Princess Diana comforted by Grace Kelly during the first "horrible" royal engagement



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The first appearance of Princess Diana after Prince Charles and herself announced their engagement in February 1981 was perhaps a sign of the difficult times ahead. Diana, who will later describe this experience as "horrible", seeks comfort from Grace Kelly, former American actress who became Grace, Princess of Monaco, who was also attending the event.

Diana called "daring" at her royal debut

A few weeks later, Prince Charles, 32, announced his engagement with 19-year-old Lady Diana Spencer and attended a gala at the Royal Opera House.

It was then that the world really started to become aware of Diana's clothing choices. The strapless black dress she wore at the gala attracted public attention because the British royal family usually set entirely black sets at funerals.

Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer at the Gala
Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles at Goldsmiths Hall in London in March 1981 | Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

A newspaper title at the time read at the time: "Daring Di puts the fashion aside," highlighting the cleavage of her dress.

Even his descent became a new because the neckline of the dress revealed his cleavage. This may have led the future Princess of Wales to use a clutch to hide her cleavage when she leaves cars years later.

Grace Kelly consoled Princess Diana during her "fierce" first royal commitment

At this gala, Grace Kelly, the Princess of Monaco, was among the guests of honor. Thanks to the royal biographer Andrew Morton and his 2011 book, William and Catherine, we understand better how the evening was for Diana and what role Kelly played.

Morton spoke of Kelly and Diana's meeting in a section of his book, in which he wrote: "She chose a black prom dress with plunging neckline that smoothed out gravity. The commentators were wondering if she had exhibited more than she should for Princess Grace of Monaco, former Hollywood star Grace Kelly. "

Newcomer to the royal scene, Diana did not know what to do.

Grace Kelly and Princess Diana
Lady Diana Spencer (who will later become Princess Diana) with Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Princess Grace of Monaco at Goldsmiths Hall in London, participating in a fundraising concert and reception for the Royal Opera House | Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images

"It was a terrible opportunity," Diana told Morton later. "I did not know whether to go out first. I did not know if your purse should be in your left hand and not in your right. "

Diana also recalled how she felt that night. "I was terrified, really – at the time, everything was everywhere," she said.

In his book, Morton then described a meeting between Kelly and Diana.

"Feeling her discomfort, Princess Grace took her aside and listened to her heart spread," he wrote.

"Do not worry," Princess Grace joked, "it's going to get worse," she told Diana. These are exactly the words that a young woman, a teenager, wants to hear when she marries the future leader of the British monarchy.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles arrive at Gala
Prince Charles and Diana arrive at the event | Terry Fincher / Princess Diana Archives / Getty Images

Unfortunately, Kelly's words would prove true. Diana's time as a king would be a lot, a lot worst.

Diana, nicknamed the Princess of the People, for her down to earth sensibility (she gave birth to her sons Prince William and Prince Harry in a hospital, a practice unknown at the time of royal births in the precincts of the palace) who died at the age of 36 after a car accident resulting in fatal injuries on August 31, 1997.

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