Shocking Royal Outfits That Broke The Internet

Pre-Diana, Princess of Wales, royal fashion wasn’t really a big deal. But when Princess Di joined the royal family, her style inspired millions around the world. The formerly drab royal fashion, which involved tweed skirts, wellies, Barbour coats, and headscarves, suddenly got a lot more exciting. The paparazzi were always snapping her daring looks; we can’t forget that iconic see-through skirt moment photographed by Arthur Edwards, where Diana’s bare legs were captured in a fashion faux pas.

If the internet and social media existed back in 1980, that photo certainly would have gone viral and broken the internet. Instead, the only alternative happened. The photo was all over magazine and tabloid covers in the UK. It wasn’t rare for Princess Diana’s face and name to be in these tabloids daily, and this was common until she passed away in 1997.

The paparazzi documented each step of Diana’s inspiring transformation from a timid nursery teacher assistant to a worldwide superstar and fashion icon. As they tailed her (and were ultimately the reason for her demise), Diana had a love-hate relationship with these photographers, who harassed her every moment up until her death.

She decided to make the most of her celebrity status and use being in the spotlight to promote causes she championed, like advocating for the unfortunate and illuminating all the injustice, wrongdoing, and crises around the globe.

Though she’s been gone for decades, her spirit and legacy live on — not just in her noble causes but in how royal fashion was perceived. The new generation of royals has been out and about in some amazing looks, while others are rocking a more outlandish style that some see as being in poor taste or just straight-up awful. Here are five that broke the internet.

Queen Elizabeth in a stained dress with a broken purse

You’d think that Queen Elizabeth II would be seen in nothing less than perfect attire, but nothing could have been further from the truth in 2010. Despite the royal family earning about £510 million ($634 million) from taxpayers, the Queen was seen wearing a badly stained dress and a bag with a broken chain to a party hosted by Greece’s deposed King Constantine.

The shabby look had every corner of the internet whispering about why on earth she would wear something like this in public. The truth? A waiter spilled coffee on her, and we dread to think what happened to them after! We don’t have an explanation for the bag, though…