Met Gala 2025:  A look back at Princess Diana’s only appearance at the event months before her tragic death

Princess Dianna Met Gala appearance

Looking back at one of the most memorable—and surprisingly unique—appearances in the history of fashion's most prestigious night is appropriate as the Met Gala 2025 gets underway.

Princess Diana was around long before celebrities hired teams of stylists, makeup artists, and social media consultants to create viral moments. She changed the rules of fashion in her own subtle but effective way with just one appearance at the Met Gala.

Diana's post-divorce, self-assured, and unrestricted by royal protocol era peaked in 1996.

At a pivotal moment in her life, when she was embracing independence and boldly entering the spotlight on her own terms, she had her one and only Met Gala moment.

After flying from London to New York City on the Concorde, she climbed the Met steps a few hours later with the poise and presence that only she possessed.

Princess Diana didn’t just attend—she captivated. Her look was nothing short of show-stopping: a navy blue silk slip dress edged in delicate black lace, designed by a then-newly appointed John Galliano in his debut collection for Dior. The theme that year paid homage to the iconic French fashion house, and who better to embody its legacy than the most photographed woman in the world?

But the story behind the dress adds even more depth to its significance. According to Galliano, Diana made a bold styling decision that surprised even him.

“When he saw her step out of the car, he was stunned, she'd removed the corset.” The original design featured a structured underlayer, but Diana opted to wear it without. The result? A sleek, lingerie-inspired silhouette that was both sultry and sophisticated. “Much more sensuous,” Galliano later reflected. It was a deliberate act of sartorial rebellion—asserting freedom and individuality in a way only she could.

That night, her accessories were just as symbolic. She wore the famous choker made of sapphire and pearls, the same choker she famously wore with her "revenge dress" on the night Prince Charles confessed to adultery on national television. She had worn it to the White House when she danced elegantly with John Travolta. This was a talisman of perseverance, not just a necklace.

The sapphire engagement ring was then prominently displayed on her left hand. Although Kate Middleton wears it on her finger today, Diana wore it that evening as a personal symbol of empowerment and legacy rather than as a sign of royal duty.

She had a tiny purse on her arm, a scaled-down replica of the one that France's then-First Lady Bernadette Chirac had given her. After Diana made it an immediate classic, Dior changed its original name, the Chouchou, to the "Lady Dior" in her honour. She had the kind of influence that was effortless, enduring, and wholly her own.

It was not just the glitz that made Diana's one and only Met Gala appearance so memorable, but also what it stood for. This woman, freed from royal expectations, used fashion to express her independence as well as to dazzle. Diana exuded strength, vulnerability, and total control over her image without a tiara or official titles.

She was described as a "work of art" by Barbara Walters. Galliano acknowledged that her reinterpretation made the ensemble "much more sensuous," despite his initial surprise.

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It's important to keep in mind that some of the most meaningful fashion moments aren't about spectacle, even as this year's Met carpet welcomes another parade of theatrical ensembles and ornate statements. They are about a strong bond between style and narrative, authenticity, and agency.

Let's celebrate Princess Diana—one evening, one gown, and a fashion legacy that still reverberates throughout the Met's corridors.

Princess Diana passed away on Sunday, 31 August 1997, as a result of a car accident in Paris.