Madame Guillotine

This beautiful portrait of Princess Diana caught my eye as I made my way down the stairs in the private apartments of Kensington Palace after leaving the Royal Ceremonial Dress Collection, which is housed in part of Princess Margaret’s former apartment.

I love this portrait – it was painted in 1984 (is it terrible that I immediately correctly guessed the year it was painted because of her hairstyle?) by John Stanton Ward and depicts the late princess in her gorgeous Emanuel designed wedding dress, trailing a piece of lace or gauze between her fingers. The expression on her face is arresting – caught somewhere between wistfulness and amusement, she looks like a princess from a fairy tale.

The artist, John Ward wrote later that: ‘When I was asked to paint this portrait I was immensely flattered. A glorious subject. The wedding dress was chosen by mutual consent.

The portrait was painted at Kensington Palace. With the elaborate dress and the simplicity of the shape of the couch, I eliminated all background. It was wonderful to attempt so splendid a subject.‘

Apparently, Princess Diana also loved this portrait and insisted upon hanging it in her private apartment at Kensington Palace after her divorce from Prince Charles. I’m not surprised to be honest – it’s a lovely painting even if the sight of herself in her wedding dress may well have been ever so slightly bittersweet.