When Princess Diana graced the red carpet at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival, she appeared to float — radiant, poised, and utterly captivating. Flashbulbs burst, cameras whirred, and the world admired her stunning appearance. But beneath the surface of her ethereal blue tulle gown lay a quiet, deeply personal message.
More Than Just a Fashion Statement
Every time Diana made a public appearance, she drew attention — not just for her status, but for her unique sense of style that broke away from the rigidity of royal tradition. Dubbed “The People’s Princess,” she favored gentle, approachable fashion — with pastel hues becoming one of her hallmarks throughout the 1980s and ’90s.
While many of Diana’s fashion moments became instantly iconic, one of her most meaningful — though not widely recognized — took place during that brief 10-hour visit to Cannes in 1987 with Prince Charles.
A Glamorous Night with Deeper Undertones
The official reason for their visit was to honor actor Sir Alec Guinness and support British cinema, culminating in a formal gala at the Festival Palace. Security was notably strict — attendees had to present passports for entry — and although Diana remained silent throughout the dinner, her presence spoke volumes. Cameras followed her every move, and the gala quickly became the most coveted event of the festival.
Later that evening, as Diana arrived for the screening of The Whales of August, she was photographed in a strapless, pale blue gown by Catherine Walker — its chiffon scarf gently drifting in the wind. To the casual observer, it was yet another glamorous moment. But the dress carried more meaning than met the eye.
A Tribute Woven in Silk
Designed by Walker — who created many of Diana’s most celebrated looks — the flowing gown paid homage to another royal figure who had quietly influenced Diana: Princess Grace of Monaco.
Grace Kelly, the American actress turned royal, left a lasting impression on Diana. Tragically killed in a car accident five years before that Cannes evening, Grace’s memory lingered deeply in Diana’s heart — especially since Diana herself would meet a similar fate just a decade later.
Though the tribute went largely unnoticed by the press at the time, it’s clear now that Diana’s powder-blue dress echoed Grace’s poise and iconic style. The gown bore a strong resemblance to the Edith Head creation Grace wore in Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief, which was filmed along the very same French Riviera.
More Than a Coincidence
This choice wasn’t arbitrary. Diana and Walker were said to have drawn direct inspiration from Grace’s screen presence — down to the specific shade of blue chosen by Hitchcock to capture a cool, untouchable beauty.
Diana and Grace had met in 1981, just after Diana’s engagement. At a charity event in London, an overwhelmed 19-year-old Diana found herself in tears in the restroom. It was Grace, then 51, who comforted her — sharing wisdom shaped by her own journey into royalty. That brief encounter left an indelible mark on Diana.
For Grace, Cannes also held significance — it was during a visit to the region in 1955 that she met Prince Rainier III, the man who would become her husband.
So when Diana walked that same red carpet decades later, she offered a silent nod to the woman who had once consoled her. No interviews or announcements — just the quiet language of fashion.
A Dress with a Life of Its Own
The flowing scarf on Diana’s gown gave it a dreamlike quality, fluttering in the Mediterranean breeze. Two years after Cannes, Diana wore the gown again to the Miss Saigon premiere. Then, in 1997 — just months before her own untimely passing — she included it in a charity auction of her wardrobe. The gown sold for $70,700, and later fetched over $132,000 in a 2013 auction, with proceeds benefiting children’s causes.
By 2017, the dress was displayed behind glass at Kensington Palace during a commemorative exhibition marking the 20th anniversary of Diana’s death. Today, it stands as more than a beautiful garment. It is a symbol of her quiet strength, her emotional depth, and her subtle farewell to someone who truly understood the weight of being royal.
On that breezy night in Cannes, the cameras captured the elegance — but the real story, the one stitched into chiffon and memory, nearly went unseen.