Leaked Tapes Reveal Charles Scolded Diana For Her Black Outfit During First Outing: “You’re Not Going…”

Princess Diana's bold fashion choices conveyed her strength, personality, and evolving confidence. At just 19, the soon-to-be bride was initially unaware of the rigid royal protocols that were to dictate her every move. Her quiet rebellion resurfaced in intimate tapes, recorded during the breakdown of her marriage. In one audio clip, she recounted how Prince Charles once chastised her for wearing a revealing black dress during their first royal engagement.

Diana has posthumously inspired numerous books that honor her extraordinary life. Among them is the best-selling Diana: Her True Story, written by journalist and author, Andrew Morton. The controversial memoir includes excerpts from intimate tapes Diana recorded during her rocky marriage, wherein she candidly detailed her feelings about Charles' affair and her struggles within the royal family. The audio recordings were later featured in the bombshell documentary Diana: In Her Own Words, aired by National Geographic. Narrated by the late Princess herself, the heartbreaking documentary used the tapes Diana had entrusted to her friend, Dr. James Colthurst, to pass on to Morton.

In one such clip, the late Princess revealed how Charles berated her for wearing a black dress. She said, “I remember my first engagement so well. I remember being so excited, I got this black dress from the Emanuels...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!” The soon-to-be Princess of Wales, who was taken aback, replied, “Yes, but I'm not part of your family yet.” Alexandra Messervy, Chief Executive of The English Manner etiquette training provider, told InStyle, “Generally it is thought that black is not usually worn unless in mourning, although Diana...did occasionally wear it for evening functions.”

The tapes revealed that Diana thought a black dress was a smart choice for a 19-year-old girl. She recalled her nervousness during her first royal engagement, labeling it a ‘disaster’. She said, “I didn't know if the handbag should be carried in your right hand or your left hand. Everything was all over the place. I was terrified." According to Business Insider, the black satin dress was designed by the British duo Elizabeth and David Emanuel. The same designers later also designed her fairytale wedding dress in 1981.

Diana’s choice of wearing black dresses may have defied royal protocols, but it showcased her rebellious streak. During her appearance at a state dinner in 1985, she chose a sleek black gown by designer Victor Edelstein. This was the same dress she wore while dancing with John Travolta. We also remember her infamous black ‘revenge dress,’ designed by Christina Stambolian