordon Hodgson 241
Billy Liddell 228
World Sevens Series standing after Dubai
1. South Africa
2. New Zealand
3. England
4. Fiji
5. Australia
6. Samoa
7. Kenya
8. Scotland
9. France
10. Spain
11. Argentina
12. Canada
13. Wales
14. Uganda
15. United States
16. Russia
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
