EXCLUSIVE: Hanisha Sethi sits down with ‘Jamaican Princess Diana’, Tobias Cordes, who has risen to stardom due to his love for the ‘individuals’s princess’.
Hanisha Sethi visits Café Diana to interview TikTok star
Within the fast-moving world of social media fame, viral developments usually seem and disappear in a single day. However one content material creator has managed to construct a devoted viewers round one thing way more timeless, admiration for the late Diana, Princess of Wales, who he dubs “a world icon”.
His 317K TikTok followers (and counting) know him because the ‘Jamaican Princess Diana’ on the Gen Z social media platform. He is adored for his movies concerning the late Princess – with a Caribbean twist. After I first met Tobias Cordes, at Café Diana, a stone’s throw away from Kensington Palace, I immediately understood why it’s the right spot to fulfill, as we bonded over our love for the individuals’s princess.
Black and white and timeless pictures of Diana adorn the partitions from ground to ceiling. There are cuttings of newspapers she’s featured in, in addition to photos of her along with her lovely two younger youngsters, Prince Harry and Prince William.
The 26-year-old, from Kent, talks about certainly one of his first movies about Diana that went viral on TikTok. Taking inspiration from her explosive BBC Panorama interview about her “crowded marriage”, Tobias determined to make a Jamaican Patois model, which individuals merely fell in love with. Basically, Tobias reimagines Diana as a Jamaican-speaking royal.
Tobias Cordes has created in style Princess Diana movies (Picture: Hanisha Sethi)
His inspiration comes from residing within the Caribbean between the ages of 5 and 9 and he’s dreaming of sooner or later returning to go to mates, followers and even outdated lecturers. Tobias mentioned: “I moved to the Cayman Islands after I was 5 years outdated as my mum was provided a job on the market. I used to be there for 3 and a half years and it’s the place I went to highschool.”
He added: “It’s a melting pot of cultures, you may have quite a lot of People, British expats, individuals from all Caribbean islands, and quite a lot of Jamaicans. I had Jamaican mates at college and my babysitters have been Jamaican…being surrounded by completely different cultures left an impression on me, for certain.”
For youthful viewers who by no means skilled Diana’s period, the content material presents a window right into a cultural determine who formed world perceptions of royalty. The TikTok creator’s success reveals how digital platforms can revive historic narratives for a brand new technology.
Tobias mentioned: “I used to be born in 1999, so I wasn’t born when Diana was at her peak of fame. For her to depart such an enduring impression on me says quite a bit about her as an individual. She’s iconic, fierce and powerful, and also you do really feel sympathetic in direction of her due to what occurred in her personal life.”
He additionally dubs her as a “trailblazer”. He mentioned: “Particularly being a homosexual man, I do know she championed the queer neighborhood. She was supportive at a time when individuals weren’t so supportive of the Aids disaster too [when it was a taboo]. Diana was an individual who confirmed assist from a real place.”
Noting the limitless images of Diana surrounding us within the café, Tobias mentioned: “Additionally, I like her outfits. I like a little bit of 90s and he or she’s the face of that for me.” He laughed: “How might we neglect the revenge gown?”
Tobias has over 317K followers on TikTok (Picture: Hanisha Sethi)
Up to now, Tobias has racked up thousands and thousands of followers worldwide and every video is a continuing hit, garnering consideration from the Jamaican neighborhood. His mates and even an old style instructor from Jamaica have reached out with loving messages.
One video titled ‘Princess Diana if The Crown was shot in Jamaica’ has been considered virtually 7 million instances.
Below the sketch, one fan wrote, “My Jamaican nan loves you,” whereas one other mentioned, “I’ll by no means skip a Jamaican Princess Diana video”. One other added: “The enamel kissing ATEEEEEE left none of di crumbs.”
Whereas a brand new viewer mentioned: “Guys I nonetheless don’t get the Jamaican accent, however I adore it.”
Tobias has even caught the eye of celebrities, together with TV host and comic, Alan Carr. He’s at all times regarded as much as the comic, and he’s additionally an enormous fan of Cunk on Earth star, Diane Morgan.
Tobias mentioned: “I’ve even had Alan Carr attain out. He at all times feedback with a laughing emoji however he additionally follows me and we had a bit chat. We spoke about doubtlessly assembly up in some unspecified time in the future.”
Royal reporter Hanisha Sethi met TikTok star Tobias Cordes at Cafe Diana (Picture: Hanisha Sethi) The newest information and gossip from the Royal Household plus chosen presents and competitions Subscribe Invalid e mail
We use your sign-up to supply content material in methods you’ve got consented to and to enhance our understanding of you. This will embrace adverts from us and third events based mostly on our understanding. You’ll be able to unsubscribe at any time. Learn our Privateness Coverage
Because of Tobias’s affect and the generosity of his viewers, he used his social media platform to boost consciousness concerning the devastating impression of these affected by Hurricane Melissa. Hurricane Melissa was a particularly highly effective tropical cyclone which made a catastrophic landfall in Jamaica in late October 2025.
He spoke of the mission, Meals for the Poor Jamaica, and different organisations persevering with to supply crucial companies. With the assistance of on-line assist, Tobias and his on-line neighborhood raised an enormous £2,000.
He candidly spoke concerning the trigger, saying: “It felt like the appropriate factor to do, to present again. I simply felt like I wished to do one thing to assist and use my platform.”
*** Guarantee our newest royal headlines at all times seem on the high of your Google Search by making us a Most well-liked Supply. Click on right here to activate or simply add us as Most well-liked Supply in your Google search settings. ***
@tobias_cordes_ The place all of it started #pov #comedy #princessdiana #jamaican #fyp ♬ unique sound – Tobias
Along with his musical theatre background and additional schooling in appearing, it’s clear Tobias is headed for stardom. He additionally admires his mother and father who’ve artistic backgrounds themselves.
He explains: “My mother and father are so supportive and I feel they’re actually completely happy for me as they’ve seen me attempting to make it on this business for a very long time now. As they’re older they don’t absolutely perceive the features of social media however they’ve seen Diana spans so many generations.”
If he isn’t creating video content material, he’s engaged on a TV pilot which he’s eager to place in entrance of administrators.
As we come to the top of our interview, Tobias shares his future imaginative and prescient: “I’d like to be within the room for extra TV and movie alternatives, and be recognized to extra casting administrators. I’m excited to share my TV pilot with individuals too – that’s the dream.”
After a number of cups of tea, and limitless chatting, as we half, I’m left with one key thought. For Tobias – TikTok stardom is only the start.
Leave a Reply