Designer Elizabeth Emanuel described Diana’s backup bridal ensemble as “similar in certain respects and both had the big skirt, but everything else was different”

Princess Diana had a second backup wedding dress so she could be ready for any possible style scenario as she made her way down the aisle.

Although drawings of the duplicate bridal gown had previously been made public, Elizabeth Emanuel gave Hello! magazine a previously unseen photo of the “spare” garment. In the picture, a woman can be seen altering the outfit as it is placed on a table.

According to Elizabeth, who collaborated with her ex-husband David to design the royal couple’s wedding attire, “The spare wedding gown was manufactured just in case the secret of the original garment ever got out. Thankfully, it was never put to use. The sleeves and hem of the dress had scalloped embroidery. The fabric of the dress was a light ivory silk taffeta. There were tiny pearls sewed onto the bodice.

“People always want to know how it was,” she continued. Although there were some similarities and both featured the large skirt, everything else was distinct.

While Princess Diana married the future King Charles in a dress with puffy sleeves in July 1981, the additional outfit had more fitting sleeves. Both dresses included comparable ruffle elements at the V-necklines and arm openings, while the backup choice was a little more muted.

The dress, which was never finished, was made in case the design was revealed to the media before to the big event. According to Matthew Storey, curator of the Royal Style in the Making exhibition, the designers even went so far as to leave “false trails” in the trash for the media to discover.

The second dress was never even tried on by Princess Diana, and not even the designer is aware of its location right now.

“I have no idea where it went. It simply vanished,” Elizabeth said to Hello!

Princess Diana was dressed in an ivory and silk taffeta gown with vintage lace that was formerly worn by Queen Mary when she exchanged vows at St. Paul’s Cathedral. The longest train ever worn by a British royal bride, it was 25 feet long and had to be folded up like a bedsheet to fit into the carriage.

Diana instructed bridesmaid India Hicks to “do her best” while carrying the train down the aisle because it was so heavy. In 2018, Hicks remarked to Harper’s Bazaar, “We knew what that meant: If we pulled too hard, straightening the material, her tiara and veil would slip.” “But if we didn’t pull hard enough, the effect of the train would be lost.”

A blue bow at the waistband for her “something blue” and a tiny gold horseshoe as a charm were both concealed within the outfit.

Elizabeth later referred to Princess Diana’s handmade tulle veil as having a “fairy dust effect” because it was hand-stitched with 10,000 micro-pearls. Princess Diana also wore it to Vogue U.K.”We used the same sequins on the gown itself so that it would also sparkle as Diana walked down the aisle,” the designer claimed.

The Spencer Tiara from her family, which had previously been worn by Lady Sarah McCorquodale, Lady Jane Fellowes, and Victoria Lockwood, served as the finishing touch for Princess Diana’s bridal ensemble.

The Emanuels took further precautions for the wedding day in addition to having a backup dress. Additionally, they made a backup skirt in case the dress was soiled. (Even though makeup artist Barbara Daly disclosed that Diana unintentionally spilled some perfume on her outfit, it wasn’t used. Daly claims that she instructed her to merely grasp that area of her dress while walking to give the impression that she was elevating the front to avoid stepping on it. Even as she walked up to the altar, the monarch was seen attempting to cover the perfume spill with her hand.)

In case the London weather wasn’t cooperative, a parasol that matched Princess Diana’s outfit was also prepared.