• October 07, 1996
• Vol. 46
• No. 15

Capital Gains

Though Slightly Diminished in Title, the Princess Proves That, No Doubt About It, Washington Is Still High on Di

HER DIVORCE MAY HAVE COST HER the designation, but when the Diana Formerly Known As Her Royal Highness visited Washington last week, the kingpins of American politics, fashion and media plainly regarded her as not one whit diminished. "The princess is so popular because she is so gracious with her time," enthused Gen. Colin Powell, who swept her across the dance floor at a fund-raiser at the National Building Museum. As the band played, Powell crooned along. "I'm in heaven," he sang—and he was too. "I'm a nifty dancer," he said, "but not as nifty as she is."

Indeed, Diana's three-day foray through Washington—her first U.S. trip since her divorce was finalized Aug. 28—was a nimble pirouette into life after Charles. Starting with a Hillary Clinton-hosted breakfast at the White House, Di went on to a 21-guest luncheon at the British Embassy. The highlight of her visit, though, was the $500-a-plate gala charity sale of heavily discounted designer clothes at the Museum, which raised more than $1 million for the Nina Hyde Center for Breast Cancer Research. The 1,100 guests, including many of the designers who donated their work, nearly swooned when the princess arrived in a dazzling, halter-neck beaded gown. Di was chatted up by Barbara Walters and Larry King (both are angling for interviews) and, in addition to Powell, danced with Oscar de la Renta and Calvin Klein—with whom she shared her most animated conversation. The topic? "We discussed my underwear," laughed Klein. "She wears it." Confirmation, of course, was unavailable.