Author: bang3

Prince Harry claimed in his tell-all memoir Spare that the older generation of royals have a “nearly zero-tolerance prohibition on all physical contact”.

“No hugs, no kisses, no pats. Now and then, maybe a light touching of cheeks – on special occasions,” he wrote. The Prince further claimed that his father didn’t hug him after breaking the news that his mother Princess Diana had died in a car crash in 1997, and instead just placed a hand on his knee. He wrote: “What I do remember with stunning clarity is that I did not cry. Not a tear. My father did not hug me.”

However, his assertions have been heavily disputed by those close to the King, while royal watchers have pointed to Charles’ open displays of affection over the years. Robert Jobson, author of Charles’ biography Our King, said the monarch has “always been a pretty good hugger, pretty relaxed about it”.

The royal expert added: “The people around the Royal Family can be strict, but the actual royals themselves have always been fairly relaxed. He [the King] is quite tactile and always has been. He’s got a twinkle in his eye.”

A Palace source further told The Telegraph that Charles “is a genuinely warm and affectionate man who is not embarrassed to express that in a public way. He’s a human and relatable person”. And in her book Charles: Victim or Villain?, Penny Junor also contradicted claims later made by Harry. “He fools around with the boys, they tease each other, laugh, joke, rough and tumble, and even hug and kiss,” she wrote.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s worrying Christmas as threat hangs over Sussexes
Recalling a last dinner party in a hotel restaurant, Junor said that in the middle of the dinner “Harry got to his feet and, in front of a table full of people, made a little speech to thank ‘Papa’ as both boys call him (rhymes with super), for giving him such a wonderful holiday. He then walked smartly up to his father and smothered his face in kisses, until, in mock embarrassment, the prince begged for mercy. It was a touching scene…”

And when William and Harry were small, “one of the biggest problems Charles’ valets had was keeping his suits clean,” Junor claimed. “Whenever Charles arrived home at Highgrove by helicopter, it would land in the front field, where sheep graze. As soon as William and Harry heard it overhead, they could come running out to meet him.

“Once it had landed safely, they would race across the field and jump up into his arms for a hug, smearing one suit after another with the sheep droppings they had trodden in on the way.” While Charles will show most of his physical affection behind closed doors, there have been plenty of instances when it has been captured on camera. Throughout William and Harry’s childhood, he was seen playing with the boys, sharing jokes, and warmly hugging them.

And there are more recent instances. The King was seen bending down to kiss his grandchildren, Prince George, Prince Louis, and Princess Charlotte at the coronation rehearsal at Westminster Abbey. And little Louis famously went to sit on his grandfather’s lap during the Platinum Jubilee, with Charles lovingly wrapping his arms around the little boy.

The King’s affection is not only limited to family members. Earlier this year, a New Zealand women’s rugby player surprised Charles by asking him for a hug at a Buckingham Palace reception. In response, the beaming King said “why not” – and was then warmly mobbed by a group of delighted players.

“It’s cream version but still princess,” Waterhouse wrote below the upbeat montage

By
Janine Henni

Published on August 1, 2024 12:00PM EDT

Suki Waterhouse’s TikTok video; Princess Diana in 1985. Photo: Suki Waterhouse/TikTok; Brendan Beirne/Shutterstock

Suki Waterhouse is channeling Princess Diana’s bold style.

Last week, the 32-year-old actress and singer made a fashion splash on TikTok with a sartorial tribute to the late Princess of Wales. The quick clip showed Waterhouse modeling a whimsical vintage dress by Zandra Rhodes, the same style that Princess Diana wore several times in the 1980s.

“It’s cream version but still princess,” the star captioned the clip of herself laughing and twirling in the drop-waist dress with neutral heels.

The video flashed to throwback photos of Princess Diana in a pale pink version of the frock and was overlaid with audio from The Devil Wears Prada. Waterhouse mimed the dialogue from the 2006 comedy where Anne Hathaway’s character told Emily Blunt’s character, “Yeah, I am” wearing “the Chanel boots” after her makeover. In text displayed on the video, the Daisy Jones & the Six star replaced the movie lines with her own version: “The Zandra Rhodes dress that Diana wore to dinner in Kyoto? Yeah…I am.”

Cardi B Channels Princess Diana in One of the Royal’s Iconic Athleisure Outfits — ‘Shy Di’ Hairstyle and All

The Zandra Rhodes brand confirmed the provenance of Waterhouse’s look on Instagram, explaining that the “it girl” was wearing the label’s “Buttons and Bows” dress from 1986.

The dress came to be after Princess Diana popped into the label’s London shop and was struck by the design for the dress, which was planned to be made in black with a fluorescent pink print. The designer suggested switching the colors to pink and white, and Diana commissioned the combination. It was later made for her following two fittings at her ​​Kensington Palace apartment, and the color scheme and print were kept exclusive to her, Kerry Taylor Auctions reported.

