When Princess Diana walked the red carpet at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival, all eyes were on her — cameras clicked, flashes went off, and the world held its breath at her otherworldly beauty.
But few realized the deeper meaning woven into the folds of her delicate powder-blue tulle gown.
Known as the “People’s Princess,” Diana captivated with her charisma and fashion that rewrote royal rules. In the ’80s and ’90s, she became a global style icon, often favoring soft, approachable looks over traditional royal formality.
One of her signature styles? Pastels — elegant, gentle shades from tailored suits to flowing dresses.
One of Diana’s most iconic yet lesser-known fashion moments happened in 1987.
Her brief 10-hour visit to Cannes alongside Prince Charles was to honor Sir Alec Guinness, support British cinema, and attend a glamorous gala at the Festival Palace.
The gala dinner featured tight security and strict guest checks. Diana didn’t speak much but needed no words — all attention was on her.
At the screening of The Whales of August, photographers captured her from every angle as the chiffon scarf of her dress fluttered in the breeze.
But this was more than a glamorous photo op.
Her strapless powder-blue gown, designed by longtime collaborator Catherine Walker, was a quiet tribute to another royal woman who profoundly influenced Diana: Princess Grace of Monaco.
The gown’s flowing lines and icy hue echoed the timeless elegance of Grace Kelly — a star from Philadelphia who left Hollywood at 26 to marry Prince Rainier III and become Princess of Monaco.
Tragically, five years before Diana’s Cannes appearance, Grace died in a car accident — a fate eerily mirrored by Diana herself a decade later.
At the time, few journalists noticed this subtle homage woven into Diana’s pale blue gown.
There were no mentions in the 1987 press — but now, and for some keen observers then, the connection is clear.
The icy blue dress resembled the Edith Head gown Grace wore in Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief, famously shot on the French Riviera.
Diana and designer Walker reportedly drew direct inspiration from Grace’s screen image, down to the exact shade of blue Hitchcock chose to evoke a cold, untouchable beauty.
Diana and Grace shared a unique bond. Though brief, their time together left a lasting impact on Diana.
In 1981, shortly after Diana’s engagement, she met Grace at a charity event. Nervous and overwhelmed, the 19-year-old-to-be bride broke down in the ladies’ room. Grace, 51 at the time, comforted her and gave advice only a woman who had endured the royal spotlight could offer — a moment Diana never forgot.
Cannes also held special significance for Grace — it was where she, then an American actress, met her future husband, Prince Rainier, in April 1955.
And 32 years later, stepping onto that same French soil, Diana quietly honored Grace’s memory. No speeches. No press releases. Just fabric, color, and memories.
The flowing chiffon scarf of Diana’s gown caught the breeze that evening, adding a graceful movement that seemed to whisper the story behind the dress.
Two years later, Diana wore the same dress at the Miss Saigon premiere. In 1997, just months before her tragic death, she included it in her famous Christie’s charity auction, which raised funds through 79 iconic dresses.
The Cannes dress sold for $70,700, and in 2013 it resurfaced at auction, fetching $132,000 — proceeds benefiting a children’s charity.
In 2017, the gown was displayed behind glass at Kensington Palace during a ceremony marking 20 years since Diana’s death.
Today, it serves as a time capsule — not only of Diana’s style but of her quiet depth, her grief, and her tribute to the woman who understood her pain better than anyone.
That windy Cannes evening, photographers captured a moment. But perhaps not the whole story
