Sadly, as we know all too well, life rarely resembles a fairytale and the Wales’ marriage was a disaster before it had even begun. It officially came to an end when the couple divorced in August 1996, following four years of separation. However, there’s no denying the sheer spectacle of what went down on July 29, 1981, and it’s an event that became a cultural touchstone for a reason. From the secret symbol sewn into the skirts of Diana’s wedding dress to her lavish bouquet, from the mistakes that were made on the day to the uproar Diana caused with her modification to the traditional wedding vows—not to mention details of the cake and the reception—we’re here to relive the day in detail.
Where did Charles and Diana get married?
Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer got married at St Paul’s Cathedral in London, on July 29, 1981.
How old were they when they got married?
Charles was 31 years old and Diana was only 20. She was only 19 when Charles proposed, following a courtship of a few months.
What did Diana wear to her wedding?
The dress
Diana’s wedding dress caused a sensation when she emerged from the 100-year-old Glass Coach outside the cathedral where 3,500 guests, along with her future royal in-laws and her fiancée, awaited her. The design of the gown was one of the “most closely-guarded secrets in fashion history”, with a second decoy gown having been made in case the design of the real dress was leaked ahead of time. The designers also made it as “complicated as possible” so that other designers would have difficulty in copying it, as well as ensuring it was “OTT” enough to make an impact on the steps of St Paul’s. Created from what seemed like acres of ivory taffeta and antique lace, it ended up looking very creased as Diana walked down the aisle on the arm of her father—David and Elizabeth Emanuel, its designers, hadn’t realized that the enclosed space of the Glass Coach would crush the massive gown and train. But the creases have not detracted from the gown’s iconic status. It really was a spectacular creation, and the photos don’t do it justice: only those who saw the dress close-up would have been able to appreciate its intricate embroidery and 10,000 pearls. Plus, there was a secret concealed within the gown: a 10 karat-gold horseshoe studded with diamonds, stitched into the dress’s petticoats for luck.
The train
At a jaw-dropping, sequin-encrusted 25 feet, the train was the longest in royal wedding history.
The veil
A single embroiderer was tasked with creating Diana’s silk-tulle veil, with the designers specifying that its almost-transparent mother-of-pearl sequins should be scattered to create mere “sparkles of light” in order to achieve a “fairy dust effect.”
The jewelry
Diana wore her family’s heirloom tiara, the Spencer tiara, to her wedding. Royal brides usually wear some form of sparkling headpiece because it is not considered proper etiquette for aristocratic women to wear a tiara until they’re married, or on their wedding day. Diana’s brother later said the diamond tiara gave her a headache because she wasn’t used to wearing one at that point. She would go on to wear it multiple times during her time as a member of the House of Windsor. Other than the tiara and her famous sapphire engagement ring, Diana’s only other jewelry was a pair of diamond earrings she borrowed from her mother.
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue?
Diana’s ‘something old’ was an antique piece of Carrickmacross lace, from a piece that belonged to Queen Mary, stitched into the dress. Her ‘something new’ was the incorporation of silk spun at a farm in Dorset. Her ‘something borrowed’ was the Spencer family tiara, and her ‘something blue’ was a tiny blue sewn inside the dress.
Her shoes
Decorated with 542 sequins and 132 pearls, Diana’s wedding shoes also concealed a secret message: a ‘C’ for Charles and a ‘D’ for Diana painted on the sole, along with a loveheart.
The secret umbrella
Not many people know that David and Elizabeth Emanuel also created an elaborate parasol for Diana in case of rain! If it had rained, we would have seen Diana twirling an umbrella-like no other: trimmed with lace, and encrusted with yet more sequins and yet more pearls.
What flowers were in Diana’s bouquet?
Diana’s lavish bouquet was a cascade of gardenias, lily of the valley, Earl Mountbatten roses, freesia, and of course sprigs of myrtle—the tradition of including myrtle in royal bouquets dates back to the wedding of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s eldest daughter. Later, Diana’s bouquet was laid on the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey, as per her request.
How many people watched the wedding?
An estimated 750 million people across the world tuned in to watch Diana and Charles exchange vows.
What modification did Diana make to the traditional wedding vows?
There was something of a scandal in the run-up to the wedding, when it was revealed ahead of time that Diana would not be promising to “obey” Charles according to the traditional vows found in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer, instead promising only to love and cherish him.
What were Charles and Diana’s wedding rings made of?
Both of their rings were crafted from Welsh gold, using a nugget sourced from the Clogau St David’s mine. The tradition of using Welsh gold in royal wedding rings was started in 1923 by the Queen Mother, and persists to this day—both Duchess Kate and Duchess Meghan’s wedding rings are made from Welsh gold.
Who were Charles and Diana’s wedding attendants?
The bride and groom had seven wedding attendants. The bridesmaids were Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, India Hicks, Catherine Cameron, Sarah-Jane Gaselee and Clementine Hambro, while the pageboys were Lord Nicholas Windsor and Edward van Cutsem. Charles’ best men were his brothers Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
What did the guests eat at the wedding reception?
Following the nuptials, the wedding party was conveyed to Buckingham Palace for a wedding breakfast at which brill in lobster sauce, Princess of Wales chicken stuffed with fine lamb mousse, and strawberries with cream were served.
What was the wedding cake like?
More like, what were the wedding cakes like? No fewer than 27 cakes were served at Charles and Diana’s reception. The main one, though, was five feet tall and took bakers 14 weeks to make. It was covered with white icing and decorated with the Windsor and Spencer coats of arms, as well as the couple’s initials.
What did Diana wear on her honeymoon?
When the reception was over, Diana went upstairs to change into her going-away outfit: a peach suit with lace trim and a matching hat, accessorized by one of the pearl chokers that would become her trademark. The outfit was by Bellville Sassoon, who envisioned the suit as a “romantic new bride look.” She and Charles had confetti thrown over them as they were taken away in a carriage that said ‘Just Married’, setting out for Broadlands, where Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip spent their wedding night in 1947. They later embarked on the royal yacht Britannia, and went on a Mediterranean cruise. Check out:Prince William PhotosPrince William Loves His Blue SweaterKate Middleton’s Style EvolutionMeghan Markle Maternity StyleAll About Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Wedding
