![The princess, wearing a navy blue and white striped outfit designed by Emanuel and a matching hat, arrives to visit the Hope Institute for Special Education in Isa Town, Bahrain, on November 16, 1986.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6EZMCDD3SZEZ7MK2SWWLI2ZEMM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=941a5405eef71dd5d9aa0c0900e358afeb3351384df94f4097fb5e4dfaaea737&width=400&height=225)
![Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, sit on cushions with Nahyan bin Mubarak, chancellor of the UAE University, near Al Ain on March 15, 1989. All photos: Getty Images](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HQZGMLJXMNFUXDVZ4LEP5DVF64.jpeg?smart=true&auth=b4547cfab031c78ed8d612c1cb267ceeb9b4cb611a700cb88fdfe0617f9cd90b&width=400&height=225)
![Prince Charles and Princess Diana watch camel racing in Abu Dhabi on March 15, 1989.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K5IOKRTITBETZNUA6D4OUJCERQ.jpeg?smart=true&auth=a6ed971c95e0690da77b220c4ece6b1468c6c95ca65605b3d56f8762d31c7e5a&width=400&height=225)
![The Prince and Princess of Wales with Isa bin Salman, Emir of Bahrain, in Manama on November 16, 1986.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FCPKIUHZ2VHAPFCFMXFFGV7Y3U.jpeg?smart=true&auth=b08922d85ef037891031321cb6d075935dc4d9bc992d4bf11a2aed0dad016fde&width=400&height=225)
![Diana, Princess of Wales, on an official visit to Dubai on March 17, 1989.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RZMCUED33RHYDJWWUD3GXZNECI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=c5b2acd03f24dd2b642e3f92b712a918e04df3e835c6e7e82240137f9355ba11&width=400&height=225)
![Emir Jaber III of Kuwait gives an audience to Princess Diana at the Bayan Palace, in March 1989. The princess is wearing a Catherine Walker dress.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O4AOGHHSABAQXFB2WCQIIZ7QIA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=ddfd00798d7e1c60d74ff9f446cd6402a08b86e39924c48f7b2faa684ed21d32&width=400&height=225)
![The Princess of Wales arriving for a polo match in Muscat, Oman, in November 1986. She is wearing a dress by Paul Costello.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JRQ2PVABCVC33NEA3VYZH6DTVA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=46bec697f89e322fd2202db434a01df5c67ce0149dde00f0b158887dbf679df7&width=400&height=225)
![Diana, Princess of Wales, with Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman in Al Alam Palace, Muscat on November 11, 1986. She is wearing a suit by Catherine Walker and a Philip Somerville hat.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WRKNCNZOFBBQFG7TOJ5XFOMV4M.jpeg?smart=true&auth=1b3e7221677d6cbd8beef1460ea2b0d9ad962f1234f3f32824683a6a58eb3f24&width=400&height=225)
![Diana, Princess of Wales, receives the gift of a gold embroidered gown and a silver tea set on a visit to the museum in Kuwait City, in March 1989.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IFUQTEZUUZHDZJUAYFYP7N2Y5Q.jpeg?smart=true&auth=61e59d5afbd0aacd06858a852b32f4af506036a04662e203ba2987ccd3ba0fee&width=400&height=225)
![Diana, Princess of Wales, visits Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat in November 1986.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5Q7T7X54BFC75DLGNUV5NCNP6Q.jpeg?smart=true&auth=de99e6c71f3f3cc5995dfa43ea36d9bdb30c11b93b2a1c6f35853f9caae6e25b&width=400&height=225)
![The princess with King Fahd of Saudi Arabia during a reception in Riyadh, in November 1986. She is wearing an Emanuel evening dress.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/D6XQVJ5SGJHAXDMAQMWJGDBV2A.jpeg?smart=true&auth=db28ccf035ba35bb7831b6458ff6dbd14e502225d4764b1fd94110bcd3f45c3b&width=400&height=225)
![The Prince and Princess of Wales on a visit to Riyadh in November 1986.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GXYLM7CUFFCUPN4XNLQDSER67I.jpeg?smart=true&auth=165812f64ab05eed8d88564685d30638e1f4e756263ae9ffeb288a3cb03e0f77&width=400&height=225)
![The royal couple greet Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman in the Al Alam Palace, Muscat, in November 1986.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3254ADMHBRH6DAJQFUV3U6LADI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=007d37611917863c457bde6211ab869db9ceb8feb8924d4f8690065b7fd44a64&width=400&height=225)
