When Princess Diana wed King Charles III (then known as the Prince of Wales) in 1981, the extravagant wedding dress she wore helped cement her status as a fashion icon and set trends for years to come: Mariah Carey, who married music executive Tommy Mottola in 1993, chose Vera Wang to design a wedding dress inspired by Diana’s gown.
Ahead, you’ll learn about the history behind the iconic dress, its designers, how much it cost, and where it is today.
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Who designed Princess Diana’s wedding dress?
David and Elizabeth Emanuel, also known as the Emanuels, designed Princess Diana’s wedding dress. Princess Diana first became interested in the duo after she wore one of their custom-made chiffon blouses for her engagement portrait session. The ruffled pink top recently sold at auction for $381,000.
“When she saw our blouse on a hanger, she fell in love with it, asked who made it, and was directed to us,” Elizabeth Emanuel wrote in her 2006 book, “A Dress for Diana.”
Diana chose the Emanuels to design her wedding dress, which Elizabeth said had to be “historical but also something Diana would love” and “dramatic enough to leave a mark”.
What material was Princess Diana’s wedding dress made of?
The dress was made from ivory silk taffeta and antique Carrickmacross lace, which had previously belonged to Diana’s great-grandmother, Queen Mary. Embroidery, sequins and more than 10,000 pearls adorned the waist, skirt and train, which broke royal wedding records with its 25ft length.
A small blue bow was sewn onto the waist of the dress for Diana’s “something blue” and an 18-karat gold horseshoe charm was also sewn on for good luck.
A Look at Princess Diana’s Wedding Dress [PHOTOS]
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For “peace of mind,” the Emanuels designed a second dress for Diana’s wedding day. “At the time, we definitely wanted the dress to be a surprise,” Elizabeth Emanuel told People in 2011. “If the secret of the real dress had come out, it would have been possible for Diana to actually wear it.”
Sketches of the replacement dress first appeared in 2023. It was again made of ivory silk taffeta — but without the antique lace — with scalloped details along the hem and sleeves. It also had tiny pearls sewn onto the bodice. But the alternative dress has since disappeared.
“It was actually just a backup of the original, and I don’t know where it went. It just disappeared,” Elizabeth Emanuel told Hello! last year.
How much was Princess Diana’s wedding dress?
Diana’s dress was valued at approximately $114,800 at the time it was made. Today, that value is approximately $448,500.
Where is Princess Diana’s wedding dress today?
In her will, Diana left the custom-made dress to her sons, Princes William and Harry, who officially inherited it on the latter’s 30th birthday in 2014.
They have since lent the wedding dress out for display: in 2021 it was exhibited as part of Kensington Palace’s “The Making of Royal Style” show, which concludes in 2022.
A Look at Princess Diana’s Wedding Dress [PHOTOS]
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Launch Gallery: A Look at Princess Diana’s Wedding Dress [PHOTOS]
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