More

David Emanuel Reveals How They Kept Diana's Wedding Dress A Secret (VIDEO)


First Posted: 02/23/11 11:22 AM ET Updated: 05/25/11 07:35 PM ET

David Emanuel, who along with his wife Elizabeth designed Princess Diana's wedding dress, stopped by "The Today Show" on Tuesday to talk about how her gown was made off the media radar.

David revealed, "We hired two security guards to work in 12-hour shifts," referred to Diana using the code name "Deborah," and they held secret fittings and even two dress rehearsals inside the cathedral. "Diana would arrive in a sweatshirt and jeans and I would just tie a bit of cotton 25 foot behind her. And I would say darling, practice walking up and down like that," Emanuel remembered.

Perhaps the most shocking part -- Diana's dress and the bridesmaids' frocks cost $1,700 total. What a steal.

Now, Diana's wedding dress spends its time traveling the globe -- it even swung by "The Today Show" studio.

***For more royal wedding news, visit our Royal Wedding Big News page.***

WATCH:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


FOLLOW HUFFPOST STYLE

David Emanuel, who along with his wife Elizabeth designed Princess Diana's wedding dress, stopped by "The Today Show" on Tuesday to talk about how her gown was made off the media radar. David reve...
David Emanuel, who along with his wife Elizabeth designed Princess Diana's wedding dress, stopped by "The Today Show" on Tuesday to talk about how her gown was made off the media radar. David reve...
Filed by Hilary Moss  |  Report Corrections
 
 
  • Comments
  • 27
  • Pending Comments
  • 0
  • View FAQ
Comments are closed for this entry
View All
Favorites
Recency  | 
Popularity
Page: 1 2  Next ›  Last »  (2 total)
04:09 AM on 03/06/2011
My finance and I are a gay couple fighting for the freedom to marry and have entered a national wedding contest to send a message about the importance of marriage equality. If we win, we'd be the first same-sex couple to win a national wedding contest. The winners are liable for approx. $40,000 in tax liabilities so we are dedicating our savings towards marriage equality. We can't do this without your help, please vote and tell your friends. http://www.ultimateweddingcontest.com/entry/104050
05:28 PM on 02/25/2011
I am so glad she wore her family's Spencer tiara! Perhaps the Middleton's will purchase one for Kate.

AR
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://aestheticusrex.blogspot.com/2010/11/tale-of-tiaras-what-will-queen-bestow.html
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
topkatnc
Give a stray cat or dog a chance .
08:27 PM on 02/24/2011
She made the most beautiful bride .. I still miss her ....
This comment has been removed due to violations of our [Guidelines]
07:48 AM on 02/24/2011
Wow, I would love to be able to even get a dress of my dreams. I have been trying them on and haven't found one I like. That said my budget is quite tiny due to our being in graduate school so that may be why. I am currently in a contest to win a free wedding, though, and voting takes just a moment. I would greatly appreciate it if you want consider taking a moment to vote. http://www.ultimateweddingcontest.com/entry/102414 Simply click vote and then confirm via your facebook or email. It will not spam you, I promise. Thank you so much! In my wildest dreams I would love to get an Alexander McQueen dress. That would be spectacular.
07:41 AM on 02/24/2011
I am in grad school and currently in a contest to win a free wedding. I am hoping that HuffPo readers will consider voting for me. http://www.ultimateweddingcontest.com/entry/102414 You simply click vote and then confirm via facebook or email. It would mean the world to me as I only have a tiny budget for the wedding and do not want to take on debt, but I would love for all my friends and family to be there. I promise it will not spam your account. Thank you so much!
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Lynda Filler
Telling it the way I see it.
11:26 PM on 02/23/2011
For it's time the dress was right. After all, we're talking about the over-the-top Dallas era. Her wedding was fairy-tale perfect, the wedding party was perfect. I so wish she could be here to see her first son married. She would be proud of her boys and I think very pleased with William's choice of Kate.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
IsabelRingin
You can't await your own arrival...
09:37 AM on 02/24/2011
I watched the wedding coverage with my mom and I remember our mutual disappointment when we saw her wedding gown. Even the veil didn't look right. I didn't like it back then and it has not grown on me over time.

But I'm still looking forward to William and Kate's wedding. And I agree with you, I think Diana would be pleased.
photo
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
usamade
05:21 PM on 02/23/2011
Sorry but that was the ugliest wedding gown I've ever seen. Diana was too beautiful to wear such a thing.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Anne Mccormick
11:44 PM on 02/23/2011
yes, i agree with you. but Diana didn't. this is the dress that she wanted.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
llen
11:06 AM on 03/14/2011
I agree that dress was the worst possible for Diana, it swallowed her up. She was so beautiful.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
GraniteSkyline
I wish you happiness!
02:45 PM on 02/23/2011
The worst thing about the dress was the color--it made Diana look washed out. Maybe it looked better in person, but on camera it looked dingy.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
valeskas
catlover/book lover democrat
02:17 PM on 02/23/2011
I hated that dress, it was so ugly. The designer should hide in shame.
This user has chosen to opt out of the Badges program
photo
IsabelRingin
You can't await your own arrival...
01:42 PM on 02/23/2011
I liked Diana and I admired her sense of style. But I did not like that dress at all. I thought the dress wore her instead of the other way around. (Very unusual for Diana). And the "office" hair she wore on her wedding day did not go with the dress.
01:22 PM on 02/23/2011
I loved Diana, but I have grown so tired of the Royals. Some time ago I began to realize they were no better than anyone else. At that point my fascination with the royals became pointless, they have sponged long enough, they should get a jobs like other hard working Brits.....
HUFFPOST COMMUNITY MODERATOR
TXfemmom
Grandma with eye on the future
12:44 PM on 02/23/2011
It was a Princess Dress, but taffeta?  Taffeta always looks like rumpled sheets.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
SonyaInTx
Money doesn't buy class.....
12:33 PM on 02/23/2011
The only thing pretty about that outfit was Diana herself and the Spencer tiara. The dress was awful, even in it's time....
01:11 PM on 02/23/2011
I agree. I remember thinking "UGH!" when I saw the dress. On the other hand, Diana, herself, was absolutely radiant.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
valeskas
catlover/book lover democrat
02:18 PM on 02/23/2011
I guess, the royal family had some rules, how that dress should look. Terrible taste. That dress was even ugly in the 1800's.
photo
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
janibowe
Doubt = the enemy. Flirting = the ultimate weapon.
01:31 PM on 02/23/2011
I second that!
12:29 PM on 02/23/2011
This just released from the "belatedly irrelevant" file...