Fascinating sketches reveal Princess Diana had a burka designed for a 1986 visit to Saudi Arabia
One of the sketches drawn up by fashion designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel was a burka that would have covered Princess Diana from head to toe with only a gap for her eyes
FASCINATING sketches reveal Princess Diana had a burka designed for a 1986 tour of the Gulf states.
Diana, who was 25 at the time, enlisted fashion designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel to make dresses that "conformed to local customs" ahead of the visit to Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
The husband and wife duo, who famously designed Diana's wedding dress, submitted sketches of four long sleeved outfits, including a black and white silk satin evening dress and a navy and white stripe coat over a white dress.
The fifth, "reserve" outfit, which was also sketched but not worn, was a burka that would have covered Diana from head to toe with only a gap for her eyes.
The sketches, and fabric samples for the outfits, are expected to sell for £24,000 with US auction house RR Auctions.
A letter, dated June 2 1986, sent to the Emanuels by Diana's lady-in-waiting, Anne Beckwith-Smith, explained the strict requirements for her garments during the tour.
She wrote: "Certain special requirements concerning dress need to be observed and I am writing to ask if it would be possible to submit to The Princess of Wales a few sketches for day and evening wear from which Her Royal Highness could select items for this tour.
"Their Royal highnesses will be visiting Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.
"In all cases modesty is the order of the day."
An invoice for the dresses is also included in the sale, revealing they cost between £275 and £450 each.
Bobby Livingston, executive vice president of RR Auctions, said: "Princess Diana tried to conform to local customs by wearing concealing clothes, but still exposed her neck and left her head uncovered.
"At evening banquets, she appeared in the long sleeved demure dresses made especially for the tour.
"She did not have to wear the 'reserve outfit' burka depicted in this archive.
"It's a remarkable, comprehensive archive from the famously stylish royal."
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Diana and Charles visited the four countries in the Middle East during a week-long trip in mid November 1986.
In Saudi Arabia she was invited to a state reception at the Al Yamamah Palace by King Fahd of Saudi Arabia - a rare honour for a woman in the country - although she was not allowed to dine with the men.
The Emanuels designed more than 100 outfits for Diana for special occasions and for when she travelled abroad.
The auction takes place on September 25.
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