Diana's 25-Foot Wedding Gown Train: A Royal Record

Princess Diana's wedding dress, worn on July 29, 1981, is a celebrated icon of British royal fashion. The custom ivory silk taffeta gown, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, famously boasted a record-breaking 25-foot train, a dramatic element intended to fulfill a fairytale vision for the princess.

The Emanuels worked secretly with Diana to create the voluminous gown, which featured puff sleeves and a ruffled collar. The exceptional length of its train necessitated it being folded like a bedsheet to fit into the bridal carriage en route to St. Paul's Cathedral. The dress was valued at $114,800 at the time, equivalent to approximately $448,500 today.

After Diana's passing in 1997, her wedding dress, as stipulated in her will, was inherited by her two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. The gown remained under the care of her brother, Charles Spencer, until Prince Harry reached the age of 30. It has been displayed publicly twice, most recently in 2021 at Kensington Palace and previously in 1998 at Althorp, Diana's ancestral home.