<p id=”par-1_83″>When <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/princess-diana/”>Princess Diana</a> walked down the aisle of St. Paul’s Cathedral to marry Prince Charles on July 29, 1981, in an ivory silk taffeta gown with a dramatic 25-foot train, she cemented her place in bridal and royal fashion history. Designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, the dress was instantly unforgettable. But what many don’t know is that the Emanuels had a secret up their sleeves: a <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/princess-diana-significantly-different-backup-wedding-dress-mysteriously-disappeared.html/”>backup wedding dress</a> made just in case disaster struck that shared stunning parallels with the original.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-princess-diana-s-backup-wedding-dress-was-a-precaution”>Princess Diana’s backup wedding dress was a precaution </h2>
<p id=”par-2_33″>In the high-stakes world of royal weddings, contingencies are key. Fearing that leaks regarding its style or design might compromise <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/princess-diana-wedding-dress-secret-code-name-gown-under-wraps.html/”>Princess Diana’s dress</a>, David and Elizabeth Emanuel quietly created an alternate version. </p>
<p id=”par-3_42″>Diana’s backup gown echoed the drama of the original with the same luxurious ivory silk taffeta fabric and similar romantic ruffled sleeves. It also featured delicate lace and hand embroidery, consistent with the gown that became a symbol of 1980s opulence. </p>
<p id=”par-4_25″>However, unlike the main gown, the second dress didn’t have a train. According to the designers, the backup dress was never completed in full. </p>
<p id=”par-5_33″>The embellishments were still being finalized, and Diana never even tried it on ahead of her big day. After Diana married Prince Charles, the gown faded into obscurity but its legend remained. </p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-the-differences-between-princess-diana-s-original-wedding-dress-and-the-backup”>The differences between Princess Diana’s original wedding dress and the backup </h2>
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<iframe loading=”lazy” title=”The Princess Diana Museum – Princess Diana’s “Back Up” Wedding Dress” width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/3XdBZQNnO1Q?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<p id=”par-6_39″>For years, the existence of Princess Diana’s second wedding dress lingered in royal fashion lore. It wasn’t until decades later that designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel confirmed in interviews that they had created a backup gown as a precaution.</p>
<p id=”par-7_37″>The rarely seen dress resurfaced in the public eye during a 2021 exhibition at Kensington Palace, where a replica of Diana’s iconic gown was on display. The renewed attention on the dress sparked curiosity among royal watchers.</p>
<p id=”par-8_33″>Then, People Magazine unveiled a copy of the backup gown during its 50th anniversary celebration in New York City. This was the first time they had ever shown the dress to the public.</p>
<p id=”par-9_36″>According to <a href=”https://people.com/princess-diana-secret-backup-wedding-dress-recreated-elizabeth-emanuel-exclusive-8623609″ target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>People Magazine</a>, Diana’s spare gown differed notably from the one Diana famously wore on her wedding day. Beyond the absence of that unforgettable 25-foot train, the color was a crisp white rather than ivory.</p>
<p id=”par-10_28″>The backup gown also featured full-length, fitted sleeves that hugged Diana’s arms. This is a stark contrast to the voluminous, romantic puffed sleeves of her main dress. </p>
<p id=”par-11_25″>The second gown had a sleeker and more understated neckline. It lacked the dramatic shoulder silhouette that defined the iconic original and echoed 1980s fashion.</p>
<p id=”par-12_31″>The couple created the dress the public saw to fit the grandeur and history of the event. However, the Emmanuel’s likely never anticipated the impact the gown had on bridal fashion.</p>
<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-dress-designer-elizabeth-emmanuel-revealed-why-there-had-to-be-a-backup-gown”>Dress designer Elizabeth Emmanuel revealed why there had to be a backup gown</h2>
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<iframe loading=”lazy” title=”Wedding of Charles & Diana in 4K | Clip 11 | Charles and Diana kiss on balcony | 1981″ width=”925″ height=”520″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/8jmg69q13Do?feature=oembed” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share” referrerpolicy=”strict-origin-when-cross-origin” allowfullscreen></iframe>
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<div class=”related-article related-article–simple”>
<span class=”related-article-flag”>Related</span>
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<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/princess-diana-never-before-seen-backup-wedding-dress-unveiled.html/”>
Princess Diana’s Never-Before-Seen ‘Backup’ Wedding Dress Unveiled </a>
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<p id=”par-13_47″>With all the excitement surrounding Princess Diana’s wedding to Prince Charles, and the determined nature of the press to grab onto any scrap of information surrounding it, Elizabeth and David Emmanuel created a backup gown. The original gown had a <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/news/princess-diana-wedding-dress-secret-code-name-gown-under-wraps.html/”>code name</a> to further enhance its secrecy.</p>
<p id=”par-14_41″>She told People Magazine, “I was a bit neurotic. I thought, ‘What happens if somebody breaks in and steals the dress or something spills or there’s a fire or it gets stolen?’ So I thought, ‘I’m gonna make a backup dress.’”</p>
<p id=”par-15_50″>Emmanuel added, “When Diana came in for a fitting, there would be hundreds of people outside waiting to spot her. We had to put shutters up on our windows. We used to put bits of fabric, in different colors, in the bins just to throw the journalists off the scent.”</p>
<p id=”par-16_30″>Princess Diana’s second wedding dress is a fascinating piece of bridal history. It may have stayed in the shadows, but it proves that even a Plan B can be breathtaking.</p>