Royals at the Met Gala: Photos of Diana and More on Red Carpet

Every time the Met Gala rolls around, it never seems to disappoint! Not only does the annual ball get more glamorous as the years go on, but the stars continue to show up in unbelievable ensembles. It isn’t just Hollywood’s favorite actors, singers and comedians who attend, though, as other public figures have stepped out at the event.

Princess Diana was one of several royal family members who have hit the red carpet at the high-end fashion outing, which is organized by the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute and honorary chair Anna Wintour. In the past, Princess Beatrice, Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and other royals have also paid a trip overseas to previous Met Galas in New York City.

The late Princess of Wales attended the ball in 1996, the same year her divorce was finalized from Prince Charles. Lady Diana looked more radiant than ever, showing up to the event in a beautiful navy slip dress with black lace trim from John Galliano‘s first couture collection for Dior.

Queen Elizabeth nor Duchess Kate (née Middleton) have yet to accept an invitation to the Big Apple ball, but other royal attendees include Queen Rania of Jordan, Charlotte Casiraghi and Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece. It’s unclear if any monarchy members will be in attendance at this year’s gala, taking place on September 13, but the 2021 event would be the perfect place for the royals to tap into their fashion creativity.

The theme of the Met Gala is “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion,” which focuses on U.S.A-made clothing and was inspired by the coronavirus pandemic and “social justice movements,” as Andrew Bolton told Vogue in April 2021.

“I’ve been really impressed by American designers’ responses to the social and political climate, particularly around issues of body inclusivity and gender fluidity, and I’m just finding their work very, very self-reflective,” shared Bolton, the Wendy Yu Curator in charge of the Costume Institute. “I really do believe that American fashion is undergoing a renaissance.”

In honor of the annual Met Gala, scroll through the gallery below to see photos of Diana and more royals who have attended in the past!

Princess Diana

It’s no secret Diana had a great sense of style. The royal showed up to the Met Gala in the mid-’90s wearing a floor-length silk dress. She complimented the outfit with a matching blue duster and mini Dior handbag.

Tragically, Diana died more than a year later in August 1997 following a car accident in Paris. She was 36.

Princess Elisabeth von Thurn und Taxis

It’s not a party if Princess Elisabeth von Thurn und Taxis doesn’t make an appearance. The German journalist has attended the Met Gala three times already. Once in 2012, another in 2016 and her most recent in 2017. Two years ago, she put her styling skills to the test when she showed up in a Simone Rocha gown for the glamorous night out. The theme was “Rei Kawakubo/Comme des Garçons: Art of the In-Between.”

Queen Rania of Jordan

Looking good at a fashionable event has never been hard for Queen Rania of Jordan. She showed us exactly what it means to be true royalty when she walked down the red carpet in a gorgeous Valentino dress in 2016. The queen consort also attended the gala in 2007 when the theme was “Poiret: King of Fashion.”

Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece

Work it, Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece. The royal wore one of her best outfits to the 2001 Met Gala after she previously attended two times before with her husband, Prince Pavlos of Greece, in 1999 and 1995. In 2001, she donned a light blue silk dress by Valentino. The theme was “Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years.”