Princess Diana
The wedding of Princess Diana and Prince Charles was watched by around 750 million television viewers worldwide. The gown with its seven-metre train became the most photographed wedding dress of the twentieth century.
When twenty-year-old Diana Spencer rode to St Paul's Cathedral on 29 July 1981, the world held its breath. The dress was shrouded in such secrecy that even designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel feared a leak — sketches were kept under lock and key, and fabric was cut only in the presence of trusted assistants.
A Record-Breaking Train and Lace
Made from ivory taffeta and antique Carrickmacross lace, the gown featured a boned bodice, a voluminous ruffled skirt, and a 7.6-metre train — the longest in British royal wedding history. The bodice was embellished with hundreds of sequins and pearls, while the frills created the romantic volume characteristic of the early 1980s New Romantic movement.
Fashion After the "Wedding of the Century"
After 1981, full-skirted gowns with puffed sleeves and tiered skirts flooded the market. The "princess silhouette" became virtually synonymous with the bridal gown itself. The original dress was exhibited at Althorp House, drawing enormous queues. It was a genuine fashion phenomenon that reshaped the industry for an entire decade.
