Junior Rasmussen
Princess Diana's wedding dress is an iconic garment in royal wedding history. The dress, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, was made from ivory silk taffeta and antique lace with a 25-foot train. It was worn by Diana when she married Charles, Prince of Wales, in 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral. The dress was on display at Kensington Palace as part of the Royal Style in the Making exhibition, which closed in January 2022. The dress was loaned for the exhibition by Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry, to whom she bequeathed it in her will.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | David and Elizabeth Emanuel |
| Materials | Ivory silk taffeta, antique lace, mother-of-pearl sequins, 10,000+ pearls |
| Train | 25 feet long |
| Veil | 153 yards of tulle |
| Something Blue | A small blue bow sewn into the waistband |
| Good Luck Charm | 18-karat gold horseshoe stitched into the petticoats |
| Display History | "Royal Style in the Making" exhibition at Kensington Palace (2021-2022); "Diana: A Celebration" exhibition (various locations, touring for many years); "Royal Style in the Making" exhibition at Kensington Palace (2025) |
| Ownership | Bequeathed by Diana to her sons, Princes William and Harry, in her will; ownership transferred to them in 2014 |
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What You'll Learn
The dress' designers, David and Elizabeth Emanuel
Princess Diana's wedding 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" and which would be "suitably dramatic in order to make an impression".
David Emanuel studied design at Cardiff School of Art and Design and Fashion Design at Harrow School of Art, London, where he met Elizabeth Weiner, whom he married in 1976. They studied design together at the Royal College of Art, London, the only married couple the College has accepted. In 1977, they launched their label, "Emanuel", and became a favourite designer of Lady Diana Spencer before her marriage.
The Emanuels were chosen by Diana to design her wedding dress because she was fond of a chiffon blouse they designed for her formal photo session with Lord Snowdon. The Emanuels also designed a second gown for Diana's wedding day "for peace of mind" in case the design of the original was leaked to the press. Elizabeth Emanuel told People in 2011 that "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 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 featured embroidery, sequins, and over 10,000 pearls adorning its waistline, hem, and 25-foot train.
After the royal wedding, the Emanuels experienced global fame as a result of the dress. Elizabeth told PEOPLE of Charles and Diana’s wedding at St. Paul’s Cathedral, "We could hear the people outside cheering. Everybody was happy and smiling. It really was a fairy-tale wedding." The Emanuels continue to receive requests from clients to create replicas of the iconic wedding dress.
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The dress' fabric and materials
Princess Diana's wedding dress was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel. The Emanuels described the dress as something that "was going to go down in history" and would be "suitably dramatic in order to make an impression". The Emanuels were chosen by Diana herself because she was fond of a chiffon blouse they had previously designed for her formal photo session with Lord Snowdon.
The 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 silk taffeta was made by Stephen Walters of Suffolk, Britain's oldest silk weaving company. The company had also crafted the lining of Queen Elizabeth II's coronation gown and Princess Anne's wedding dress. The Emanuels ordered the silk for Diana's dress in white and ivory to keep its colour a secret, even from their employees. The silk taffeta was created in a heavier weight than was customary to help give the dress its distinctive shape. The dress was decorated with hand embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls, centring on a heart motif. An 18-karat gold horseshoe charm was also stitched into the petticoats as a sign of good fortune.
The lace used to trim the gown was antique and hand-made. Roger Watson Laces, one of their regular suppliers, was commissioned to create matching lace to form the trim and train of the dress. This lace was also carried through in the bridesmaids' dresses. A square of Carrickmacross lace, which had belonged to Queen Mary, was attached to the gown. A petite blue bow was also sewn into the interior waistband of the gown as Diana's "something blue".
Diana also had a spare wedding dress, which would have been used if the design of the original had been revealed before the wedding day. The backup dress was made from pale ivory silk taffeta with embroidered scalloped details on the hem and sleeves. It featured tiny pearls sewn onto the bodice, a V-neck, three-quarter sleeves, and a wide skirt.
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The dress' second designer gown
Princess Diana's wedding 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". Diana personally selected the Emanuels to make her wedding dress because she was fond of a chiffon blouse they had previously designed for her formal photo session with Lord Snowdon. The Emanuels also created a second, backup wedding gown in case their original creation was leaked to the press.
The second dress was designed for "peace of mind", as the Emanuels wanted to ensure that the dress was a surprise. Elizabeth Emanuel told People in 2011: "Had the secret of the real dress got out it’s possible that Diana would actually have worn this one. It was really just a backup to the original and I don’t know where it went. It just disappeared."
