Princess Diana, Megan Markle, Kate Middleton, even Queen Elizabeth herself: when British royals break the rules and escape the palace to go shopping – or for a night out with Freddie Mercury
When the crown grew too heavy, back exits, disguises and motorbikes were used to evade the paparazzi to dance into London’s The Ritz hotel, go to Sainsbury’s supermarket or the pub, or to party with stars like Cleo Rocos and Kenny Everett
But when someone new marries into the royal family – like Princess Diana in the 1980s, and Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle in recent years, they bring with them a breath of fresh air.
She would wear wigs and lay low in friend’s cars to escape Kensington Palace. But it was her tristes with Freddie Mercury that were most outrageous. One night, described in comedian and actress Cleo Rocos’ book The Power of Positive Drinking, Mercury, Kenny Everett and Rocos were drinking champagne with Diana watching The Golden Girls on television when the princess asked them what their plans were for the evening. Mercury mentioned they were going to the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, a well-known gay club. The princess decided to come, too, so Everett dressed her in a military jacket, sunglasses and leather cap and passed her off as a gay male model.
Surprisingly, nobody recognised her. Clubbers were presumably fixated with Mercury. She ordered a white wine and beer, had a few giggles and they all left after 20 minutes.