Junior Rasmussen
Princess Diana's wedding dress is one of the most famous dresses in the world. The ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, with its record-breaking 25-foot train and 153-yard tulle veil, was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel and has been exhibited at Kensington Palace. The dress was so influential that it sparked thousands of knock-off designs, with the first copycat dress hitting department stores just five hours after the royal wedding ceremony. Today, the dress's whereabouts are unknown, with designer Elizabeth Emanuel speculating that it may have been sold or put into storage.
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What You'll Learn
The dress was designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel
Princess Diana's wedding dress was designed by the former husband-and-wife duo Elizabeth and David Emanuel. The Emmanuels were chosen by Diana herself, who was fond of a chiffon blouse they had designed for her formal photo session with Lord Snowdon. Elizabeth described Diana's instructions as "very few, to be honest", adding that "it was very much a case of 'This is who I am, this is what I am, and this is the man I am about to marry'".
The Emmanuels designed a second, "back-up" gown for Diana's wedding day, in case the design of the original was leaked to the public. Elizabeth told People in 2011: "At the time we wanted to make absolutely sure that the dress was a surprise. Had the secret of the real dress got out, it's possible that Diana would actually have worn [the second gown].". The second gown, which featured a V-neck, three-quarter sleeves, and a wide skirt, has since disappeared.
The original gown was crafted from ivory silk taffeta and antique Carrickmacross lace, which had previously belonged to Diana's great-grandmother-in-law, Queen Mary. The dress was hand-embroidered with mother-of-pearl sequins and an estimated 10,000 pearls, centring on a heart motif. It featured a ruffled collar, puffed sleeves, a voluminous skirt, and a dramatic 25-foot train—the longest in royal wedding history. A small blue bow was sewn into the waistband of the gown for Diana's "something blue", and an 18-karat gold horseshoe charm was also stitched in for good luck.
The Emmanuels took several precautions to keep the dress a secret prior to the wedding. They put scraps of fabric that were not used in the actual dress in the garbage in case members of the press went looking for clues. They also designed the dress under the code name "Deborah", hiring security to keep the design under wraps.
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It was made from ivory silk taffeta and antique lace
Princess Diana's wedding dress was an ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown with a 25-foot train and a 153-yard tulle veil. The silk taffeta was specially woven and dyed ivory by Stephen Walters of Suffolk. The dress was designed by the husband-and-wife duo David and Elizabeth Emanuel, who described it as a dress that "had to be something that was going to go down in history, but also something that Diana loved" and which would be "suitably dramatic in order to make an impression."
The antique lace used to trim the dress was Carrickmacross lace, which had belonged to Queen Mary, Princess Diana's great-grandmother-in-law. The gown was decorated with hand embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls, centring on a heart motif. The waistline, hem, and train were adorned with these embellishments, and the train broke royal wedding records with its length.
The dress was designed in secrecy, with the Emanuels even hiring security to keep the design under wraps. The gown was first displayed at the "Royal Style in the Making" exhibition at Kensington Palace, which closed on 2 January 2022. The exhibition also showcased the provenance of the historic lace, which was traced to a letter dated 8 July 1981 from Margaret Bartlett BEM, then Head of the Work Room at the Royal School of Needlework. The letter was addressed to Diana's wedding dress designers, informing them that the lace was donated by Queen Mary.
The dress has had a lasting impact on wedding fashion, with many bridal experts considering it a "gold standard" in the years following the wedding. Copies of the dress were available within hours of the wedding, and it continues to inspire brides and royal wedding aficionados all over the world.
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The gown featured hand embroidery, sequins and 10,000 pearls
Princess Diana's wedding dress was designed by the British designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel, who described it as a dress that "had to be something that was going to go down in history, but also something that Diana loved". The dress was made of ivory silk taffeta and antique lace, with a 25-foot train and a 153-yard tulle veil. It featured an 18-karat gold horseshoe stitched into the petticoats as a sign of good fortune, as well as a small blue bow sewn into the waistband as her "something blue".
The gown was decorated with hand embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls, centring on a heart motif. The embroidery was carried out by S Lock, now known as Hand & Lock. The pearls were mother-of-pearl, and the dress also featured antique, handmade lace, including a square of Carrickmacross lace that once belonged to Queen Mary. The lace was sourced from Roger Watson Laces, one of their regular suppliers.
The dress was considered one of the most closely guarded secrets in fashion history, with the designers hiring security to ensure the design stayed secret. It was first worn by Princess Diana at her wedding to Charles, Prince of Wales, at St. Paul's Cathedral on July 29, 1981, and has since become one of the most famous dresses in the world. The dress was later passed down to her sons, Princes William and Harry, and has been displayed in museums and exhibitions globally.
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It was displayed at the Royal Style in the Making exhibition in 2021
Princess Diana's wedding dress was loaned out for exhibition and displayed at the Royal Style in the Making exhibition at Kensington Palace in 2021. The exhibition concluded on 2 January 2022.
The dress was designed by the former husband-and-wife duo, David and Elizabeth Emanuel. It was crafted from ivory silk taffeta and antique Carrickmacross lace, which once belonged to Queen Mary, Diana's great-grandmother-in-law. The gown was adorned with hand embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls, centring on a heart motif. The lace used to trim it was antique and handmade, and a square of Carrickmacross lace was attached to the gown. A small blue bow was sewn into the waistband of the gown for Diana's "something blue", and an 18-karat gold horseshoe charm was also stitched in for good luck.
The dress featured a dramatic 25-foot train and a 153-yard tulle veil, breaking royal wedding records. The length was suggested by David, who wanted to surpass the then-reigning length of 20 feet. The dress was also rather cumbersome to carry, and Diana had to instruct Prince Charles' goddaughter, India Hicks, and the Queen's niece, Lady Sarah, to "do their best" when guiding it down the aisle.
The Royal Style in the Making exhibition at Kensington Palace showcased the iconic wedding dress, along with other artefacts, rare photographs, and personal mementos from Princess Diana and Prince Charles' historic wedding. The exhibition provided visitors with a comprehensive look at Princess Diana's wedding ensemble, which remains one of the most influential and recognisable bridal pieces to date.
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Princess Diana also had a spare wedding dress
Princess Diana's wedding dress is an iconic garment in royal wedding dress history. The ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, with a 25-foot train and a 153-yard tulle veil, was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel. It was worn at Diana's wedding to Charles, Prince of Wales, at St. Paul's Cathedral in 1981. The dress became one of the most famous in the world and was considered one of the most closely guarded secrets in fashion history.
The original wedding dress was on display at the exhibition Royal Style in the Making at Kensington Palace, which closed on 2 January 2022. The Princess Diana Museum in New York also displays artefacts related to the wedding, including a piece of wedding cake and the original Tambour hook used to embroider the royal wedding veil.
The wedding dress sparked thousands of knockoff designs, with the first copycat design hitting a department store just five hours after the royal ceremony. The dress continues to stand the test of time and remains an inspiration for brides and royal wedding enthusiasts worldwide.
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Frequently asked questions
It is unclear where Princess Diana's wedding dress is now. Designer Elizabeth Emanuel has said, "I don't know if we sold it or put it into storage. It was such a busy time. I'm sure it'll turn up in a bag one day!"
Princess Diana's wedding dress was on display in the exhibition Royal Style in the Making at Kensington Palace, which closed on 2 January 2022.
Princess Diana's wedding dress was designed by former husband-and-wife duo David and Elizabeth Emanuel.
