A Dress for Diana

July 29,1981—The Royal Wedding of HRH Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer is one of the iconic moments of the twentieth century. It remains a day embedded in the memory of millions of people around the world—over 800 million people were watching at home on television.

Of all the images from the day itself, the one that springs to mind immediately is that of Diana's arrival at St. Paul's Cathedral in the glass carriage and the public's first glimpse of the best kept secret of the day: the royal wedding dress.

For the young designers, David Emanuel and Elizabeth Emanuel creating Diana's wedding dress was "a fairytale come true." Having only been introduced to Lady Diana Spencer in February 1981, the Emanuels quickly became one of her favored designers, which lead to a telephone call in March 1981 that would change their lives forever.

Officially commissioned by Buckingham Palace, the Emanuels set about designing a dress that would never be forgotten. Each step of the process was completed in total secrecy to ensure that no one, especially the world's press, got a glimpse of the famous dress until that glorious July day.