Franklin Dean
Princess Diana's wedding dress is one of the most famous in the world, with over 750 million people tuning in to watch her royal wedding to Charles, Prince of Wales, in 1981. The ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, featured a 25-foot train and a veil of 139 to 140 metres of tulle, embellished with 10,000 mother-of-pearl sequins and pearls. The veil, crafted by embroiderer Peggy Umpleby of Hand & Lock, was kept a closely guarded secret until the big day, adding to the awe and intrigue of Princess Diana's iconic bridal look.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Length | 153 yards or 139-140 metres |
| Fabric | Tulle |
| Embellishments | 10,000 mother-of-pearl sequins and pearls |
| Embroidery | Hand-embroidered by Peggy Umpleby of Hand & Lock |
| Train | 25 feet |
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What You'll Learn
The veil was 153 yards long
Princess Diana's wedding veil was 153 yards long, crafted from 139 to 140 metres of tulle. The veil was designed by the royal embroiderer, Peggy Umpleby of Hand & Lock, who spent two weeks working on the veil at her kitchen table. Umpleby was the only person permitted to know the details of the veil's design, which was kept a closely guarded secret until the wedding day.
The veil was attached to Diana's tiara and cascaded down her 25-foot train, creating a truly princess-worthy ensemble. The veil was carefully secured to Diana's dress through a mechanism inside her vast skirts, along with a gold horseshoe for good luck. The effect was magical, and Diana looked like a real-life fairytale princess bride.
The veil was embellished with intricate hand embroidery, featuring 10,000 mother-of-pearl sequins and pearls. Elizabeth Emanuel, one of the designers of Diana's wedding dress, requested that the tiny sequins be scattered on the tulle to create a fairy dust effect. The same sequins were used on the gown itself, adding to the magical sparkle as Diana walked down the aisle.
The veil was so long that Diana's youngest bridesmaids, India Hicks and Sarah Armstrong-Jones, were given the important task of looking after it on the day. They practised in the lead-up to the wedding to ensure that the veil and train were always perfect. The veil's length and grandeur contributed to the iconic status of Princess Diana's wedding ensemble, which has become one of the most famous and influential bridal looks of all time.
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It was made from 139-140 metres of tulle
Princess Diana's wedding veil was an awe-inspiring 139 to 140 metres of tulle. The veil was crafted by the royal embroiderer, Hand & Lock, who have been decorating official royal garments since 1767. The complex task was undertaken by Miss Peggy Umpleby, who worked in solitude at her kitchen table for two weeks to complete the intricate embroidery.
The veil was designed to complement the ivory taffeta gown, which featured a 25-foot train and an abundance of embroidery, sequins, and an estimated 10,000 pearls. The veil, too, was adorned with 10,000 mother-of-pearl sequins, carefully scattered to create a magical, fairy dust effect as Diana walked down the aisle.
The veil was attached to Diana's tiara, adding to the regal ensemble. The tulle veil was 153 yards long, surpassing the length of the train itself, which was 25 feet (7.6 metres). The veil was carefully secured to Diana through a mechanism inside her vast skirts, along with a gold horseshoe for good luck.
The veil was a closely guarded secret, with only Miss Peggy knowing the details of the design. It was a true masterpiece, contributing to one of the most iconic bridal looks of all time. The young princess, shrouded in glittering tulle, looked like a real-life fairytale princess bride. The veil, along with the dress, set wedding trends and continues to inspire brides and designers worldwide.
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The veil was embellished with 10,000 micro pearls
Princess Diana's wedding veil was a 153-yard (140-metre) tulle veil, embellished with 10,000 mother-of-pearl sequins. The veil was designed by the royal embroiderer Hand & Lock, specifically by Miss Peggy Umpleby, who worked on the veil for two weeks at her kitchen table. The veil was attached to Diana's tiara, cascading down her 25-foot train.
The 10,000 mother-of-pearl sequins were almost transparent, with only the sparkles of light visible, creating a fairy dust effect. Elizabeth Emanuel, who designed Diana's wedding dress, instructed that the sequins be scattered on the tulle. The same sequins were used on the gown itself, so that it would sparkle as Diana walked down the aisle.
