Why the dress Princess Diana wore for her first royal engagement caused a stir – 9Honey

If there’s one aspect of the British monarchy that hasn’t changed in recent decades, it’s the intense scrutiny over the wardrobe choices made by royal women.
As well as contending with the public’s opinions of their clothing, royals are also faced with expectations from within ‘The Firm’ as to how they should dress.
Though Princess Diana is today remembered for her royal style moments, even she fell foul of the monarchy’s preferences on her very first official outing, no less.
On March 3, 1981, Diana, then 19, embarked on her first royal engagement since her engagement to Prince Charles was announced days earlier.
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Princess Diana with the black taffeta dress she chose for her first royal outing as Prince Charles’ fiancee. (Getty)
Attending a musical recital at Goldsmiths’ Hall in London, she wore a black taffeta ballgown by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, who also designed her wedding dress.
Speaking to biographer Andrew Morton years later, Diana recalled being “so excited” ahead of the event and pleased with her choice of outfit.
“I got this black dress from the Emanuels, and I thought it was OK because girls my age wore this dress,” she is quoted saying in Diana: Her True Story – In Her Own Words.
“I hadn’t appreciated that I was now seen as a royal lady, although I’d only got a ring on my finger as opposed to two rings.”
Speaking on The Windsors podcast, 9Honey royal commentator Victoria Arbiter added: “She just looked young and pure and innocent, and everyone sort of just wanted to take care of her.”
Diana and Charles met Princess Grace of Monaco during the gala at Goldsmiths’ Hall. (Bettmann Archive)
Diana’s dress was certainly eye-catching, and adhered to the gala event’s black tie dress code, but it wasn’t exactly in line with the royal family’s sartorial guidelines.
The royal bride-to-be had believed black a wise colour choice, telling Morton: “To me,

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