Diana first wore it for the Wales' official tour of Italy in the spring of 1985, paired with a Viv Knowland straw fez (above left). It was seen again in June, first at Ascot with a Frederick Fox black and white hat, and later that day, minus the hat, to watch Charles play polo (below left, with Sarah Ferguson). Diana then wore it in November, again with the black and white hat, on the Wales' official visit to Australia, where she and Charles attended the Melbourne Cup horse races.(right)

While Diana had worn Oldfield's clothes since 1981, they became closer in 1984 when she became patron of the children's charity Barnardo's. Oldfield was a 'Barnardo's Boy', having grown up in one of its facilities, and devoted much time and effort to fund raise for it. In fact, during a March 1985 gala reception and fashion show for the charity (attended by Diana), this suit was shown on the runway (at about the 6:50 mark).

Sadly, the relationship between them eventually soured. By the end of the decade Diana had gravitated more and more towards Catherine Walker, and when she separated from Charles she no longer had need of extravagant gowns. Oldfield would blame her lack of patronage for the financial difficulties he encountered. The split was further intensified when Diana quit the bulk of her charities in 1996, including Barnardo's. Her butler Paul Burrell would claim she felt that with the loss of her royal title she couldn't continue as a royal patron, others have said she wanted to concentrate on a few charities where she felt she could make a real difference, but Oldfield apparently took it personally.