Marie Claire Marie Claire
  • Celebrity
  • Fashion
  • Beauty
  • Culture
  • Power
  • Nice Talk
  • Fashion Month
  • More
    • Politics
    • Career Money
    • Health Fitness
    • Power Play
    • Travel
    • Promo Codes
    • Food Cocktails
    • About Us
    • Subscribe
    • Sex Love
  • Newsletter SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Marie Claire
    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!


    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    You are now subscribed

    Your newsletter sign-up was successful


    Want to add more newsletters?

    Marie Claire Daily

    Delivered daily

    Marie Claire Daily

    Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Sent weekly on Saturday

    Marie Claire Self Checkout

    Exclusive access to expert shopping and styling advice from Nikki Ogunnaike, Marie Claire's editor-in-chief.

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Once a week

    Maire Claire Face Forward

    Insider tips and recommendations for skin, hair, makeup, nails and more from Hannah Baxter, Marie Claire's beauty director.

    Livingetc

    Once a week

    Livingetc

    Your shortcut to the now and the next in contemporary home decoration, from designing a fashion-forward kitchen to decoding color schemes, and the latest interiors trends.

    Homes amp; Gardens

    Delivered Daily

    Homes Gardens

    The ultimate interior design resource from the world's leading experts - discover inspiring decorating ideas, color scheming know-how, garden inspiration and shopping expertise.


    An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
    Trending
    • TIFF's Best-Dressed
    • Low Ponytails
    • 'Ungrateful Immigrant Daughter'
    • Altuzarra
    • Caitlin Clark x Nike
    1. Celebrity
    2. Royals

    How Princess Diana Reacted to Receiving a "Chorus of Wolf Whistles" From Construction Workers, Per Royal Author

    "She loved the shock on motorists's faces..."

    Amy Mackelden#039;s avatar
    By Amy Mackelden
    Published 8 June 2026 In News

    When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

    Princess Diana wears a bright green jacket with a matching polka-dot shirt underneath and has short blonde coiffed hair, a bag with a gold chain strap, and she#039;s wearing black eyeliner
    (Image credit: Antony Jones/UK Press via Getty Images)
    • Facebook
    • X
    • Pinterest
    Share this article
    Join the conversation
    Follow us
    Add us as a preferred source on Google
    Subscribe to our newsletter

    Princess Diana was placed firmly in the global spotlight when she married King Charles. Even following their separation, the Princess of Wales continued to have celebrity status, and was rightly adored by people around the world. As a result, she encountered "a chorus of wolf whistles" on occasion, says one royal author.

    In his book A Royal Duty, former royal butler Paul Burrell recalled driving with Princess Diana and surprising people they passed on the street.

    "The best times when I was driving with the princess came on sweltering summer days when we stopped at traffic lights with the Mercedes roof down," Burrell wrote. "She loved the shock on motorists's faces when they glanced to one side and recognized her; glum faces were suddenly brightened with delight."

    Latest Videos FromMarie Claire
    Watch full video here:

    However, Princess Diana was reportedly surprised by some of the attention she received from strangers.

    Diana, Princess Of Wales, Wearing A White And Blue Lace And Sequin Evening Coat-dress (Photo by Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images)

    Princess Diana was reportedly surprised by some of the attention she received from strangers.

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    A Royal Duty

    Paul Burrell
    'A Royal Duty'
    $23
    SHOP NOW

    "Once, the traffic lights turned red and we pulled up alongside a building being renovated in the Mayfair district [of London]," the former butler revealed.

    You may like
    • Princess Diana shaking hands with a fan as others take photos of her Princess Diana’s Former Bodyguard Compares the Royal Family to "Traveling Theater"
    • Princess Diana wears a white gown and matching hat on the Buckingham Palace balcony in 1983 for Trooping the Colour, alongside King Charles, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip, Princess Michael of Kent An Unexpected Royal Offered Princess Diana Their Undying Support
    • Princess Diana has short blonde coiffed hair and wears a bright red jacket with a black top underneath and looks sheepish Princess Diana Escaped for One "Daring" Outing

    Burrell continued, "One of the builders on the lowest level of scaffolding noticed the princess. Within seconds, word had leaped up to every level and it seemed as if the entire site's staff had [put down their tools] and burst into a chorus of wolf whistles and colorful support."

