'Di was pretty but stupid'

The fashion world is known for its bitchiness but few would go so far as to speak ill of the dead - especially a former client.

But fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld has launched an attack on the late Princess Diana, calling her 'stupid'.

The outspoken Chanel designer, who was among the mourners at Diana's funeral, took aim at her in a magazine interview.

He much prefers Prince Charles' new wife, Camilla. 'If you had to make a choice to live with somebody, this is the one,' he told the magazine about the Duchess.

But his thoughts on Lady Diana are most likely to upset the late princess's fans.

Describing Diana, Lagerfeld said: 'She was pretty and she was sweet, but she was stupid.'

He insists that the world would love Camilla more if they knew what she was really like.

'The public does not know who Camilla is,' he said. 'She is the life of the party. She's sparkling, she's witty, she's ready for everything, and not pretentious, not one bit.' Diana is not the only celebrity Lagerfeld gunned for in the interview ahead of his appearance at New York fashion week.

The fashion designer, 67, said he prefers the Nicole Kidman generation of actresses to youngsters like Lindsay Lohan and he said he will never use singer Christina Aguilera in a photo shoot again because of her bad manners.