![The British royals visit a Bedouin camp in the Thumamah area of Saudi Arabia, in November 1986.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YPLASNO7RVHM5FE4CPJ7JIBSHA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=69a1834398cd1c06dfb65402d58e47988f61f8e2adad06308471f8b58bf7f3a5&width=400&height=225)
![Princess Diana, wearing a white Emanuel evening dress and the Queen Mary tiara, sits beside a man at a banquet hosted by Isa bin Salman, the Emir of Bahrain, at Al Qudaibiya Palace in Manama in November 1986.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NIJH2T2SZJBDTDYI757NYJREZA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=80421dd8a2c3bc9fc42a1cfe0365a3189b822cdb7309d13a3c2d9ac2b5fdba8e&width=400&height=225)
![Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing a pink and red coat-dress by Catherine Walker, visits Kuwait City in March 1989.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DXL4GV6TONCE3DRGO4325SQYMM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=4d09ab1d72289007cfc568052e0cdb33a7e90331641d24118903a1967f3edb03&width=400&height=225)
![The princess, wearing a purple dress designed by Zhandra Rhodes, a white shawl and silver shoes, speaks to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid during a reception at the British Consulate in Dubai on March 16, 1989.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLEUUZPOE5GXLG5PWBSI2HBAGI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=204cb88485344797a0ee3b8cb3df0d912bb345540c7377099e2e632713247362&width=400&height=225)
![The princess, wearing a navy blue and white striped outfit designed by Emanuel and a matching hat, arrives to visit the Hope Institute for Special Education in Isa Town, Bahrain, on November 16, 1986.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6EZMCDD3SZEZ7MK2SWWLI2ZEMM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=941a5405eef71dd5d9aa0c0900e358afeb3351384df94f4097fb5e4dfaaea737&width=400&height=225)
![Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, sit on cushions with Nahyan bin Mubarak, chancellor of the UAE University, near Al Ain on March 15, 1989. All photos: Getty Images](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HQZGMLJXMNFUXDVZ4LEP5DVF64.jpeg?smart=true&auth=b4547cfab031c78ed8d612c1cb267ceeb9b4cb611a700cb88fdfe0617f9cd90b&width=400&height=225)
![Prince Charles and Princess Diana watch camel racing in Abu Dhabi on March 15, 1989.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/K5IOKRTITBETZNUA6D4OUJCERQ.jpeg?smart=true&auth=a6ed971c95e0690da77b220c4ece6b1468c6c95ca65605b3d56f8762d31c7e5a&width=400&height=225)
![The Prince and Princess of Wales with Isa bin Salman, Emir of Bahrain, in Manama on November 16, 1986.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FCPKIUHZ2VHAPFCFMXFFGV7Y3U.jpeg?smart=true&auth=b08922d85ef037891031321cb6d075935dc4d9bc992d4bf11a2aed0dad016fde&width=400&height=225)
![Diana, Princess of Wales, on an official visit to Dubai on March 17, 1989.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RZMCUED33RHYDJWWUD3GXZNECI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=c5b2acd03f24dd2b642e3f92b712a918e04df3e835c6e7e82240137f9355ba11&width=400&height=225)
![Emir Jaber III of Kuwait gives an audience to Princess Diana at the Bayan Palace, in March 1989. The princess is wearing a Catherine Walker dress.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O4AOGHHSABAQXFB2WCQIIZ7QIA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=ddfd00798d7e1c60d74ff9f446cd6402a08b86e39924c48f7b2faa684ed21d32&width=400&height=225)
![The Princess of Wales arriving for a polo match in Muscat, Oman, in November 1986. She is wearing a dress by Paul Costello.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/JRQ2PVABCVC33NEA3VYZH6DTVA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=46bec697f89e322fd2202db434a01df5c67ce0149dde00f0b158887dbf679df7&width=400&height=225)
