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Princess Diana’s December 1991 cover of British Vogue is considered one of the most iconic images of the late royal. However, what many may not know is that this historic cover shoot was the result of a nudge from none other than supermodel Linda Evangelista. In a recent episode of the podcast “Blow Up: When Liz Tilberis Transformed Bazaar,” the story behind this collaboration is revealed, shedding light on the friendship between Princess Diana and then-British Vogue editor-in-chief Liz Tilberis.
The Nudge That Made It Happen
The podcast claims that before 1991, Princess Diana had made two attempts to appear on the cover of British Vogue, but the palace had blocked both of them. The idea for the classic cover wasn’t born until a fortuitous meeting at a British Fashion Council Awards event. One of the most well-known supermodels at the time, Evangelista, was one of the people Princess Diana said she wanted to meet at the event.
“Diana had always wanted to meet Linda,” said Patrick Jephson, Diana’s former private secretary. “She was intrigued by the supermodels, because those girls were the superstars of the time. And she was intrigued as to how they coped with the fame, you know?”
Princess Diana was persuaded to agree to the cover photo by Evangelista during a brunch date that Tilberis had set up. By the end of their supper, Diana assured Tilberis that she would handle any potential backlash and gave her the go-ahead to go with the selected photo without first obtaining permission from the palace.
The Iconic Cover and Its Legacy
Photographer Patrick Demarchelier captured a close-up of Princess Diana with long nails and a black turtleneck on the resultant cover. The Princess of Wales appeared on the cover of British Vogue for the first time in ten years in December 1991, and the issue went on to become a bestseller.
Beyond the renowned cover, Princess Diana and Liz Tilberis continued to collaborate. Even after Tilberis relocated to New York City to take a position as editor-in-chief of Harper’s Bazaar, the two stayed friends, regularly getting together for lunch and having “marathon phone calls”.
This narrative honors Princess Diana’s desire to push boundaries and her sincere interest in interacting with the people and culture around her as the world continues to commemorate and celebrate her life. A classic picture that perfectly conveys the aura of a princess who was both majestic and relatable is the cover of British Vogue from 1991.
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