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Paul Costelloe, Princess Diana’s Former Personal Designer, Dies at 80

The Dublin-born London Fashion Week mainstay led a family-run label that bridged runway craft with corporate uniform work.

Overview

  • His family said he died peacefully in London following a short illness, surrounded by his wife and seven children, and asked for privacy.
  • He served as Princess Diana’s personal designer from 1983 until her death in 1997, creating many of her most recognisable formal looks.
  • A fixture at London Fashion Week for more than 35 years, he presented a collection in September and closed the inaugural Ireland Fashion Week in October 2025.
  • He founded Paul Costelloe Collections in 1979; the family-run brand spans womenswear, menswear, accessories, homeware and eyewear, with his son William as design director.
  • Beyond the catwalk, he designed corporate wear for British Airways, Delta Airlines and the Irish Olympic Team, while Irish leaders including Simon Harris and Micheál Martin paid tribute to his influence.