It’s well documented—not least in Pablo Larraín’s 2021 film Spencer—that Princess Diana did not enjoy spending Christmas with the rest of the royal family. “It was highly fraught,” she told royal biographer Andrew Morton in Diana: Her True Story in Her Own Words. “[It was] terrifying and so disappointing. No boisterous behavior, lots of tension, silly behavior, silly jokes that outsiders would find odd, but insiders understood. I sure was [an outsider].”
Still, Diana continued to join the Windsors for Christmas Day even after her separation from Prince Charles was announced in 1992, often turning to her assortment of colorful coat dresses and skirt suits—her form of armor, if you will—for the occasion. Indeed, some of her most iconic looks are from the festive period, including the red coat, black hat, and veil that she wore on Christmas Day in 1993, which was recreated in Spencer and seemingly referenced by a young Kate Middleton back in 2006.
Below, revisit all of Princess Diana’s best Christmas Day looks over the years.
Photo: Getty Images1/121981
Diana, who was pregnant with Prince William at the time, at St George’s Chapel, Windsor in a teal coat by Bellville Sassoon, embroidered with flowers, and a matching pillbox hat.
Photo: Getty Images2/121982
The Princess of Wales in a floral pink brocade skirt suit by Jasper Conran, while attending the Christmas Day service at St George’s Chapel with Prince Charles.
Photo: Getty Images3/121983
Wearing a white tailored dress and matching hat for the Christmas Day service at Windsor.
Photo: Getty Images4/121984
Diana, pictured with Prince Charles, Princess Anne, and Peter Phillips, wearing a cobalt blue coat and matching hat outside St George’s Chapel.
Photo: Getty Images5/121985
The Princess, pictured with Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew at Sandringham, wearing a red military-style coat by Piero de Monzi and black hat by Marina Killery.
Photo: Getty Images6/121986
The royal wearing a red papal-esque look at Windsor Castle.
Photo: Getty Images7/121987
Diana, pictured with Lady Rose Windsor, wearing a yellow checked coat by Escada and matching Philip Somerville hat at Windsor Castle.
Photo: Getty Images8/121988
Diana, accompanied by Prince Charles, Prince William, and Zara Phillips, wearing a tailored coat dress, featuring a blue contrast collar and sleeves, for Christmas Day at Sandringham.
Photo: Getty Images9/121990
The Princess wearing a purple coat dress by Bellville Sassoon, featuring a striped collar and matching sleeves, paired with a wide-brim hat by Philip Somerville.
Photo: Getty Images10/121991
Diana, pictured at Sandringham with Prince William, Prince Harry, Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, Prince Philip, and Princess Margaret, in a blue and turquoise skirt suit by Catherine Walker.
Photo: Getty Images11/121993
The Princess of Wales, pictured with Prince William, at Sandringham in a red double-breasted coat, black hat, and veil that inspired one of Kristen Stewart’s looks in Spencer.
Photo: Getty Images12/121994
Diana, with Prince William at Sandringham, in a faux-fur trimmed coat by Mansfield and a matching hat.
