Deborah Chan
Princess Diana's wedding dress is one of the most famous dresses in the world. Designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, it was an ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, with a 25-foot train and a 153-yard tulle veil. The dress was on display at Kensington Palace as part of the Royal Style in the Making exhibition, on loan from her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. The exhibition explored the relationship between fashion designers and royal clients, showcasing the process behind the creation of iconic royal couture. The dress has since been returned to Prince William and Prince Harry, who now jointly own it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | David and Elizabeth Emanuel |
| Material | Ivory silk taffeta and antique lace |
| Train | 25-foot (7.6 m) |
| Veil | 153 yards (140 m) tulle |
| Venue | St Paul's Cathedral |
| Date | July 1981 |
| Owners | Prince William and Prince Harry |
| Exhibition | Royal Style in the Making at Kensington Palace |
| Distinctive features | An 18-karat gold horseshoe, a blue bow, antique lace, deep ruffles of taffeta, a fitted bodice, puffed sleeves |
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What You'll Learn
The dress was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel
Princess Diana's wedding dress was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel. The Emmanuels were chosen by Diana herself, who was fond of a chiffon blouse they had previously designed for her formal photo session with Lord Snowdon.
The dress was an ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown, with a 25-foot train and a 153-yard tulle veil. The gown featured a fitted bodice, gently scooped neckline, large puffed sleeves trimmed with bows, and a full skirt supported by stiff net petticoats. The skirt was made from thousands of mother-of-pearl and iridescent sequins, antique lace, and floating silk. The dress was valued at £9,000 at the time, equivalent to $43,573 in 2023.
The antique Carrickmacross lace used in the gown's bodice and trim originally belonged to Queen Mary, the great-grandmother of King Charles III. The Emmanuels also used their own antique lace to form the flounces in Diana's dress, and commissioned Roger Watson Laces, one of their regular suppliers, to create matching lace for the trim and train.
The dress was loaned to the "Royal Style in the Making" exhibition at Kensington Palace by Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. The exhibition explored the relationship between fashion designers and royal clients and featured other notable royal couture commissions.
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It was made from ivory silk taffeta and antique lace
Princess Diana's wedding dress was made from ivory silk taffeta and antique lace. The silk taffeta was woven and the lace was hand-made. The gown featured a 25-foot (7.6-metre) train and a 153-yard (140-metre) tulle veil. It was valued at the time at £9,000, which would be the equivalent of $43,573 in 2023. The dress was designed by 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 antique lace that made up the gown's bodice was particularly significant. It was a piece of Carrick-ma-cross lace that once belonged to Queen Mary, King Charles III's great-grandmother. The Emmanuels also used their own antique lace to form the flounces in Diana's wedding dress. The lace was enhanced with thousands of sequins, including mother-of-pearl and iridescent sequins. The dress was decorated with deep ruffles of taffeta, puffed sleeves, and a full skirt supported by stiff net petticoats.
The dress was loaned by Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, to the "Royal Style in the Making" exhibition at Kensington Palace in 2021. It was on display for the first time in 25 years, along with a rare, surviving toile for the 1937 coronation gown of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. The exhibition explored the relationship between fashion designers and royal clients and featured never-before-seen items from the archives of celebrated royal couturiers.
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The dress was bequeathed to her sons, Princes William and Harry
Princess Diana's wedding dress is an iconic garment in royal wedding 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, in 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral. The Emanuels were chosen by Diana herself because she was fond of a chiffon blouse they designed for her formal photo session with Lord Snowdon. The gown was crafted from woven silk taffeta made by Stephen Walters of Suffolk and featured hand embroidery, sequins, and over 10,000 pearls. A small blue bow was sewn into the waistband for Diana's "something blue," along with an 18-karat gold horseshoe charm for good luck. The dress set wedding fashion trends, with its large puffed sleeves, full skirt, and "soft touch fabrics."
