Cannes through the looking glass: How Diana 'upstaged' Hollywood stars at the French film festival in 1987
By April Glover|
It's not unusual for Hollywood couples to be defined by their red carpet moments.
It is, however, somewhat rare for royals to enjoy the flash of cameras at a star-studded event.
In 1987, the Prince and Princess of Wales, Charles and Diana, were invited to the 40th Cannes Film Festival. It would be their first and only Cannes appearance.
The future king and his wife chose the stunning French backdrop to assure the world they were, indeed, a breath of fresh modern air for the British monarchy.
IN PHOTOS: The most memorable Cannes Film Festival looks of all time
Mingling with some of the world's most famous celebrities, of course, garnered some positive press for the couple, who had just wed six years prior.
Charles and Diana arrived at the film festival, named for the resort town on the French Riviera where it's held, dressed in some truly glamorous, non-royal outfits.
The people's princess wore a now-iconic powder blue strapless dress, designed by Catherine Walker. The tulle gown was complemented by a chic scarf which flowed behind her like a bridal train.
She also accessorised the look with a pair of aquamarine and diamond chandelier earrings, and surprisingly, a pair of flat ballet shoes.
Diana's dress was inspired by another royal. It was designed to look like a gown Grace Kelly's character Frances Stevens wore in the 1955 Alfred Hitchcok film To Catch a Thief.
Both would be tragically linked in more ways than one. Grace of Monaco had died five years prior in a car crash, and Diana would go on to lose her life in a 1997 car accident.
In fact, both princesses had bonded over their struggle to adapt to fame.
"I remember meeting Princess Grace," Diana said in her 1992 biography, Diana: Her True Story.
"And how wonderful and serene she was – but there was troubled water under her, I saw that."
According to the book, Grace had some brutal words of advice for her British counterpart: "Don't worry, it'll only get worse."
On Cannes' Boulevard de la Croisette, Princess Diana simply oozed Hollywood glamour, with a touch of French style.
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The Wales couple had arrived at the premiere of the film The Whales of August.
Earlier in the day, the royals visited Cannes City Hall, where Diana wore a skirt suit with a double breasted white blazer and puffball skirt, also designed by Catherine Walker.
Their appearance had been weeks in the making, with the Los Angeles Times noting their presence "upstaged films" at Cannes in 1987.
The film's director apparently held that very concern. He told reporters amid their arrival, as per the LA Times, "Let's not forget, this is a film festival. We are supposed to be here to talk about films."
Among the celebrities whom Diana was with competing for attention were Elizabeth Taylor, David Bowie and Nicholas Cage.
Of course, Diana's mere presence became the buzz of the evening. The royal's time in the South of France is remembered as one of her most popular style moments in her short life.
The blue chiffon dress was eventually listed for auction at the Julien's Auction Hollywood Legends Memorabilia auction in 2011.
Just before the Cannes Film Festival in 2013, 26 years later, it was sold at the LA auction house for £81,000,(approx. $154,000) with the proceeds donated to a children's charity.
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