Drops of Jupiter

Disney fairytales are watched by adoring eyes of little girls around the world. I for one vividly remember pinning my hair in a Cinderella bun, balancing a book on my head like Belle, and wearing a sparkling mermaid gown to imitate Ariel. These classic cartoons have been adapted into live action films and are an integral part of childhood for many, but the real-life fairytales are far more tragic and complex than the “happily ever after” ending would allude. Princess Diana, the most stunning and adored public figure in history, has a story of adultery, heartache, eating disorders, and an unfaithful prince. Her wedding paradoxically marked the beginning of this beloved tragedy with as much pomp and glamour as Cinderella’s royal wedding.

If you have not hear of Princess Diana’s wedding, you must be living on another planet. Her ceremony was watched by a whopping 750 million people, the most viewed televised event only second to her funeral. The elaborate day did not fail to entertain, either, especially in the grand setting of St. Paul’s Cathedral. In fact, the last royal wedding to take place here dated back to 1501, when Prince Arthur tied the knot with Princess Catherine. The building was a glimpse of heaven, with ceilings that reached the sky, golden arches, angelic paintings, and music that echoed for days. Lady Diana Spencer and her father rode in a glass coach pulled by white horses and British military. I was surprised that the carriage did not transform into a pumpkin once she stepped out!

As Diana did emerge, her dress kept coming like a magician’s scarf and hat trick. The 25 foot ivory train was the longest in royal history, and David and Elizabeth Emanuel labored for months on designing the perfect fairytale dress for the lovely 20-year-old Diana. Her dress, now on display at the Althorp House in Northampton, was made of silk taffeta and antique lace, some of which was once Queen Mary’s. Decorated with 10,000 pearls, sequins, skilled embroidery, dainty bows, and oversized sleeves, she truly imitated a stunning princess. And who would a princess be without her tiara? The Spencer Tiara, a family heirloom, boasted glittering diamonds that accented Diana’s golden hair perfectly. Unbeknownst to most of the wedding guests, the designers hid a 18 karat gold horse shoe in the dress for good luck, which sadly added to the irony of the couple’s downfall.

The fairy dusted veil was hand embroidered by the talented Miss Peggy, who spent two-weeks laboring in secret, often staying up until 5am to complete it. She incorporated 10,000 micro pearls and transparent sequins into the 139 meters of tulle, creating a magical fairy dust effect. The intense curiosity and anticipation of the royal wedding resulted in intrusive reporters who greedily tried to to get knowledge on the designs; thus, the designers had to be sneaky, often leading these writers on false trails so as to make Diana’s entrance more shocking. For Miss Peggy, this meant working alone in her home during holiday to finish the integral part of Diana’s wedding ensemble.

Unfortunately, Diana could not manage to wear glass slippers with all the heavy fabric of her gown, but her white heels were nonetheless stunning. The silk shoes boasted 132 pearls and 542 sequins, and held a special painted message on the heels: “C and D” for Charles and Diana, with a green heart and floral design. Diana was adamant that the heel be small, as her 5′ 10″ stature was exactly Prince Charles’s height. We love tall queens (or in this case, princesses)!

“Here is the stuff by which fairy tales are made- the prince and princess on their wedding day” Reverend Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury declared, his voice echoing through the ages, looming over the perpetual divorce of the royals. On the sunny summer day of July 29, 1981 when Lady Diana Spencer and heir to the throne Princess Charles tied the knot, Diana later declared that this was the worst day of her life.

In her wedding vows, Diana chose to emit the phrase “obey him,” a choice that was radical during the time, as all other royal brides before her said. Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle followed in their mother-in-law’s footsteps, however, and their choice is a wonderful step for feminism and little girls who have always believed the classic plot of the distressed princess who needs saving. Diana is truly the people’s princess, and her $135 million wedding is evidence of that.

Works Cited

Goldsmith, Annie. “Princess Diana’s Wedding Shoes Featured a Secret, Hidden Message.” Town & Country, Town & Country, 30 July 2021, https://www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/a37180441/princess-diana-wedding-shoes-message/. 

Hassan, Jennifer. “Princess Diana’s Wedding Dress – and Its 25-Foot Train – Now on Display at Kensington Palace.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 3 June 2021, https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/06/03/princess-dianas-wedding-dress-its-25-foot-train-now-display-kensington-palace/. 

Magazine, Smithsonian. “14 Fun Facts about Princess Diana’s Wedding.” Smithsonian.com, Smithsonian Institution, 13 Nov. 2020, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/14-fun-facts-about-princess-dianas-wedding-180976284/. 

Newbold, Alice. “The inside Story behind Princess Diana’s Wedding Veil That Was Embellished by a Secret Embroiderer.” British Vogue, British Vogue, 16 May 2021, https://www.vogue.co.uk/fashion/article/princess-diana-wedding-veil. 

“Official Site to Subscribe & Find Great Reads.” Reader’s Digest, 15 Feb. 2022, https://www.rd.com/. 

Vargas, Chanel. “A Look Back at Princess Diana and Prince Charles’s Royal Wedding.” Town & Country, Town & Country, 2 Nov. 2021, https://www.townandcountrymag.com/the-scene/weddings/a18205641/princess-diana-prince-charles-wedding/.