The future King Charles and Princess Diana arrive to attend a state banquet in Kyoto, Japan in May 1986.Anwar Hussein/Getty

The ethereal look with off-the-shoulder neckline, beading and zigzag hem apparently became a favorite in her royal rotation, and the Princess of Wales wore it to a Torvill and Dean party in 1985, an official state visit to Japan with the future King Charles in 1986 and a benefit for the London City Ballet in 1987.

A decade later, the Zandra Rhodes dress was part of the lot at the Christie’s of New York auction Diana held shortly before her tragic death in 1997. In 2011, it changed hands once more and was bought by Historic Royal Palaces for almost $32,000, the Daily Mail reported.

Princess Diana at a Torvill and Dean party in July 1985.Brendan Beirne/Shutterstock

Princess Diana’s Most Glamorous Looks of All Time

The dress was later displayed at Kensington Palace, Princess Diana’s former home in London, for the Fashion Rules exhibit in 2016.

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! 

While speaking to Forbes in 2021, Rhodes reflected on what it was like to work with Princess Diana and the practical mindset she had about how things should fit.

A dress worn by Princess Diana on display at Kensington Palace for the Fashion Rules exhibit.John Stillwell/PA Images/Getty

“She would always check that the dress was not too daring or indiscreet. Especially the skirt as she got out of the car. She said that the photographers would always be there to get the wrong angle!” the designer told the outlet, adding that the royal didn’t need to do much to make an outfit pop.

“She was so natural and beautiful that simple pearls looked fabulous!” Rhodes added about what accessories Diana liked.

The designer, who dressed the late Princess of Wales for her one and only Met appearance, spoke about her Dior look in the new series ‘In Vogue: The 90s’

Princess Diana at the Met Gala in New York City in December 1996. Photo: Anwar Hussein/Getty

Princess Diana had a specific vision for her Met Gala dress in 1996.

In the new Hulu docuseries In Vogue: The 90s, fashion designer John Galliano spoke about the parameters that the late Princess of Wales had when it came time to design her dress for what would become her one and only Met appearance. Galliano was then creative director at Dior and spoke about the magic of being tapped to create a bespoke look for the princess.

“I remember one day we all jumped into this old van, and we went to London, where we met Princess Diana. She’d been invited to the Met, and she would wear one of my dresses,” Galliano said in the first volume of the documentary, which premiered on Sept. 13.

Former British Vogue editor Edward Enninful described the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual benefit as the “most influential red carpet in the world,” raising the stakes for Princess Diana’s fashion statement at the party. Diana made her debut at the Met Gala in New York City in December 1996 with her friend and former Harper’s Bazaar editor Liz Tilberis, and Princess Diana attended just a few months after her divorce was finalized from the future King Charles.

Princess Diana at the Met Gala in New York City in December 1996. Patrick McMullan via Getty Images
The Most Controversial Met Gala Looks of All Time, from Kim Kardashian and Rihanna to Princess Diana

“It was like a blessing. I mean like, wow,” Galliano said in the series. “We went to Kensington Palace and discussed drawings. I was trying to push for pink, but she was not having it. ‘No, not the pink!’ That was real, real fun.”

“So we did the dress and subsequent fittings, and it was beautifully done,” he said of the “correct” construction. “Fast-forward to the event, and I just remember her getting out of the car,” Galliano said — and gasped. “I couldn’t believe it. She’d ripped the corset out.”

“She didn’t want to wear the corset,” he said about the fashion-forward move, in true Diana style. “She felt so liberated. She’d torn the corset out. The dress was much more… sensuous,” he emphasized, recalling her electric ascent up the Met steps.

(From left) John Galliano, Liz Tilberis, Princess Diana, Helene Arnault and Bernard Arnault at the Met Gala in New York City in December 1996.Stephane Cardinale/Sygma via Getty

Princess Diana’s Most Glamorous Looks of All Time

“I mean, wow! Diana was my first couture client,” Galliano said.

The British designer was one of couture’s most influential visionaries through the 1990s and early 2000s, before he upended his career in 2011 following a string of antisemitic and racist incidents. He was fired from Dior as creative director, stepped back from fashion and returned to design for Maison Margiela, holding the post since 2014.

Much has been made of Princess Diana’s fashion splash at the Met Gala in 1996, where she wore a boudoir-like navy silk slip dress with black lace trim from Galliano’s debut couture collection as the creative director of Dior. She completed the look with a matching silk robe-like topper (which she later removed), a statement pearl-and-sapphire choker necklace and the mini navy quilted Dior bag that the label renamed the Lady Dior in her honor.

The late Princess of Wales was known as Lady Diana Spencer before she married the future King in 1981, and the handheld bag became one of her go-to purses.