    Princess Diana laughing and holding a wine glass

    "She loved the shock on motorists's faces when they glanced to one side and recognized her."

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    The Way We Were

    Paul Burrell
    'The Way We Were'
    $13
    SHOP NOW

    According to Burrell, "The princess was embarrassed and pretended not to hear, but when we drove off, she lifted a hand into the air, waved, and giggled all the way home."

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    Princess Diana wearing John Galliano for Dior at the 1996 Met gala

    "She lifted a hand into the air, waved, and giggled all the way home."

    (Image credit: Getty Images)

    Despite allegedly being surprised by some of the attention she received, Princess Diana reportedly knew how to have fun in even the most unexpected moments.

    Explore More
    Diana
    Amy Mackelden
    Amy Mackelden
    Social Links Navigation
    Weekend Editor

    Amy Mackelden is the weekend editor at Marie Claire, where she covers celebrity and royal family news. She was the weekend editor at Harper’s BAZAAR for three years, where she covered breaking celebrity and entertainment news, royal stories, fashion, beauty, and politics. Prior to that, she spent a year as the joint weekend editor for Marie Claire, ELLE, and Harper's BAZAAR, and two years as an entertainment writer at Bustle. Her additional bylines include Cosmopolitan, People, The Independent, HelloGiggles, Biography, Shondaland, Best Products, New Statesman, Heat, and The Guardian. Her work has been syndicated by publications including Town Country, Good Housekeeping, Esquire, Delish, Oprah Daily, Country Living, and Women's Health. Her celebrity interviews include Jennifer Aniston, Jessica Chastain, the cast of Selling Sunset, Emma Thompson, Jessica Alba, and Penn Badgley. In 2015, she delivered an academic paper at Kimposium, the world's first Kardashian conference.

    Read more
    A split image of Ken Wharfe talking to Princess Diana
    Royals Princess Diana’s Bodyguard Shares How She Made Staff "Part of the Party"
    By Kristin Contino
    Princess Diana and Prince Charles standing on the Royal Yacht Britannia
    Royals Princess Diana Shared a Surprising Trait With Prince Charles
    By Kristin Contino
     
     
    Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana (1961 - 1997) and Prince Charles at Victoria Station, London, where they will welcome a state delegation from Nigeria, March 1989.
    Royals Why Queen Elizabeth "Was Furious" With Princess Diana
    By Amy Mackelden
    Princess Kate Middleton has long wavy brown hair and wears a black polo neck sweater with a brown blazer
    Royals One Royal Has Become "Very Close" to Princess Kate
    By Amy Mackelden
     
     
    Latest in Royals
    Princess Kate and Princess Charlotte with their heads together at the Commonwealth Games
    Royals Princess Charlotte Had a Special Backstage Experience Orchestrated by Mom Kate
    Prince Harry looks at Prince William on the Buckingham Palace balcony as both wear military uniforms
    Royals Prince William's Stance on Prince Harry Has Changed to a "Cold War"
     
     
    Duchess Sophie wearing a lime green dress with a purple sash
    Royals Duchess Sophie Embraces Fall's Unexpected Color Clashing Trend
    Prince Harry riding an ATV with Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie with their dog running behind
    Royals Princess Lilibet Shares One of Mom Meghan's Favorite Hobbies
     
     
    Latest in News
    Princess Kate and Princess Charlotte with their heads together at the Commonwealth Games
    Royals Princess Charlotte Had a Special Backstage Experience Orchestrated by Mom Kate
    collage of New York Fashion Week guests and celebrities wearing the statement skirt trend
    Fall fashion New York Fashion Week's Easiest Outfit Formula Starts With a Statement Skirt
     
     
    Prince Harry looks at Prince William on the Buckingham Palace balcony as both wear military uniforms
    Royals Prince William's Stance on Prince Harry Has Changed to a "Cold War"
    collage of the best celebrity looks at the 2026 Toronto Film Festival
    Celebrity Style TIFF 2026's Best-Dressed Stars Are Bringing Their Fashion A-Game to Toronto
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Marie Claire
    RSS
    • About us
    • Contact Future's experts
    • Contact us
    • Advertise Online
    • Newsletter
    • Terms and conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Careers
    Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google

    Marie Claire is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

    © Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.