Princess Diana's favourite fashion designer leaves entire £4million to her husband

  • Designer Catherine Walker died aged 65 in September 2010
  • Left entire estate to second husband and business partner Sayeed Ismail
  • Diana was buried in one of her dresses

By Mail On Sunday Reporter

PUBLISHED: 20:11 EST, 29 December 2012 | UPDATED: 06:21 EST, 30 December 2012

Princess Diana’s favourite fashion designer Catherine Walker left her entire estate of more than £4million to her husband.

French-born Ms Walker, who died aged 65 in September 2010, produced more than 1,000 outfits for the Princess from her Chelsea headquarters over 16 years.

Diana was even buried in one of her black dresses, which she bought just weeks before she died in a car crash in Paris in 1997.

Diana, Princess Of Wales, pictured at The Coliseum For The Ballet 'Swan Lake' wearing a Catherine Walker dress
Catherine Walker at the launch at The National Portrait Gallery of ' Diana The Portrait'. She died aged 65

Catherine Walker, right, was a favourite of the Princess of Wales, pictured left at London's Coliseum in 1989 wearing one of the designer's trademark creations

The Duchess of Cambridge wore the Catherine Walker dress to a tree planting ceremony in July last year

The Duchess of Cambridge wore the Catherine Walker dress to a tree planting ceremony in July last year

The Duchess of Cambridge has followed in the footsteps of her  late mother-in-law by wearing Catherine Walker outfits and her mother, Carole, wore one to her daughter’s wedding to Prince  William last year.

Ms Walker designed dresses and ball gowns for many of the world’s most beautiful women.

Known for her discretion, her other high-profile clients included Shakira Caine, Darcey Bussell, Joely Richardson and Queen Noor of Jordan.

Probate records released more than two years after her death reveal that the reclusive and hard- working Ms Walker left a net estate of £4,162,572.

 

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Her will, drawn up in 2003, left everything to her second husband and business partner Sayeed Ismail, 68, a former lecturer at the Chelsea School of Art.

Nothing was left to her two daughters, Naomi and Marianne, from her marriage to her first husband John Walker, a solicitor who died in an accident in 1975 at the age of 32.

But the will stated that her daughters should inherit everything if Sayeed had died before her.

It is believed it was constructed to  maximise the size of her estate as legacies to a spouse are free of inheritance tax.

An inquest heard how she died  in hospital in 2010 from multiple organ failure. She had been living in pain for some time after two  battles with cancer.

Catherine Walker, centre, poses with her daughters Naomi, left, and Marianne, right, at a party in London in 2002

Catherine Walker, centre, poses with her daughters Naomi, left, and Marianne, right, at a party in London in 2002

Diana once wore a lashed to the knee sheath green evening dress by Catherine Walker, estimated to be worth £170,000, to the Royal Lancaster Hotel for a charity evening

Diana once wore a lashed to the knee sheath green evening dress by Catherine Walker, estimated to be worth £170,000, to the Royal Lancaster Hotel for a charity evening


 
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I want to know what dress Diane was buried in.

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She willed everything to her second husband to avoid paying inheritance tax and maximize the size of the estate. Once the estate is settled, the brand can be sold for more money. As her business partner, he will try to make the most profit and give her daughters as much as possible. That doesn't sound like a terrible mother or terrible children to me. If the daughters don't take him to court, rest assured they got their due.

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She must have made a hugh profit on her dresses.

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So? Only the DM could come up with such trivia.

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I used admire Princess Diana's beauty, it was always so graceful and effect-less which made her so lovable to the public ,because she didn't have to try hard she just had this charisma to her that appealed to everyone, and anyone can relate to it .something which The Duchess of Cambridge doesn't have and tries so hard to get.

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The surviving spouse imherits - what is unusual about that? I have told my wife I have to go first - I do not know how to work the washing machine!

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So?

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Although the gown pictured at bottom was not a favorite of mine, I remember seeing an exhibit of some of Diana's clothes, gowns, and wedding ensemble a few years ago, and, particularly as someone who sews, was astounded at the gorgeous fabrics, design, and intricate detail that you don't always see unless close up. Also, the actual size of the clothes let you know how trim Diana really was. She had such a beautiful figure for dressing, and Catherine Walker's hand tailored designs always looked gorgeous on her.

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Has anyone else been sat her for the last two years wondering where her money had gone?? I.m glad the wait is now over and I can worry about something else in 2013 thanks DM!!

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Why is this even news?

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