In an unprecedented move that sheds new light on the late Princess Diana’s rebellious streak, her longtime hairdresser, Richard Dalton, has revealed exclusive details to PEOPLE about how tabloid newspapers were secretly smuggled into Kensington Palace for her.
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According to Dalton, Princess Diana, who was restricted from accessing tabloids while residing in the palace, orchestrated a covert operation to have them delivered to her. Dalton, who served as the princess’s official hairdresser from 1981 to 1990, disclosed that Diana personally requested him to bring in the tabloids for her to peruse. Despite facing palace regulations, Diana found a way to stay updated with the outside world by enlisting the help of her trusted inner circle.
Speaking with a mixture of nostalgia and humour, Dalton shared anecdotes of Diana’s reactions to the intrusive tabloid coverage. He recalled moments during hairdressing sessions when Diana would flip through the newspapers, expressing her dismay with audible groans and sighs before discarding them. One particularly hurtful rumour that circulated in the tabloids focused on questioning the paternity of her younger son, Prince Harry, wrongly suggesting that Prince Charles wasn’t his father.
Dalton, who was privy to Diana’s family history, debunked these claims by highlighting the prevalence of red hair in the Spencer family, citing examples of Diana’s siblings with similar traits. Despite knowing the truth, Dalton refrained from openly defending Diana against such baseless speculations during her lifetime.
The conversation around Princess Diana’s clandestine newspaper consumption forms part of Dalton’s broader reflections on his time spent with the late princess. Buoyed by the encouragement of his friend Renae Plant, Dalton penned a memoir titled “It’s All About the Hair — My Decade with Diana.” Plant, the founder of The Princess Diana Museum, has been instrumental in preserving and promoting Diana’s legacy in the years following her tragic demise.
Plant’s dedication to commemorating Diana has culminated in the creation of a vast collection at the Princess Diana Museum, comprising over 2,700 personal and historical items belonging to the beloved royal figure. The museum’s physical exhibition is set to debut in Los Angeles in November 2026 before embarking on a global tour that will traverse the United States, Canada, Asia, Australia, and Europe, culminating in a potential permanent residence in the UK as a tribute to Diana’s enduring influence.
The legacy of Princess Diana continues to captivate audiences worldwide, with her indelible mark on history serving as a source of inspiration and fascination for generations to come. Dalton’s reflections offer a rare glimpse into the private world of the princess, shedding light on her defiance of royal norms and her unwavering commitment to staying connected with the world beyond the palace walls.
As the Princess Diana Museum prepares to unveil its extensive collection to a global audience, the enduring spirit of Princess Diana lives on, immortalised in each item and memory carefully curated to honour her timeless legacy. Dalton’s revelations serve as a poignant reminder of the complex and multifaceted character of a woman who defied convention and left an indelible mark on the world.