How Princess Diana eclipsed Queen Elizabeth

How Princess Diana "stole the limelight" from the Queen. Traditionally, Elizabeth marked the beginning of each parliamentary session with a formal ceremony and a speech in the House of Lords. In honour of the occasion, she would dress in ceremonial robes and wear a crown. The monarch was usually accompanied by members of the royal dynasty as well. Royal biographer James Whitaker testified: "Diana had an incredible new hairdo, and she showed up with it at an extremely important event confirming the sovereign's authority, and it all went to waste because the newspapers and television channels concentrated only on Diana's haircut. Elizabeth didn't mind Diana's new haircut per se, that's not the point, but by presenting it on the opening day of Parliament she diverted all the attention away from the important event. And that's not good for democracy and it's not good for the Windsors." The princess's hair has caused a stir because it is the longest length ever grown by a Princess of Wales. Diana's stylist Richard Daltonotmet that he and the princess were shocked by the attention. He said that after that, for those events where the princess was to appear next to Elizabeth, they chose the most restrained styling options.