8 Things You Didn’t Know About Lee Radziwill
By Alexus Mosley
Photo Credit: Reg Burkett/Express/Getty Images
Lee Radziwill is often remembered as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’ younger sister, but she carved out a remarkable legacy all her own. A princess, fashion muse, actress, public relations executive, and international style icon, Radziwill moved effortlessly through the worlds of royalty, Hollywood, and high society. While her impeccable style has long been admired, many of the most fascinating chapters of her life remain surprisingly little known. Here are eight things you may not have known about one of history’s original It Girls.
She Secretly Toured with The Rolling Stones
Lee Radziwill and Mick Jagger in 1972
Photo Credit: Jim Marshall.
In 1972, Lee Radziwill joined The Rolling Stones for part of their legendary U.S. tour. While the rock band’s tour became one of the most talked-about events of the decade, Radziwill quietly traveled alongside them, giving her a front-row seat to one of rock history’s most iconic eras. The unlikely pairing perfectly captured her ability to move between the worlds of aristocracy, fashion, and pop culture.
She Worked for Giorgio Armani
Lee Radziwill and Giorgio Armani attending a Council of Fashion Designers of America in 1993
Photo Credit: Getty
Long before celebrity brand partnerships became commonplace, Lee Radziwill worked with Giorgio Armani as a public relations executive and ambassador for the Italian fashion house. Her sophisticated taste and international connections made her a natural fit for the role, further cementing her status as one of fashion’s most influential women.
Jackie Kennedy Left Her Out of Her Will
Jacqueline Kennedy and Lee Radziwill leaving Maximilian in New York City (1970).
Photo Credit: Harry Morrison/Penske Media
When Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died in 1994, many were surprised to learn that she left nothing to Lee in her will. Jackie reportedly explained the decision by writing that she had “done so in my lifetime,” suggesting she had already provided for her younger sister over the years. The revelation fueled decades of speculation about the sisters’ famously complicated relationship.
Truman Capote Encouraged Her to Pursue Acting
Lee Radziwill and Truman Capote at Truman Capote BW Ball in New York City (1966)
Photo Credit: Santi Visalli/Getty Images
Lee Radziwill wasn’t content to be a society figure. Encouraged by her close friend Truman Capote, she pursued an acting career in the late 1960s, studying with acclaimed acting coach Lee Strasberg and appearing in theater and television productions. Although acting never became her defining profession, it reflected her lifelong curiosity and creative ambitions.
She Helped Shape Jackie Kennedy’s White House Style
Lee Radziwill and Jackie Kennedy during a shopping trip in London
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Behind many of Jackie Kennedy’s unforgettable fashion moments was Lee Radziwill. She served as one of her sister’s closest style confidantes, often helping source couture from Paris, including designs by Hubert de Givenchy. Together, the sisters helped redefine American elegance on the world stage.
She Became a Princess Through Marriage
Princess Lee Radziwill and Prince Stanisław Albrecht "Stas" Radziwiłł boarding a flight in 1967.
Photo Credit: Bettman Archive/Getty Images
In 1959, Lee married Polish aristocrat Prince Stanisław Albrecht Radziwiłł, becoming Princess Lee Radziwill. Although Poland no longer officially recognized aristocratic titles, she became widely known by her royal title throughout international society and fashion circles.
She Dated Aristotle Onassis Before Jackie Did
Lee Radziwill with Aristotle Onassis at a reception at the Athens Hilton in September 1963.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
Before Aristotle Onassis became Jacqueline Kennedy’s second husband, he briefly dated Lee Radziwill. Lee later introduced the Greek shipping magnate to her sister in the early 1960s, setting in motion one of the most talked-about relationships of the twentieth century.
She Began Her Fashion Career Under Diana Vreeland
Lee Radziwill alongside Diana Vreeland at a Christian Dior fashion show in Paris, circa 1962.
Photo Credit: Mark Shaw
Long before she became an international style icon, Lee worked as an assistant to legendary fashion editor Diana Vreeland at Harper’s Bazaar. The experience offered an early education in fashion, publishing, and style, helping shape the refined aesthetic that would define her for decades.
Whether she was sitting front row at Paris Fashion Week, traveling with rock legends, or advising one of America’s most stylish First Ladies, Lee Radziwill lived a life unlike any other. More than simply Jackie Kennedy’s younger sister, she became an enduring fashion icon whose influence continues to inspire generations of designers, editors, and It Girls alike.