Princess Diana’s wedding dress on display along with other royal fashion
Forty years after it dazzled the world, Princess Diana’s wedding dress is still the jewel in a stunning exhibition at Kensington Palace — and Aussies can get behind-the-scenes access.
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It’s the most famous wedding dress in the world and 40 years after she wore it, Diana, Princess of Wales’ Emanuel gown has gone on display again in her former home.
Kensington Palace opened its exhibition Royal Style in the Making on Thursday, showing previously unseen items worn by Diana, the Queen, Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother.
Swatches, sketches and notes from designers including David and Elizabeth Emanuel, David Sassoon and Norman Hartnell show what goes into designing outfits for royal women.
“Royal clients are like no other,” said David Sassoon, who was responsible for many of Diana’s early looks, including a pink dress and bolero she wore as her going-away outfit and again in Australia in 1982.
That and other items like the Queen Mother’s 1937 coronation gown toile (an elaborate working pattern) are displayed in the pretty palace in London.
But it’s Diana’s dress which is still the frock star, with its 7.6m sequin-encrusted train which memorably filled St Paul’s Cathedral. It remains the longest royal wedding train in history and is so huge, the palace had to build a vast glass case to contain it.
The dress, which is on loan from Princes William and Harry, was last shown in Kensington Palace 25 years ago and is back on display to the public ahead of their mother’s 60th birthday on July 1, when the brothers are also unveiling a statue to commemorate her.
It is the centrepiece of the exhibition and up close literally dazzles the visitor as its sequins sparkle in the lights.
The enormous gown, with its huge puff-sleeves and elaborate detail on the bodice, using antique Carrickmacross lace originally belonging to Queen Mary, almost swamped 20-year-old Diana, which seems prophetic when you gaze at it now. The waist of the dress is tiny – the designers later said they had to repeatedly take it in.
So what is it that is so enduring about the wedding dress, which might have gone out of style, but remains in vogue?
“It Is one of the famous dresses ever made,” says curator Matthew Storey.
“The wedding was a huge and unprecedented affair. It was the right dress for the right time and was seen by 750 million people worldwide. It absolutely caught the fashion spirit of the time and launched a trend – every wedding dress made in the 1980s was inspired by it.”
“Of all the royal weddings, it is the iconic wedding dress,” says historian and joint chief curator of Historic Royal Palaces, Tracy Borman.
“It is such a pivotal moment in royal fashion.” While many people remember it as being huge, it’s not until you see it up close you appreciate the craftsmanship, she says.
“I’m mesmerised by the details.”
Matthew agrees.
“I didn’t understand that dress until I saw it for real,” he says. “It’s a revelation.”
The exhibition runs until the end of the year and for Aussies who can’t be there in person, they can go behind the scenes online or join a live talk by Matthew Storey and joint chief curator Lucy Worsley on Wednesday.
For details visit hrp.org.uk
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