OTD 1981: Royal T-shirt row

On this Day: April 3rd, 1981.

ATV Today reported on a right royal T-shirt row.

Buckingham Palace released a statement saying that T-shirts with pictures of Prince Charles and Lady Diana were in ‘bad taste’ and that they must not be worn to celebrate the Royal Wedding.

Reporter Terry Lloyd talked to Phillip King from Shayama Clothing Works in Leicester, who have already made thousands of the shirts. He explains that they can’t do anything with them now since they have had a large order cancelled. Union official Bill Boggon said many workers in the Leicestershire hosiery industry could be affected and he was concerned about foreign imports still being allowed.

The Lord Chancellor had initially allowed the T-shirts with an image of Charles and Diana to be sold but the Palace overruled the decision. Ultimately pictures of the pair on T-shirts proved to be the least of the royal couple’s problems.