The spare dress was made from pale ivory silk taffeta with embroidered scalloped details on the hem and sleeves, and tiny pearls sewn onto the bodice. It shared some features with Diana's main wedding dress, including a V-neck, three-quarter sleeves, and a wide skirt. The second dress set wedding fashion trends, with large puffed sleeves, full skirts, and "soft touch fabrics" becoming popular requests.
The original wedding dress was loaned out for exhibition in 2021 and put on display as part of Kensington Palace's "Royal Style in the Making", which concluded in 2022. The dress was bequeathed by Diana to her sons, Princes William and Harry, who officially inherited it in 2014.
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The dress' display at Kensington Palace
Princess Diana's wedding dress was displayed at Kensington Palace as part of the "Royal Style in the Making" exhibition, which ran from 2021 to 2022. This was the first time in 25 years that the dress had been exhibited at Kensington Palace.
The exhibition provided a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the dress, including quotes from its designers, David and Elizabeth Emanuel. It also showcased never-before-seen items from the archives of some of the most celebrated 20th-century royal couturiers, set alongside the glittering gowns and stylish tailoring created for three generations of royal women.
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 the Emanuels, who were personally selected by Diana. The dress was hand-embroidered with mother-of-pearl sequins and an estimated 10,000 pearls. It featured a fitted bodice overlaid with panels of antique Carrickmacross lace that belonged to Queen Mary, the groom's great-grandmother. The lace was attached to the gown as a square at the centre of the bodice, both front and back. The neckline and large puffed sleeves were trimmed with bows and deep ruffles of taffeta, and the full skirt was supported by stiff net petticoats. The dress was valued at the time at £9,000, equivalent to $43,573 in 2023.
The exhibition also displayed a rare, surviving toile for the 1937 coronation gown of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, consort of King George VI.
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The dress' iconic status and influence
Princess Diana's wedding dress is an iconic garment in royal wedding history. 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" and which would be "suitably dramatic in order to make an impression".
The Emanuels' vision for the dress was certainly met, with the ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown featuring a 25-foot train and a 153-yard tulle veil. The dress was adorned with embroidery, sequins, and over 10,000 pearls. It broke royal wedding records and set trends, with large puffed sleeves, full skirts, and "soft touch fabrics" becoming popular requests in the years following the wedding. The dress was also notable for its inclusion of a square of Carrickmacross lace that had belonged to Queen Mary, as well as a small blue bow sewn into the waistband for Diana's "something blue" and an 18-karat gold horseshoe charm stitched in for good luck.
The dress has had a lasting influence on fashion and culture. In 2018, Time magazine named it one of the "Most Influential British Royal Wedding Dresses of All Time". The dress has also been displayed in exhibitions, including ""Royal Style in the Making" at Kensington Palace, which concluded in 2022. The exhibition showcased the dress's intricate details and allowed visitors to appreciate its craftsmanship and beauty up close.
The dress was also the subject of a documentary, "Secrets of Diana's Wedding Dress," which aired in the UK in June 2028. The documentary explored the making of the dress, including the top-secret process and the codename used by Princess Diana, "Deborah Cornwall," to maintain secrecy. The dress continues to captivate and inspire, with Elizabeth Emanuel noting in 2011 that she still received requests for replicas of the iconic gown.
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Frequently asked questions
Princess Diana bequeathed her wedding dress to her sons, Princes William and Harry, who inherited it in 2014. The dress was on display at Kensington Palace as part of the "'Royal Style in the Making' exhibition, which ended in 2022.
Princess Diana's wedding dress was designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel (also known as the Emanuels). Princess Diana chose them because she was fond of a chiffon blouse they designed for her engagement portrait session.
Princess Diana's wedding dress was made of ivory silk taffeta and antique lace. The silk taffeta was woven by Stephen Walters of Suffolk. The dress was hand-embroidered with mother-of-pearl sequins and an estimated 10,000 pearls.
The train of Princess Diana's wedding dress was 25 feet (7.6 meters) long, making it the longest in royal history.
Yes, the Emanuels created a second, backup wedding gown in case their original design was leaked to the press. The backup dress was made from pale ivory silk taffeta with embroidered scalloped details on the hem and sleeves, and tiny pearls sewn on the bodice. However, the whereabouts of this dress are unknown.
