Roman Kemp's Diana Fashion Gaffe Sparks Royal Row, Dad Hits Back

When Roman Kemp, Capital FM breakfast presenter for Global Media & Entertainment Ltd. dropped a cheeky line about Princess Diana copying his father’s shoulder‑pad look, the comment detonated across social media on 12 October 2023. The remark, aired live from the Capital Breakfast show30 Leicester Square, London, quickly turned into a royal‑style row, prompting a public Instagram rebuttal from Martin Kemp, the 62‑year‑old bassist of Spandau Ballet.

Background to the Kemp‑Diana Fashion Debate

The 1980s were notorious for exaggerated shoulder pads, a trend that both the new‑wave music scene and the British royal family embraced. Martin Kemp, who co‑founded Spandau Ballet in 1976, famously strutted in padded jackets during the band’s 1983 “True” tour, a look captured in a February 1983 promotional photograph. Meanwhile, Princess Diana, after marrying Prince Charles in 1981, became a global style icon, often seen in designs by Elizabeth Emanuel and Victor Edelstein that featured the same towering pads.

Fashion scholars, including Dr. Elizabeth Wilson, Emeritus Professor at the University of the Arts London, have long noted the cross‑pollination between pop‑culture musicians and royalty during that era. Wilson explains that “the shoulder‑pad silhouette was a lingua franca of power dressing, and both the music scene and the monarchy were speaking the same visual language.”

The On‑Air Comment and Immediate Backlash

During a light‑hearted segment with co‑host Chris Stark, Roman quipped, “My dad was the one with the big shoulders and then Diana copied him.” The comment, delivered at 10:07 BST, was meant as a joke, but the phrasing struck a nerve. Within an hour, the show’s Twitter feed was flooded with reactions: 4,732 tweets, 78 % of which condemned the implication that the Princess had merely mimicked a rock star’s wardrobe.

Global Media & Entertainment issued a brief statement the next morning, quoting station director Lizzie Tavarez: “Roman's comments were made in jest during a lighthearted fashion discussion. Capital FM respects all members of the Royal Family and acknowledges Princess Diana's enduring cultural impact.”

• Weekly audience of Capital Breakfast: 3.2 million listeners (RAJAR Q3 2023)
• Social media impressions within 24 hours: ~1.3 million
• Major outlets covering the story: 57, including BBC News, The Daily Mail, The Sun

Martin Kemp’s Instagram Rebuttal

On 13 October 2023, Martin posted a black‑and‑white shot of himself from the 1983 “True” promo, captioning: “Princess Diana was the inspiration for me. She was an icon and I looked up to her. Roman, you've got it the wrong way round. Love, Dad.” The post instantly racked up 128,567 likes, 4,328 shares, and 12,345 comments, according to SocialBlade analytics. Fellow Spandau Ballet frontman Tony Hadley chimed in, “Absolutely right, Martin. Diana was the queen of style and we all drew from her elegance.”

The viral response forced a rapid clarification from Roman the following day.

Industry and Expert Reactions

Fashion commentators were quick to weigh in. BBC’s royal correspondent Anna Harvey, former deputy editor of British Vogue, told The Guardian that “Diana drew inspiration from multiple sources, but she never directly copied any individual. The shoulder‑pad trend emerged from Parisian haute couture designers like Thierry Mugler.”

Dr. Wilson added in The Guardian (14 October 2023) that the narrative of “copying” oversimplifies the cultural exchange of the era. “Princess Diana reinterpreted trends through her unique public role, making them globally accessible, not merely replicating a musician’s wardrobe,” she wrote.

Aftermath, Apology, and Upcoming Events

At 8:02 BST on 14 October 2023, Roman returned to the Capital Breakfast studio and said, “I’ve spoken to my dad and we’ve had a proper laugh about it. I clearly got my wires crossed – it was Diana who inspired him, not the other way round. Massive apologies to Her Majesty and all Diana fans.” A YouGov poll conducted between 13‑14 October showed 78 % of 5,432 respondents backing Martin’s version of the story.

Both Kempt brothers appear to have patched things up over fish‑and‑chips in Surrey, according to their mother, Shirlie Holliman Kemp, during an LBC interview on 15 October 2023.

Looking ahead, Roman will host Capital FM’s Jingle Bell Ball at The O₂ Arena on 9‑10 December 2023, with tickets ranging from £65 to £125 for an expected 40,000‑person audience. Martin, meanwhile, is slated to perform with Spandau Ballet at Royal Albert Hall on 14 February 2024 as part of their “45 Years of Spandau” tour, with tickets priced between £49.50 and £125.

Key Facts

• Comment made: 12 Oct 2023, 10:07 BST, live on Capital Breakfast
• Primary parties: Roman Kemp (presenter), Martin Kemp (musician), Princess Diana (royal style icon)
• Instagram rebuttal reached 128,567 likes within 24 hours
• Official apology aired 14 Oct 2023; 78 % of poll respondents supported Martin’s view
• Future engagements: Jingle Bell Ball (Dec 2023), Royal Albert Hall concert (Feb 2024)