Things were not easy for Princess Diana during her time as British Royalty.
Princess Diana's life within the British Royal Family was marked by difficulties and constant challenges. Her marriage to then-Prince Charles was a complete disaster and she rarely found happiness in her role as a royal. In addition to dealing with strict protocols and rules, Diana had to face one of the most difficult humiliations of her life. Despite social advances, machismo and misogyny still prevail in the institution, and it is mainly the women of the royal family who suffer the consequences.
Lady Di experienced first-hand several situations that were considered backward and patriarchal. One of the rules that the Princess of Wales had to adhere to had not so much to do with royal protocols, but with something much more absurd and that was her height.
The mother of Princes William and Harry was 1.78 meters tall, which was considered too tall for a woman. The complication lay in the fact that Prince Charles was the same height. It was unthinkable that the wife of the heir to the royal throne would be taller than her husband, so Lady Di was prohibited from wearing heels.
So she was rarely seen wearing high-heeled shoes when she accompanied King Charles to official events. Despite this restriction, The Princess became an expert in wearing loafers and low-heeled shoes, without losing her impeccable style.
Even on her wedding day, Lady Di had to comply with this rule and could not look taller than King Charles. In several official photographs, Prince Charles can be seen looking taller than Lady Di. This was achieved through tricks from royal photographers, who sought to highlight the height difference that should always exist between the couple.
In real events, the intention to differentiate heights was also noticeable. While Prince Charles stood next to Princess Diana, she remained seated, further accentuating the disparity in height.
Despite the humiliations and restrictions imposed by reality, Lady Di managed to leave her mark on fashion and became a style icon. Although she could not wear heels, her elegance and good taste were always present, showing that prohibitions could not overshadow her brilliance and personality.