![Diana, Princess of Wales, with Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman in Al Alam Palace, Muscat on November 11, 1986. She is wearing a suit by Catherine Walker and a Philip Somerville hat.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WRKNCNZOFBBQFG7TOJ5XFOMV4M.jpeg?smart=true&auth=1b3e7221677d6cbd8beef1460ea2b0d9ad962f1234f3f32824683a6a58eb3f24&width=400&height=225)
![Diana, Princess of Wales, receives the gift of a gold embroidered gown and a silver tea set on a visit to the museum in Kuwait City, in March 1989.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IFUQTEZUUZHDZJUAYFYP7N2Y5Q.jpeg?smart=true&auth=61e59d5afbd0aacd06858a852b32f4af506036a04662e203ba2987ccd3ba0fee&width=400&height=225)
![Diana, Princess of Wales, visits Sultan Qaboos University in Muscat in November 1986.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5Q7T7X54BFC75DLGNUV5NCNP6Q.jpeg?smart=true&auth=de99e6c71f3f3cc5995dfa43ea36d9bdb30c11b93b2a1c6f35853f9caae6e25b&width=400&height=225)
![The princess with King Fahd of Saudi Arabia during a reception in Riyadh, in November 1986. She is wearing an Emanuel evening dress.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/D6XQVJ5SGJHAXDMAQMWJGDBV2A.jpeg?smart=true&auth=db28ccf035ba35bb7831b6458ff6dbd14e502225d4764b1fd94110bcd3f45c3b&width=400&height=225)
![The Prince and Princess of Wales on a visit to Riyadh in November 1986.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GXYLM7CUFFCUPN4XNLQDSER67I.jpeg?smart=true&auth=165812f64ab05eed8d88564685d30638e1f4e756263ae9ffeb288a3cb03e0f77&width=400&height=225)
![The royal couple greet Sultan Qaboos bin Said of Oman in the Al Alam Palace, Muscat, in November 1986.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3254ADMHBRH6DAJQFUV3U6LADI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=007d37611917863c457bde6211ab869db9ceb8feb8924d4f8690065b7fd44a64&width=400&height=225)
![The British royals visit a Bedouin camp in the Thumamah area of Saudi Arabia, in November 1986.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YPLASNO7RVHM5FE4CPJ7JIBSHA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=69a1834398cd1c06dfb65402d58e47988f61f8e2adad06308471f8b58bf7f3a5&width=400&height=225)
![Princess Diana, wearing a white Emanuel evening dress and the Queen Mary tiara, sits beside a man at a banquet hosted by Isa bin Salman, the Emir of Bahrain, at Al Qudaibiya Palace in Manama in November 1986.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NIJH2T2SZJBDTDYI757NYJREZA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=80421dd8a2c3bc9fc42a1cfe0365a3189b822cdb7309d13a3c2d9ac2b5fdba8e&width=400&height=225)
![Diana, Princess of Wales, wearing a pink and red coat-dress by Catherine Walker, visits Kuwait City in March 1989.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/DXL4GV6TONCE3DRGO4325SQYMM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=4d09ab1d72289007cfc568052e0cdb33a7e90331641d24118903a1967f3edb03&width=400&height=225)
![The princess, wearing a purple dress designed by Zhandra Rhodes, a white shawl and silver shoes, speaks to Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid during a reception at the British Consulate in Dubai on March 16, 1989.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KLEUUZPOE5GXLG5PWBSI2HBAGI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=204cb88485344797a0ee3b8cb3df0d912bb345540c7377099e2e632713247362&width=400&height=225)
![The princess, wearing a navy blue and white striped outfit designed by Emanuel and a matching hat, arrives to visit the Hope Institute for Special Education in Isa Town, Bahrain, on November 16, 1986.](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6EZMCDD3SZEZ7MK2SWWLI2ZEMM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=941a5405eef71dd5d9aa0c0900e358afeb3351384df94f4097fb5e4dfaaea737&width=400&height=225)
Princess Diana's Middle East legacy, from fashion to inspiring the next generation
How the trailblazing British royal's visits to the region helped shape attitudes of today
![Taylor Heyman](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F5c60134b-f9f8-4dd5-9d2d-00ef7a3f6346.png?smart=true&auth=e19f17b595b676da878b18ee5327771347d73e24eaef3558594029f94dc11a82&width=70&height=70)
Taylor Heyman
April 28, 2023
- Listen In English
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April 28, 2023