A new Princess Diana biography, titled Dianaworld: An Obsession, by Edward White, rehashes the story of how Princess Diana wore male drag in order to accompany British singer Freddie Mercury and gay radio and TV host Kenny Everett to a famous gay bar in London.

Dianaworld: An Obsession examines the life of Princess Diana and her effects on the world as a well-loved global icon even after her passing. The aim of the biography is to explore the lesser-known aspects of Princess Diana’s life. The book also paints a picture for the readers as to who she was when you step away from the idea of her being just a part of the royal family.

People Magazine was given an exclusive excerpt of the biography on Monday, April 28, before it was officially released the following day. This excerpt explains how Kenny Everett warned Diana that the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, a bar with a gay male clientele, wasn’t a place for her to attend.

When Kenny Everett, Freddie Mercury, and Cleo Rocos realised they really couldn’t stop her, they decided to sneak her in. “A camouflage army jacket, hair tucked up into a leather cap and dark aviator sunglasses. Scrutinizing her in the half-­light we decided that the most famous icon of the modern world might just . . . JUST, pass for a rather eccentrically dressed gay male model”.

It’s not unheard of for famous individuals to disguise themselves when they are in public, and this would not be the last time Princess Diana would hide her identity, either. However, this story resonates so heavily with many readers due to her closeness with the queer community and the fun she wanted to have despite being a member of royalty.

This was why this story also gave life to Royal Vauxhall, a cabaret musical created by Desmond O’Connor which was specifically about this particular night. Labelled as “The story of the wildest night in the history of the capital’s most iconic gay venue”, the musical was performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2016.

Princess Diana is an icon for the queer community for many reasons, whether it be her activism towards the community, especially when stigma against HIV patients were at an all-time high, or the love she had towards the queer people around her. It is lovely to hear more about how Princess Diana attempted to be a part of the surrounding community, even if it meant defying royal expectations.