Declared the "most closely guarded secret in fashion history," Princess Diana's wedding dress was a complete mystery until its dramatic unveiling at the royal ceremony. Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.
Diana’s dress had a 25-foot train. It was designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel and had a 25-foot train, the longest train in royal wedding history. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will marry at St George’s Chapel, Kensington Palace, in front of 600 guests on Saturday, May 19.Harry is sixth-in-line to the throne and, unlike his mother’s wedding to Prince Charles or his brother Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton, his ceremony will be a smaller affair with no obligation to invite heads of states.Lady Diana Spencer married the Prince of Wales in a lavish ceremony attended by 3,500 people at St Paul’s Cathedral in London.It was billed as a fairytale wedding and Diana’s extravagant ivory silk taffeta dress mirrored the occasion.Designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, the 1980s billowing gown became famous for its huge puffed sleeves and extra-long train that failed to fit inside the carriage.How long exactly was Princess Diana’s wedding train?The dress’s 80s flamboyance has since divided people, although design makers of the time were in huge demand to create replicas for ordinary people getting married.Meghan’s dress train is unlikely to be as long as Diana’s because St George’s Chapel is physically far smaller than St Paul’s, being able to seat only 800 guests, and she may prefer a more modest look.The bookies’ favourite is currently Australian brand Ralph and Russo, with 1/4 odds according to Ladbrokes.In second place is Erdem with 2/1 odds and Christopher Bailey is in third with odds of 3/1.Ralph and Russo is run by husband and wife team Tamara Ralph and Michael Russo.Based in Mayfair, the upmarket brand is known for its fairytale designs featuring intricate embroidery and beading.A visitor to Joel & Sons Fabrics, which has a royal warrant for fabrics, spotted lengths of silk labelled Ralph & Russo a few weeks ago.They said: “My mother and I were at Joel & Sons a few weeks ago and we spotted and took pictures of three rolls of silk labelled to be sent to Ralph & Russo.“We believe these rolls of silk may have been bought to do the dress because one of the owners of Joel & Sons told us that designers tend to purchase fabric from them when it is for a specific reason, as opposed to when creating a collection.”Although Joel & Sons Fabrics declined to comment, the accidental reveal could be the best indication yet that Meghan has opted for a more elaborate dress.One wedding dress expert, Tori Allen, believes Meghan has entrusted Ralph & Russo with the biggest dress of her life – and will got for a “super long train” like Diana.Tori Allen told USA Today: “My prediction is a Ralph & Russo gown: my prediction is this gown is going to be lightly embroidered and beaded like almost a light, organic-looking lace because she liked that top of that other dress so much but I see it being all over the whole dress.“Super long train, wispy long veil, and I hope she knocks my socks off.”She added: ”The bodice is lined and then the neck comes to more of a jewel neck because she does have to be covered getting married in the church. On the day of her wedding, Princess Diana accidentally spilled some Quelques Fleurs perfume on her dress, her makeup artist Barbara Daly revealed in The media was all over the Emanuels' design studio following the announcement that they would be in charge of Princess Diana's dress.