Princess Diana bequeathed her bespoke gown to her sons, Princes William and Harry, in her will. They officially inherited it in 2014 when Prince Harry turned 30. The brothers loaned the dress for exhibition in 2021 at Kensington Palace's "Royal Style in the Making," which concluded in 2022. This was the first time the dress had been displayed at Kensington Palace in 25 years. The exhibition highlighted the relationship between fashion designers and royal clients, showcasing the creative process behind some of the most important couture commissions in royal history.
The display of Princess Diana's wedding dress at Kensington Palace was a significant event, attracting attention from media outlets such as Vogue. The exhibition provided a unique opportunity to view the iconic gown in person, over 40 years after its creation. The loan of the dress by Princes William and Harry contributed to the success of the exhibition, allowing the public to explore the intimate collaboration between royal clients and fashion designers.
The inclusion of Princess Diana's wedding dress in the "Royal Style in the Making" exhibition at Kensington Palace underscores its enduring significance in fashion history. The loan of the dress by Princes William and Harry demonstrates their recognition of its cultural value and their willingness to share this iconic piece with the public. The exhibition not only celebrated the craftsmanship and design of the gown but also paid tribute to Princess Diana's enduring legacy and influence on royal fashion.
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It was displayed at Kensington Palace in 2021
Princess Diana's wedding dress was displayed at Kensington Palace in 2021. The exhibition, titled "Royal Style in the Making", explored the relationship between fashion designers and royal clients. It showcased the process behind the creation of important couture commissions in royal history. The exhibition was held in the newly-conserved historic Orangery at Kensington Palace.
The exhibition was made possible thanks to Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, who loaned the dress and their mother's going-away dresses to the show. The iconic wedding dress, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, featured a 25-foot (7.6-metre) sequin-encrusted train and a fitted bodice adorned with antique Carrickmacross lace that once belonged to Queen Mary. The dress set wedding fashion trends and was considered a "gold standard" in the years after Diana's wedding.
The exhibition also featured a rare surviving toile, an early version of a finished garment, for the 1937 coronation gown worn by Queen Elizabeth (the Queen Mother) for King George VI's coronation. Additionally, it showcased never-before-seen items from the archives of celebrated royal couturiers, alongside examples of glittering gowns and stylish tailoring created for three generations of royal women.
The display of Princess Diana's wedding dress at Kensington Palace in 2021 offered a unique opportunity to view the iconic gown up close. It highlighted the intricate details and craftsmanship that went into creating one of the most famous dresses in bridal history. The exhibition provided valuable insights into the world of royal fashion and the collaboration between designers and royalty.
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It has a 25-foot train, the longest in royal history
Princess Diana's wedding dress is arguably the most iconic gown worn by a royal bride. It is certainly one of the most famous dresses in the world. The ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown was valued at £9,000 at the time of its creation, which is equivalent to around $448,500 today. The dress was designed by 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 gown features a 25-foot (7.6m) sequin-encrusted train, which filled the aisle of St Paul's Cathedral. The train broke royal wedding records with its length and even posed some problems during the wedding preparations. The designers realised too late that they had forgotten to account for the length of the train in relation to the size of the glass coach that Diana and her father rode in to the ceremony. As a result, the train was badly crushed and visibly wrinkled by the time Diana arrived at the cathedral.
The 25-foot train was finally unveiled at the last fitting at Buckingham Palace, where there was enough space to unroll it in one of the corridors. Although Diana and her mother were initially stunned, they were happy with the "theatrical" and "dramatic" look. The length of the train, along with the dress's 153-yard tulle veil, certainly contributed to the "wow" factor of the gown, which set trends for years to come.
Today, the dress is owned by Diana's sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, who inherited it in 2014. It has been displayed at Kensington Palace as part of the "Royal Style in the Making" exhibition.
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Frequently asked questions
Princess Diana's wedding dress was displayed at Kensington Palace in 2021. The exhibition was called "Royal Style in the Making".
Princess Diana's wedding dress was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel.
Princess Diana's wedding dress is owned by her sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
The exhibition explored the relationship between fashion designers and royal clients and featured clothing from Queen Elizabeth, Princess Margaret, and the Queen Mother.
