Old Photos of Diana and Charles Has Fans Pointing Out Just How Fragile His Ego Was

At just 20, when she married Prince Charles, Diana had to bear British tabloids watching her every move. Her marriage was far from a fairytale—which became a hot topic for the press. Having entered the royal fold, Diana gave up her freedom and had to adhere to the strict rules of the Crown. As royal watchers continue to re-visit old photos of the pair, they noticed a rather odd detail—Diana always stood slightly lower than Charles. Even though they were said to be of the same height, she often appeared much smaller—a symbol of the power imbalance in their relationship.

The Cosmopolitan reported that Diana and Charles were both 1.78 meters or 5’10”. Hence, when a netizen on an X (formerly Twitter) posted a collage of royal photos, Charles appearing taller, created a flurry of reactions online. A royal watcher noted, “Even Diana had to go to such lengths (pun intended) to massage the male ego. The relationship soured when she became an individual.”

Another echoed, “Okay so they were the same height. Why did he pick someone as tall as her? I know why…he didn’t care for her at all. She was to be the mother of heirs. That was all that was needed. The royals came first and they needed heirs. She was pure enough to be that.” In agreement, one chimed, “Why would he wish to appear so much taller when this was not the case? Flapper was and still is very insecure!” Meanwhile, one suggested, “High heels were traditionally male apparel, and the royals are nothing if not traditionalists.” A fan, however, defended, “My thoughts. Maybe it’s because traditionally a man is perceived to be a protector. Hence the photos. Nothing about sexism.”

In her book The Lady Di Look Book: What Diana Was Trying to Tell Us Through Her Clothes, author Eloise Moran also unpacked Diana’s silent statements with her outfits. For years, the Princess kept her heels modest—never more than two inches—out of respect for her husband’s pride. But her wardrobe revealed a story of transformation as she balanced life in the spotlight, from her 1981 royal wedding until her tragic death in 1997. While on her wedding day, Diana’s heels were deliberately kept low—ensuring she would never stand above her groom, her heels increased in height with every step she took toward independence.

As reported by Marie Claire, Diana had a definite preference for Jimmy Choo footwear. Choo fondly remembered how, in the early years of his friendship with Diana, she exclusively ordered flats. However, as cracks in her marriage deepened, so did her desire to stand taller. Choo even had a pair of pumps ready and waiting, for after Diana returned from Paris in August 1997. After her tragic death, he kept the unworn shoes in memory of his dear friend, as noted by Moran.