Tuesday marks the late Princess Diana‘s 64th birthday. The late royal’s sense of fashion and style remains part of her enduring legacy decades after her death. The late Princess of Wales set trends and embraced classic sartorial elements, several instances of her proclivity for style were often on display for her birthday.
Here, WWD looks back on some of the iconic British royal’s most memorable birthday outfits, featuring the classic little black dress, vibrant colors, playful proportions and more.
Princess Diana, 1997
Princess Diana wears Jacques Azagury at Tate Gallery’s Centenary Gala in London on July 1, 1997.
Tim Graham Photo Library via Get
In 1997, Princess Diana attended the Tate Gallery‘s Centenary Gala on her birthday in London. The royal, who at this time had been divorced from then-Prince Charles for nearly a year, wore a sleek black gown courtesy of Moroccan-born, London-based fashion designer Jacques Azagury.
The dress featured thin straps, a square neckline and a formfitting silhouette with a flowing skirt. The dress featured all-over shimmering elements, adding a touch of sparkle to the little black dress. Princess Diana accessorized the dress with a choker necklace with green gemstones, delicate bracelets and statement earrings.
“She loved black, particularly toward the later parts of her life once she divorced because before that she wasn’t able to wear black — as soon as she was able to be fully fledged into black, she looked sensational [especially] with her skin color, blue eyes and blonde hair,” Azagury said in a 2023 interview, per WWD. The black gown was auctioned off in 2023.
Princess Diana, 1992
Princess Diana at the National Orthopaedic Hospital In Stanmore, London on July 1, 1992.
Tim Graham Photo Library via Get
Still a working royal in 1992, Princess Diana spent her 31st birthday at the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Stanmore, London, where she visited with the staff. For the occasion, she wore a pastel pink dress with a tailored silhouette. The look included a light blue trim along the neckline and sleeves with gold circular buttons down the front placket of the dress. She accessorized her ensemble with gold jewelry pieces, including statement earrings.
Princess Diana, 1990
Princess Diana with Prince Charles, as he leaves Cirencester Hospital in Cirencester, England, on July 1, 1990.
Tim Graham Photo Library via Get
Known for her more glamorous wardrobe pieces, Princess Diana also styled casual attire with her signature spin of accessibility and trendiness. On the occasion of her 29th birthday in 1990, the late Princess of Wales wore a high-waisted floral skirt with a brown belt at the waist to define her silhouette. She paired the skirt with a classic white T-shirt beneath a blue collared shirt with subtle buttons and breast pockets. Her floral skirt coordinated seamlessly with her botanical-inspired flats.
Princess Diana, 1983
Prince Charles and Princess Diana visit Canada, Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, opening of the XII Summer Universiade on July 1, 1983.
Getty Images
Nearly one year following her marriage to then-Prince Charles, Princess Diana celebrated her 22nd birthday on the couple’s royal visit to Canada. The late British royal opted for a playful pattern during the summertime visit, wearing a dress with a high neckline and fuchsia polka dots against a dark navy base fabric. She paired the dress with a fuchsia jacket with slightly exaggerated shoulders and long sleeves and wore a navy hat with a wide brim to complete her birthday ensemble.
