Actress Cleo Rocos recently published an autobiography. And in it there are some astonishing true stories. Like the one where she and Freddie Mercury of Queen dressed Princess Diana of London up like a drag queen in order to sneak her into one of England’s gayest bars.
It was the 80’s, Rocos was drinking at private residence in London with Princess Diana at a get together with Freddie Mercury. Mercury, genius that the man was, devised a wonderful plan: everyone was going to relocate to Vauxhall Tavern, a well-known gay bar. And the princess was coming with – no matter what. But they didn’t want to be hounded by autograph seekers and the paparazzi once Diana was recognized. So, Mercury and the others se to work and dressed Princess Diana up in drag as a disguise. It was brilliant.
They stuffed her in a bulky army jacket, tucked her famous blond hair up under a cap and slapped aviator sunglasses on her face. Then the group set out. The bar, as usual, was packed with gay men dressed in leather. Diana cautiously worked her way to the bar with the others and ordered a white wine. It’s a wonder that didn’t give her away.
No one recognized her, though. Despite the fact that at the time she was one of the most famous people in the world. Everyone was exhilarated by the thrill of the night, but decided to make an early exit.
Once safely outside the bar, Diana and the others piled into a taxi and sped off into the night. Laughing and happy at their success. They waved goodbye to the gay men standing outside the tavern, who waved back cheerfully having no idea who they were waving to.