Princess Diana’s Wedding Dress Was Such a Big Secret She Had a Code Name

Princess Diana’s wedding gown remains one of the most iconic dresses in history—but behind the silk and sparkle was a level of secrecy fit for royalty. A new documentary, “Secrets of Diana’s Wedding Dress,” airing June 28, uncovers just how far designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel went to keep the now-famous ensemble hidden from the press—and even reveals a surprising style inspiration behind the legendary look.

‘Deborah Cornwall’: The Code Name Behind Princess Diana’s Biggest Fashion Secret

In the lead-up to Diana’s 1981 wedding to Prince Charles, public obsession over the bride’s gown reached a fever pitch. According to People, Elizabeth Emanuel reveals in the new documentary that they used a code name—Deborah Cornwall—for the soon-to-be princess to maintain secrecy during fittings. “When we started to see Diana, we were just very aware of security, so we decided to call her Deborah,” she says. “We called her Deborah Cornwall. Isn’t that strange?”

The alias likely referenced Diana’s expected title at the time—Duchess of Cornwall—though she ultimately became the Princess of Wales. After Diana’s tragic passing and Charles’ later marriage to Camilla Parker Bowles, the title of Duchess of Cornwall would eventually pass to Camilla, who used it until becoming Queen Consort in 2022.

Security was so tight that the Emanuels hired guards and even created a backup wedding dress in case the original design was leaked. “I can’t believe we managed to create the dress in that attic space,” Elizabeth adds in the film, reflecting on the cramped but unforgettable process.

The Princess of Wales Found Inspiration for Her Wedding Dress in an Unlikely Place

While Diana’s wedding dress—made of silk and taffeta with puff sleeves, a ruffled neckline, and a 25-foot train—became instantly iconic, few knew it may have been inspired by a design worn by supermodel Jerry Hall. According to royal artifact collector Alicia Carroll, Hall wore a gown designed by the Emanuels in 1980, just months before Diana commissioned her own.

At a birthday celebration for Queen Elizabeth II, Diana—then dating Charles—reportedly ran up to Hall and gushed, “I love your dress.” That moment stuck with the princess, who later chose the Emanuels as her wedding dress designers.

“Diana could have had her pick of any designer in the world,” Carroll told the Daily Mail. “But she chose these virtually unknown young British designers based on her love for the Jerry Hall gown. The rest is history.”

The two dresses shared notable similarities in fabric, silhouette, and styling. Hall’s original gown, now in the hands of a private collector, is currently listed for $1 million on eBay. Despite some wear, Carroll described it as “an exquisite work of art” with much of its original detailing intact.

Though Diana’s gown now belongs to Prince William and Prince Harry, it has been exhibited at Althorp House and Kensington Palace, continuing to enchant fans around the world. But thanks to “Secrets of Diana’s Wedding Dress,” viewers will now know the extraordinary lengths—and unexpected influences—behind its creation.

“Secrets of Diana’s Wedding Dress” will air on Britain’s Channel 5, a division of Paramount Global, on Saturday at 9 p.m.

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