Undoubtedly, Princess Diana's wedding dress holds a prominent place in history as one of the most renowned gowns of all time. However, true to her style icon status, the late Princess had an alternative option or what could be referred to as a “spare” dress.
Elizabeth Emanuel, alongside her ex-husband David, was responsible for designing both of Diana's dresses. Recently, Elizabeth shared a previously unseen photograph of the backup gown with Hello! magazine. While sketches of this additional dress had been disclosed before, this is the first glimpse we have received of the actual garment. In the photo, Elizabeth can be seen meticulously working on a stitch while the dress drapes across a table.
“The spare wedding gown was created as a precautionary measure in case any details about the real dress were ever revealed. Fortunately, it remained unused,” explained Elizabeth in her conversation with Hello!. She elaborated that this secondary creation featured delicate ivory silk taffeta adorned with embroidered scalloped accents on its hem and sleeves. The bodice was embellished with tiny pearls.
As depicted in the sketches provided earlier, this alternate gown mirrored Diana's primary dress by showcasing frilly and ruffled elements. It boasted a V-neckline, quarter-length sleeves, and an opulent ballgown skirt—similar features to those present in her chosen ensemble. “People often inquire about their resemblance,” she continued sharing. “While certain aspects were alike and both possessed voluminous skirts, everything else differed significantly. Essentially, it served solely as backup.”
Elizabeth further added that “[Diana] requested utmost secrecy regarding its existence—a request we diligently honored throughout.” However due to substantial curiosity surrounding Diana's black evening gown worn prior to her nuptials – which led media outlets to question who designed her bridal attire – they were compelled to disclose information regarding their involvement at that time.
The secondary outfit existed purely as an alternative safeguard if any information regarding Diana's primary dress were to be exposed, and it was never finalized. Princess Diana did not even try it on, and its current whereabouts remain unknown. “I have no knowledge of its whereabouts,” Elizabeth admitted. “It simply vanished.”
According to People magazine, the dress that Princess Diana ultimately walked down the aisle in was crafted from silk taffeta and lace previously worn by Queen Mary (Queen Elizabeth's grandmother). Notably, her iconic train measured an astonishing 25 feet long—the longest ever worn by a royal bride.