Royal Encounter
VOGUE India|August 2017

It takes a lot of faith to give your hairstylist a free rein on your next cut—especially when you’re a princess. Surely then, the relationship between PRINCESS DIANA and her trusted coiffeur, SAM MCKNIGHT, must have been special. The legend behind her iconic ’90s pixie on working, laughing and sharing seven years of friendship with the royal.

Sam Mcknight
Royal Encounter

When Patrick Demarchelier was asked to photograph Princess Diana for British Vogue, he requested to bring his own hair and make-up team. Mary Greenwell and I were told it was someone important, but we had no idea who. We guessed it might be Margaret Thatcher, and then in walked Diana. Patrick has a wonderful way of putting his subjects at ease. Diana was laughing about being asked to sit on the floor wearing a tiara and ballgown, and that was when he captured this iconic shot (facing page). I made her hair look short in the tiara for the shoot and she decided she liked it. As she was leaving, Diana asked if I had free rein what would I do to her hair. I suggested cutting it short and she, to my surprise, agreed, and we did it there and then.

This story is from the August 2017 edition of VOGUE India.

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This story is from the August 2017 edition of VOGUE India.

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