Princess Diana enjoyed at night at Royal Vauxhall Tavern with Freddie Mercury and broadcaster Kenny Everett (stock) (Image: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)
was known to have a close-knit circle of celebrity friends – and with them, she once enjoyed a secret night out at a popular gay bar.
The late Princess of Wales, who was often constrained by her Royal duties, seized an opportunity for a fun-filled evening with Queen’s lead singer and broadcaster Kenny Everett.
In her memoir, Power Of Positive Drinking, Cleo Rocos shared the memorable tale. Rocos detailed how the group spent an evening at Everett’s home, sipping Champagne and watching episodes of Golden Girls, while adding their own risqué narrative to the muted scenes.
During the course of the evening, Mercury and Everett revealed plans to visit the Royal Vauxhall Tavern, a renowned gay bar in London known for its weekly club nights and cabaret drag acts. Despite her Royal status, Princess Diana expressed a wish to join them.
Due to her Royal status, she feared it could be problematic. But Mercury proposed a solution – she could disguise herself to avoid attracting unwanted media attention.
Don’t miss…
Embracing the spirit of mischief, Diana agreed to “let the girl have some fun”, as Mercury put it, and soon transformed into a “rather eccentrically dressed gay male model”. Reflecting on Diana’s disguise, Rocos remarked: “She did look like a beautiful young man.”
The People’s Princess successfully dodged the public eye, allowing her a rare moment of normalcy. She even boldly fetched her own drinks from the bar, according to friend Cleo Rocos, who recalled: “We were nudging each other like naughty schoolchildren. Diana and Freddie were giggling… Once the transaction was completed, we looked at one another, united in our triumphant quest. We did it!”
Although the group only spent about 20 minutes at the bar, it was ample time for the Princess to revel in a different environment. Reacting to the tale of Diana’s undercover venture, users voiced their admiration. One user professed, “I love her and I love that man. So awesome.”
Another shared: “I was having a rubbish day until I read this. This was great. Thank you.” Meanwhile, a third predicted the ruse as typical of Freddie Mercury and Kenny Everett. They said: “To be honest, this totally sounds like something Freddie and Kenny would pull off.”
It comes just before is set to release ‘Spencer’ on 8 February. The 2021 historical psychological drama delves into “Princess Diana struggles to find her place in the royal family and make peace with her husband’s affair”. Kristen Stewart transforms into Princess Diana, boasting a cast including Jack Farthing as then Prince Charles, Timothy Spall, Sally Hawkins, Jack Neilen, and Freddie Spry.