Here’s Why Princess Diana Decided to Spontaneously Chop Off Her Hair

What better way to change your look than with a new haircut? Apparently, Princess Diana knew this right before she handed the shears over to hairstylist Sam McKnight during a photo shoot

In a video for British Vogue, McKnight revealed the story behind Princess Diana’s iconic short hair. According to him, the royal asked how he would style her hair if given the chance. And from there, it was history.

“I said, ‘I would cut it all off and just start again,’” he remembered. “It was the beginning of the ’90s, and it was at the time that I was doing lots of shows and covers, and a lot of the girls had short hair, and we were moving from the big frou-frou ’80s into the sharp, more androgynous, business chic of the ’90s.”

To this, Princess Diana reportedly said, “Well, why don’t you just cut it off now?” “So I cut it off then and we never looked back,” McKnight said. That short hair continued to be her signature for years to come.

Princess Di’s fashion and hair influenced culture both in the ’90s and now. The modern Diana bob is one of this year’s most popular hairstyles. Plus, Emma Corrin’s portrayal of Princess Diana on The Crown has reignited interest in the royal’s style.

McKnight actually had the opportunity to work with Corrin for a Vogue cover. “From one Princess Diana to another,” he said. “I remember that day. That was my first job after the first lockdown in summer [2020], and I remember when the job came in, I wasn’t quite sure that I was the right person to do this…. And actually it was a pleasure and Emma was a pleasure, and I was quite taken by how alike Emma was to Princess Diana in her looks. And she was such a lovely girl that any doubts and fears were laid.”