Princess Diana’s Iconic Animal Print Swimsuit - as Seen in The Crown

With series 5 of The Crown recently released by Netflix, millions of people will have seen Elizabeth Debicki portraying Diana, Princess of Wales as it follows her life in the royal family through the 1990s. One of the most memorable sequences sees the actor portraying Diana during her Mediterranean cruise with Dodi Al Fayed in 1997.

The £11.5 million-per-episode TV series shows Debicki as Diana in the famous scene on Al Fayed’s yacht, looking stunning in an iconic animal print halter-neck swimsuit from Gottex - one of her most recognisable holiday looks, by one of Diana’s favourite swimsuit designers. Princess Diana particularly loved a one-piece swimsuit, and always looked glamorous and sophisticated while wearing one.

And Gottex was the brand she often turned to, particularly if she wanted to sport something vibrant. She built a personal relationship with Gottex and was often seen wearing exclusive swimsuits and beachwear from the brand.

With the recent surge in interest and popularity as a result of the high profile show, Gottex was asked to recreate this iconic suit and has produced a very small quantity. Here at Caroline Randell we secured a limited number of this Gottex Animal Print Swimsuit which are available to purchase now so you can still recreate the royal's look whether you’re jetting off to the Riviera or another sun-drenched destination sometime soon.

The swimsuit is a superb recreation of Diana’s iconic swimsuit. It makes a perfect addition to your swimwear drawer with its golden tones, flattering shapes, and beautiful low cut back. 

The swimsuit company was founded by Lea Gottlieb in 1956. Gottlieb's goal was that Gottex clothing should be more than for swimming alone - she wanted them to be versatile enough to be worn ‘from the pool to the bar’, and then on to a restaurant or cocktail party. It was this vision that led to the styles and prints becoming so instantly recognisable and sought after. 

By the 1990s the brand had grown to be one of the most iconic swimwear fashion houses in the world. As well as the famous images of Diana, Princess of Wales wearing Gottex swimsuits, the brand’s garments were also seen on the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Brooke Shields and Queen Sofia of Spain.

As Diana was planning the famous Mediterranean trip with her boyfriend, Dodi Fayed, in 1997, she was put in touch with Lea Gottlieb.

Diana wanted to personally visit the London Gottex showroom, so Gottlieb flew straight over from Tel Aviv to meet with the princess. Following the meeting, the exquisite selection of animal print, patterned and colour-blocked swimsuits Diana selected for that holiday were made to measure especially for her. Today we can see from the footage and photos of the trip how incredible she looked.

Princess Diana: A Timeless Style Icon Who Brought Fashion and Fitness Together

During that Mediterranean holiday in the sun, Diana showed the world her true self as she swam, exercised, laughed and relaxed. The people’s princess was captured looking youthful, healthy and happy in her iconic swimwear.

As a keen swimmer, Princess Diana would regularly swim 20 lengths every morning in the Buckingham Palace pool. She partnered with a physical trainer throughout her adult life, first at a sports therapy gym in Chiswick, West London, in the 1980s, and in later years at the Chelsea Harbour Club. Throughout this time, as well as playing the part of the chic princess at official functions and events, she was also an athletic person who developed her reputation for looking stylish in sports and swimwear.

Princess Diana’s Iconic Swimwear

Thousands of column inches have been dedicated to Diana’s glamorous ball gowns and cocktail dresses over the years, but as we’ve seen, her beachwear also deserves some focus. During that holiday in the late 90s, she showcased her pool-side look, with statement swimsuits in bold animal prints and neons, paired with matching sarongs.

Princess Diana Swimsuits

Having been reminded of Diana’s style by the Netflix hit, to see the archive photographs of the princess in swimsuits and bikinis show us again how much of a true style icon she was.

The photos show her sense of timeless style and haven’t dated at all - in them, she looks as glamorous and stylish in her beachwear and swimsuits today as she did when the photos were taken back in the 1990s.

Throughout that period, the royal was a style icon and inspiration to women around the world. Diana's fashion legacy continues, both on and off the beach. So if you're looking for beach inspiration which combines the retro with the contemporary, Diana's bikinis, swimsuits, and classic beach outfits are a superb place to start.

Whether in a floral bikini, a striking one-piece, a leopard-print swimsuit, or a matching sarong and swimming costume, almost 25 years after her death, Princess Diana remains an endless source of inspiration. A global fashion icon, Princess Diana is still someone we look to today for style tips, from glamorous evening gowns to stunning beachwear.

Now the iconic Gottex animal print swimsuit has been recreated for this limited time only, don’t miss your chance to secure one of your own before it sells out.