The pair made a striking couple, admired globally, but over time, rumors and reports hinted at deep incompatibilities. Still, one physical trait stood out early on—Diana’s height. At 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 meters), she was significantly taller than the average British woman and nearly equal in height to Charles. This explains the tall stature of their sons, William (6’3”) and Harry (6’1”).
Cohen’s tweets brought renewed attention to how Charles appeared disproportionately taller in photos. The first image he shared was a postage stamp, where Charles towered over Diana—suggesting he might have stood on a box. Similarly, in their engagement photo at Windsor Castle, Charles stood a step above his fiancée.

In more staged portraits, Diana could be seen tilting her head, leaning, or even slouching to appear shorter. Marie Claire also noted she rarely wore heels, another subtle nod to maintaining the illusion of height difference.
Despite it being widely accepted that the couple was the same height, there were clear efforts to visually downplay this fact. The Society Pages suggested it was likely done to conform to traditional gender norms—where men are expected to be taller than their partners.
While many questions about royal life remain unanswered, this odd visual manipulation is a detail that, once noticed, is hard to forget. Interestingly, it’s one of the few issues Diana never publicly criticized, despite her openness in challenging other royal traditions.
So, did you ever catch this height illusion in photos of Charles and Diana? If not, it’s definitely something to look out for—and maybe share with someone who’d find it just as surprising.