Diana's wedding dress is back
The most famous dress in the world is once again on display in Kensington Palace. We got a sneak preview...
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 items worn by Diana, the Queen, Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother and Kerry and Maria got a preview. Here’s what Kerry wrote for The Sunday Telegraph.
The exhibition includes swatches, sketches and notes from designers including David and Elizabeth Emanuel, David Sassoon and Norman Hartnell, showing 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 on display in the Orangery.
But it’s Diana’s dress which is still the frock star, with its 25ft 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 crystal-encrusted lace sparkle under 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 most 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,” he says.
“Of all the royal weddings, it is the iconic wedding dress,” says 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.”
“I didn’t understand that dress until I saw it for real,” Matthew says. “It’s a revelation.”
The exhibition runs until the end of the year (buy tickets here), and for those who can’t be there in person, go behind the scenes online or join a live talk by Matthew Storey and joint chief curator Lucy Worsley on Wednesday.
Time for a royal party!
We have never been in more need of a good party, so we’re delighted plans for next year’s royal knees-up have been released, when the Queen reaches 70 years on the throne. Buckingham Palace confirmed details of celebrations to mark the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee next June. They include:
A four-day Bank Holiday weekend June 2 - 5
Trooping the Colour will be held in full for the first time since the pandemic
Platinum Jubilee beacons will be lit across the UK and Commonwealth capitals
A live concert at Buckingham Palace called the Platinum Party at the Palace
Street parties across the nation for the Big Jubilee Lunch
A Platinum Jubilee Pageant with 5,000 people from the UK and Commonwealth performing around Buckingham Palace
Kate’s cool high street vaxfit
How does one upstage one’s husband’s vax-ready guns? Dress down in a H&M top and pop on & Other Stories high-waisted jeans, that’s how. Catherine went along to London’s Science Museum this week for her first vaccine jab, sharing the pic on Instagram with a heartfelt caption.
“Yesterday I received my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at London’s Science Museum,” she posted. “I’m hugely grateful to everyone who is playing a part in the rollout — thank you for everything you are doing.”
Her cool ’90s-style look – paired with her iconic engagement ring - sent us all into a frenzy of ‘add to basket’ for her £65 ‘Favourite Cut’ cropped jeans and £24 ribbed white tee (H&M’s latest one here). Our royal style recycler first wore the top in 2016 during a visit to Cornwall, and with those cap sleeves it was a no-brainer for a vaccination date.
Meghan’s special gift for baby daughter
Who needs tiaras when you’ve got plenty of Grandma Diana’s jewellery, and special heirloom Mummy’s been saving for you - a £4,800 Cartier Tank Française watch.
Back in 2015, the then Suits actress appeared in Hello magazine: “I’ve always coveted the Cartier French Tank watch,” she said, a year before she met Harry. “When I found out Suits had been picked up for our third season… I totally splurged and bought the two-tone version. I had it engraved on the back, ‘To M.M. From M.M,’ and I plan to give it to my daughter one day.”
The Cartier Tank was also a favourite of Diana’s, who owned a Tank Louis Cartier and an all-gold Tank Française, which the eagle-eyed have now spotted on Meghan’s wrist. Reports claim William asked Harry to swap Diana’s engagement ring for the watch, as he wanted to propose to Catherine with their mum’s sapphire ring.
Prince Philip’s loving memorial
This Thursday would have been Prince Philip’s 100th birthday, and an exhibition originally planned to celebrate his centenary has reportedly been given the Queen’s seal of approval. The exhibition at Windsor Castle will feature treasured family items, covering their wedding, family life, his naval career, charity work and love of carriage racing. All proceeds will help the Royal Collection Trust. Pre-book tickets to visit Windsor Castle here.