Hello, I'm Lucy Worsley, chief curator at Historic Royal Palaces.

You're listening to our podcast that explores the history and stories of our six palaces.

These talks are a collection of some of our best live events.

I really hope you enjoy listening.

Throughout history, the clothing of British royalty has

influenced fashion tastes and trends. This series compiled from our archive explores contemporary

royal fashion and its influence on what we wear today. In this charmingly candid conversation,

historic Royal Palace's curator Eleri Lynn

chats with the fashion designer David Sassoon about his work with Princess Diana and the Royal Family.

Let's begin at the beginning. And would you share with us a little about your background and how you first realized that you were interested in fashion?

Right.

Well, morning to everyone.

My career is a very long one. It spans a period of 55 years.

So for a designer, that's a very long innings.

Initially, I wanted to be an actor, but my father did not approve of the idea of his son

going on the stage. So he allowed me to do what he thought was the lesser of the two evils,

which was fashion.

And I was very lucky and very privileged to go to the Royal College of Art

that in the 1950s was the college to go to for fashion.

And during those three years, I managed to go to all the wonderful French Couture houses,

Dior, Valenciaga, Givanchi, which was an amazing learning experience for me.

And in my final year, my partner, Belinda Belleville, who had a small fashioned business in Knightsbridge came to see my collection

...