Her hairdresser of 10 years tells never-been-shared anecdotes about the late Princess of Wales’ “amazing, wicked sense of humor” in a new book
Princess Diana on Jan. 27, 1988. Photo: PATRICK RIVIERE/AFP via Getty
Richard Dalton, Princess Diana’s former hairstylist, said that during the ten years he worked with her, he probably spent more time alone with her than anyone else.
In his new book, It’s All About the Hair—My Decade with Diana, co-written with Renae Plant, the curator of The Princess Diana Museum, Dalton shares personal stories and behind-the-scenes moments about a woman many thought they knew, but few truly did. Diana, the most photographed woman in the world during her lifetime, had a private side that Dalton unveils in the book.
Dalton wanted to show how funny and genuine Diana was. He recalls that her jokes were “hysterical” and that she was always telling jokes and playing pranks. Her sense of humor was described as “wicked” and sometimes quite naughty.
Princess Diana in 1990. Photo by Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images
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“She always had plastic vomit or plastic dog poop in her bag to place on people’s seats when we traveled on long flights,” according to Dalton, who worked with the princess from before her 1981 wedding to the future King Charles until 1991. He added, “She was hysterically funny and loved playing jokes on all of us.”
Plant, who turned Dalton’s memories into a 444-page book, tells PEOPLE, “I do find the humorous side of Diana to be very sweet,” she says. “She just wanted to be ‘normal’ and was just like the rest of us.”
‘It’s All About The Hair – My Decade with HRH Diana Princess of Wales’.The Princess and the Platypus Foundation
Diana was often able to laugh through life, Dalton writes, recalling a time when, after styling the Princess of Wales’ hair, he was followed by one of Queen Elizabeth’s corgis to a dressing room.
“I was patting it, as I love dogs, when Diana came up and the corgi started to lick her legs,” he wrote. “She said, ‘Whose dog is that?’ I said, ‘It’s your mother-in-law’s new corgi.’ She replied with a laugh, ‘Well, get it out of here, as it’s licking all the fake suntan off my legs.’ “
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Princess Diana watches Prince Charles playing polo at Guards Polo Club on Smiths Lawn in Windsor, Berkshire in July 1986.
David Levenson / Contributor / Getty Images
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As much fun as she was prone to have, Princess Diana was serious about her royal work, right down to her hairstyle.
“Diana was very conscious that she did not want her hair to overshadow the charity she was representing that day and supporting,” Dalton tells the publication.
In his book, Dalton underlines Diana’s persistent devotion to her profession, saying, “She was genuinely interested in people, and she always did her homework and remembered the smallest detail which made that connection.”
He says about the princess, “She was more beautiful in real life than on camera.”
Dalton hopes that his new book will demonstrate to the readers “just what a wonderful, genuine person she was,” in addition to her beauty and sense of humour. “I hope it inspires them to be kind and treat others with compassion, just like she did while she was alive.”
It’s All About the Hair: My Decade with Diana is out now.