With the announcement of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s engagement early on Monday morning, this week officially morphed into royal engagement week at Over The Moon. So what better way to pay tribute to all things royal than by interviewing former real-life princess and all-time enduring icon Diane von Furstenberg on what it was like to marry her Prince Charming, not once, but twice? In a refreshingly candid exchange about her two weddings, the designer left nothing off the table. She opened up about getting married for the first time while three months pregnant, how she ended up proposing to her second husband, media mogul Barry Diller, and why every woman should think of herself as a “seductress” even after she ties the knot.

We know you and Prince Egon von Furstenberg met at university. What exactly was your first meeting like?
Egon and I met at an 18th birthday party in Geneva when I was eighteen. He was handsome and blonde and a prince, yes, and he had this great smile, but I wasn’t particularly interested at first. There were plenty of other young, good looking men around and he was still in school at Lausanne. But we ran in the same circles, and the more I got to know him, the more my feelings began to change. I’d say the turning point was on a ski trip we took to Megeve. The car got stuck in the snow and Egon rushed to get help. It turned out not to be a big deal, but I couldn’t help but be charmed by his helplessness and how he wanted to protect me. Before I knew it, I was very much in love. 

How did you feel about becoming a princess? Were you nervous, intimidated, excited?
Well, I was in no rush to become a princess. Even when Egon and I first fell in love, I wasn’t thinking of marriage. I was determined to create my own life and throughout our relationship I made efforts to do that. Early on, I moved to Paris and became an assistant to a photographer and filmmaker’s agent. Later I apprenticed myself to an Italian man named Angelo Ferretti, who had a printing plant near Como. I was always thinking, how can I support myself and have a career? By the time we were engaged, and I was pregnant, and we had plans to move to America, I guess I was a little nervous about becoming a princess because I didn’t want anyone to think I was trying to land this great catch. Ironically, becoming a princess made me even more determined to have a career and identity of my own, so I convinced Ferretti to let me design a few dresses in his factory to sell them in America—and that is what I did. 

You were three months pregnant when you got married for the first time, and we’ve read that as a result, you didn’t want to wear white. Is this true? Can you tell us about the Dior dress you ultimately ended up choosing?
I did indeed get married pregnant. I did not really have to announce it, but I did. I remember so well going to Dior and meeting its designer of the moment, Marc Bohan. I said I did not want a conventional white dress. I chose a white cotton dress with a colorful petticoat underneath as well as a belt made of colorful ribbons. I also had a big white hat with colored flowers, so it was white but with a lot of colors. I loved it.

Can you describe the ceremony and reception? What was a favorite moment from your first wedding?
The ceremony took place at the town hall of Montfort-l’Amaury outside of Paris. It was followed by a big reception for 500 friends and relatives at Auberge de la Moutierè, a charming inn and restaurant that was owned by Maxim’s. My father hired all of the musicians from Rasputin, a Russian nightclub in Paris for the reception. It was all very festive and chic.

Did anything go awry? Were there any funny moments? Or anything looking back that makes you laugh?
Well, Egon’s father was pressured not to come to the reception because the head of the Furstenberg family did not approve of my being Jewish, so that was a bit of a cloud over the wedding. But both of our mothers were supportive. I never doubted Egon or our love for one another, and that was the important thing. 

You first met Mr. Diller when you were 28. Can you tell us about that initial meeting?
We met in New York at a party I was giving for Sue Mengers, who asked if she could bring Barry Diller along, and of course I knew who he was. I also knew that he had a reputation of being shy and a little hard to get to know, but still I was very eager to meet the young Chairman of Paramount Pictures. And I was surprised by how easily we connected. We hit it off immediately, and I thought it would be great to have him as a friend. I had no idea we would fall in love.

We’ve read that after dating for a few years you were on and off for a while, and during the periods when you were off, you dated other high profile men.
With Barry it was passion from day one. We lived together for five years and then I left. I did have other men after but Barry never totally disappeared. Somehow we both knew we would eventually end up together. 

Is it true that you reconnected with Mr. Diller at his birthday party, and when you didn’t know what to get him, you asked if he wanted to get married? Can you tell us more about this? What did he say back?
By 1999, I had already written in my journal: “Talking marriage with Barry.” It didn’t happen that year or the year after, but Barry didn’t give up. A week before his fifty-ninth birthday, I was looking for a present to give him and I decided to give him myself. We were on the phone and I said, “Why don’t we get married on your birthday?” In his way, he said, “Let me see if I can arrange it.” And he always delivers. We were married at City Hall a week later. 

Can you describe that wedding ceremony?
It was a small ceremony with just family and my friend Annie Leibovitz who very kindly agreed to take the photos. We all met that morning at my design studio in a carriage house on West 12th Street and went together. I was so happy. 

What did you wear?
A cream jersey dress I made for myself and a fur vest. I carried a lily of the valley bouquet to honor my mother.

What did you do after the city hall ceremony? Where was there a reception? What was it like?
We went to lunch at a restaurant near City Hall. It was a bit stuffy, but we all laughed and had fun. Long before we had decided to marry on that day, I had planned a big Aquarius party for that night at the 12th Street Studio, so that became our wedding celebration. Barry surprised me with twenty-six wedding bands with diamonds, for the twenty-six years we weren’t married. 

What’s your favorite memory of this wedding?
That it happened so fast . . . 

Did you go on a honeymoon?
Nothing had been planned, so we decided it in one week. We went to Cloudwalk.

What advice would you give to couples about to walk down the aisle?
To be honest and practice the truth. 

Any style or dress tips you’d give a bride-to-be?
The same advice I would give on any other day: you have to be true to yourself. Know who you are and what works for you and be true to that. 

You’ve always described yourself as a “seductress.” Why do you think this is an important persona for a woman to have, even after she’s married?
Seduction is about being interesting.

What do you think is the key to a lasting marriage?
Honesty. Definitely the truth is the most important thing.