Strangers stop woman in the street because of her resemblance to Princess Diana

Sophie Eales cut off most of her locks and inadvertently created a carbon copy of the royal's famous style. (SWNS)
Sophie Eales cut off most of her locks and inadvertently created a carbon copy of the royal's famous style. (SWNS) (SWNS)

A woman says her confidence has been given a boost after a haircut lead to strangers stopping her in the street because of her resemblance to Princess Diana.

Sophie Eales, 24, from Bournemouth, says she is often compared to the late royal while out in her hometown - and has even been asked if she is the princess's daughter.

Having decided to switch up her look in April 2021 after becoming bored of her usual style, the hairdresser lopped off most of her locks and inadvertently created a carbon copy of Princess Diana's famous side-swept cut.

Eales says she now is regularly told how much she resembles Diana, Princess of Wales by members of the public, with some even asking for hugs.

Despite not seeing the similarities herself, Eales is more than happy with the comparison and has no plans to grow her hair out again.

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pictured in March, 1990. (Getty Images)
Princess Diana's hair style is pretty iconic, pictured in March 1990. (Getty Images) (SWNS)
Eales transformed her hairstyle and now claims strangers now stop her in the street - and say she is the spit of Princess Diana. (SWNS)
Eales transformed her hairstyle and now claims strangers stop her in the street - and say she is the spit of Princess Diana. (SWNS) (SWNS)

"I wanted to change my whole style," she explains. "I always had long hair and just thought, 'why not?'".

The hair stylist explains she originally wanted her hair to be layered, but she ended up cutting it into a long bob.

She says she only realised how similar people thought her new style was to the royal's when she started going out.

"The amount of attention I get - people say, 'you look like Princess Diana - are you her daughter?'" she explains.

"I always say no, of course, I know who my mum is - but it's a nice compliment.

"I actually don't think I look like her. I just wanted a new look."

Read more: Princess Diana would be 'horrified' by movie portrayal, says confidante

Princess Diana's hair style is pretty iconic, pictured in March, 1990. (Getty Images)
Princess Diana pictured in March 1990. (Getty Images) (SWNS)
Sophie Eales, 24, says she is often compared to the late royal while out in her hometown. (SWNS)
Sophie Eales, 24, says she is often compared to the late royal while out in her hometown. (SWNS) (SWNS)

Since her style makeover, Eales says she has been surprised by how many people have spotted the similarity.

"It's like I can't move for the attention," she explains. "I've woken up and my whole life has completely changed."

Her first experience of being "recognised" took place in a supermarket, while Eales was running errands.

"I was going to the shops for milk, and I was just standing in the queue," she explains. "When I had paid there were some people behind me who said they were shocked as I looked so much like Princess Diana.

"They asked me if anyone had told me that before. I was speechless."

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On another occasion, one teenager even asked Eales for a hug because of her likeness to the royal.

"Last year, I was with a few friends and there was one teenager who wanted a cuddle," she explains. "Some people also want selfies. But [they are] friendly."

Although she doesn't really see the similarity herself, Eales admits the comparison to Princess Diana has done wonders for her self-esteem.

"I'm just an ordinary girl, but the confidence boost - I love it so much," she says.

"Every time I wake up, I know the rollers have to go in and the hair has to be bouncy."

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Sophie Eales' new hairstyle. (SWNS)
Sophie Eales' new hairstyle. (SWNS) (SWNS)
Sophie Eales' new hairstyle. (SWNS)
Sophie Eales says she doesn't see the similarity herself but says it has boosted her confidence. (SWNS) (SWNS)

Princess Diana, who died in 1997, was renowned for her style and iconic haircut, inspiring a generation of women to opt for similar styles.

In an interview last year, Sam McKnight, 60, who was her personal hairstylist for seven years (from 1990 until her untimely death in 1997), told British Vogue about how the royal's famous 1990s look came about.

At the end of a shoot in 1990 he said Princess Diana asked him what he would do with her hair if she told him he could do anything, so he told her he would "cut it all off and start again".

"I said, ‘Cut it off, get rid of the ’80s frou-frou and start again with a minimal, short haircut.’ Which is what we did,” McKnight added.

Additional reporting SWNS.

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