The veil was crafted in complete secrecy, with only Miss Peggy knowing the details of the task. The veil was attached to a carefully crafted mechanism inside Diana's skirts, along with a gold horseshoe for luck. The entire wedding ensemble, including the veil, has been described as "the most closely guarded secret in fashion history".
The dress and veil were so large that the designers could only see Diana wearing them at the final fitting at Buckingham Palace, as there was not enough space in their showroom. The veil, along with the dress, has been displayed in museums and exhibitions globally, sparking multiple copycat designs.
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It was hand-embroidered by Peggy Umpleby
Princess Diana's wedding veil was a spectacular 153-yard (139 or 140 metres) silk-tulle veil, adorned with intricate embroidery and 10,000 mother-of-pearl sequins. It was hand-embroidered by Peggy Umpleby, affectionately nicknamed "Miss Peggy", of the royal embroiderer Hand & Lock. Umpleby was the only person permitted to know the details of the mammoth task, working in secret over two weeks at her kitchen table to bring the Emanuels' vision to life.
Umpleby was chosen for her exceptional skill and experience. Having been stitching at S. Lock for 35 years, she was deemed the most accomplished embroiderer to realise the complex creative brief. The veil was attached to Princess Diana's tiara, cascading down her legendary 25-foot train. The effect was magical, and Diana looked like a real-life fairytale princess bride.
The veil was carefully crafted to create a fairy dust effect, with the almost transparent mother-of-pearl sequins scattering sparkles of light as Diana walked down the aisle. The intricate embroidery and thousands of tiny sequins transformed the veil into a shimmering work of art, complementing the princess's iconic wedding gown.
Umpleby's contribution to Princess Diana's wedding ensemble was a significant part of what made the bridal look so iconic. The veil's delicate beauty and sheer magnitude captured the world's imagination, setting a standard for royal weddings that continues to inspire and captivate generations later.
The veil, along with the dress, shoes, and parasol, was designed by the husband-and-wife team David and Elizabeth Emanuel. They went to great lengths to keep the details of the ensemble a closely guarded secret until the wedding day, even installing a safe to store designs and fabric swatches. The veil, in particular, was a well-kept secret, adding to the allure and fascination surrounding Princess Diana's wedding attire.
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The veil was attached to Diana's tiara
Princess Diana's wedding veil was a 153-yard (140-metre) veil made of tulle. It was designed by the husband-and-wife team David and Elizabeth Emanuel, who also designed her wedding dress. The veil was attached to Diana's tiara and cascaded down her 25-foot train. The veil was embroidered with 10,000 mother-of-pearl sequins, creating a "fairy dust effect" as Diana walked down the aisle.
The intricate embroidery on the veil was carried out by Peggy Umpleby of the royal embroiderer Hand & Lock. Umpleby worked on the veil for two solid weeks at her kitchen table, stitching by hand to realise the complex creative vision set by the Emanuels. The veil was kept a closely guarded secret until the wedding day, with only Umpleby permitted to know the details of the design.
The veil was so long that Diana's youngest bridesmaids, India Hicks and Sarah Armstrong-Jones, were tasked with looking after it on the day. They practised in the lead-up to the wedding to ensure that the veil and train were always perfect.
The veil was part of an iconic wedding ensemble that has been dubbed the "Wedding of the Century". Over 750 million people tuned in across the globe to watch Princess Diana marry Charles, Prince of Wales, at St. Paul's Cathedral on July 29, 1981.
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Frequently asked questions
Princess Diana's veil was 153 yards (140 metres) long, made of tulle and embellished with 10,000 micro pearls.
The veil was designed by the royal embroiderer, Hand & Lock, specifically by their employee, Peggy Umpleby, who was chosen for her exceptional skill.
The veil was kept a secret by the designers, David and Elizabeth Emanuel, who went to great lengths to ensure the design was not leaked. They even installed a safe to store the designs and fabric swatches.
Princess Diana's train was 25 feet (7.6 metres) long.
