But, as it turns out, the hairstyle choice came about spontaneously during a photo shoot for British Vogue, according to an anecdote from her hairstylist Sam McKnight.
“She came bounding up the stairs in a studio in Hackney, this beautiful long-legged blonde, and immediately made us all feel totally at ease. She had an amazing way of disarming you and kind of getting rid of all the nerves, and laughing and making jokes,” McKnight told Vogue before going on to explain how the impromptu chop came about.
After tucking Princess Diana's hair beneath her tiara to give it a shorter appearance for the shoot, Princess Diana loved the look and asked McKnight what he would do with her locks if he "had free reign."
"I replied: 'I’d just cut it all off.' Her hair was fabulous, but it was time for a change, and I think she felt that, too. So she said: 'Okay, do you want to do it now?' So I did."