Princess Diana at the Met Gala in New York City in December 1996.Richard Corkery/NY Daily News via Getty Images

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

During the 1990s, Diana began to experiment more with her style, sporting shorter hemlines and sexier silhouettes. The 1996 Met Gala would ultimately prove to be her only appearance at the event, as she died following a car crash in Paris in August 1997. The late Princess of Wales is remembered as a style icon, and her daughters-in-law Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle continue to take style cues from her today.

“I think all of us were so captivated and fascinated by Princess Diana,” Vogue editor Anna Wintour said in the new docuseries. “At that time, she was the most famous woman in the world. She was enjoying fashion and the spotlight that she put on particularly British designers.”

In Vogue: The ’90s Volume I debuted on Hulu on Sept. 13, and Volume II premieres on Sept. 20.

“I took this beautiful picture,” she says of the shot of “baby Harper cuddling Daddy”

Photo: Courtesy Victoria Beckham

One picture may be worth a thousand words, but Victoria Beckham also had a generous written sentiment to share along with a beautiful new shot of her husband David Beckham and their nearly month-old baby daughter, Harper Seven Beckham.

“I took this beautiful picture and wanted to share it with you, baby Harper cuddling Daddy! x VB,” Victoria Tweeted Sunday morning as she linked to the photo.

The Beckhams had earlier shared a similar shot on Sunday, July 17.

At that time, the proud parents took turns posing with their then-week-old daughter.

RELATED: Meet Harper Seven Beckham

“Daddy’s little girl!” Victoria, 37, captioned a shot of David as he rubbed noses with their baby girl, while David, 36, also snapped a shot of his wife and daughter snoozing, writing, “I took this picture of my two girls sleeping.”

Harper Seven arrived July 10 in Los Angeles to join big brothers Brooklyn Joseph, 12, Romeo James, 8½, and Cruz David, 6½.

The actress and husband Brooklyn Beckham tied the knot in April 2022

Nicola Peltz Beckham. Photo: Max Montgomery

Nicola Peltz Beckham loves that she married a family man.

In a new interview with Nylon, the actress and model, 29, opened up about starting a family with husband Brooklyn Beckham, 24, whom she wed in April 2022.

“I love that he really wants to be a dad,” Nicola told the outlet, also sharing that she wants a big family.

Brooklyn, the son of Victoria and David Beckham, grew up in a big family and is the oldest of four siblings: brothers Romeo, 21, and Cruz, 19, plus little sister Harper Seven, 12. Peltz is also no stranger to big families as she is the youngest of eight.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

Nicola Peltz Beckham.Max Montgomery

Brooklyn Beckham Opens Up About Family Plans with Nicola Peltz: ‘I Could Have Had Kids Yesterday!’

Brooklyn has previously shared his excitement about starting a family, telling PEOPLE in November 2022, “I could have had kids yesterday.”

“Obviously it’s my wife’s body, but I’ve always wanted to have a bunch of kids around. That’s something I really want to do,” he said. “And my dad was young when he had me. He was 23. And I’m 23 now. I’ve always wanted to be a young dad.”

Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz attend the Saint Laurent show during Paris Fashion Week.Swan Gallet/Getty

Earlier this month, Nicola talked about the importance of surrounding herself with family in an interview with Byrdie.

“Family is everything to me, and I mean that with my whole heart,” she shared. “I’m so close to mine and Brooklyn’s family and I think there’s no better feeling than knowing you have a strong support system. It’s such a blessing, and I never take it for granted.”

The fashion designer debuted her new look on Monday, Sept. 2 Instagram post from a family vacation to Las Vegas

From left: Cruz, Victoria, David, Harper and Romeo Beckham. Photo: Victoria Beckham/Instagram

Victoria Beckham’s haircut is giving us some serious nostalgia.

On Monday, Sept. 2, the fashion designer, 50, soft launched her latest hair — a near-shoulder length bob. Victoria showed off her fresh look in an Instagram carousel of photos from a recent trip to Las Vegas to celebrate her son, Romeo Beckham’s 22nd birthday.

In the photo, Victoria poses on what appears to be the Las Vegas Strip with her husband David Beckham as they’re surrounded by three of their children: Romeo, Cruz, 19, and Harper Seven, 13. (The couple’s oldest son, 25-year-old Brooklyn Peltz Beckham, didn’t join his family on the trip.)

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Victoria’s normally long hair now just barely brushes her shoulders. She paired her new style with a simple, strapless black dress for the occasion, while husband David, 49, wore a pink silk button-down shirt with the first few buttons open to reveal his chest. The birthday boy Romeo kept things simple with a black shirt and black pants, while Cruz wore a striped button-down and khaki-colored slacks. Meanwhile, Harper rocked a Bruno Mars T-shirt.

Victoria Beckham Is Getting Her Own Netflix Docuseries (Let’s Be Honest, She Was The Breakout Star of David’s)

The former pop star’s new style is reminiscent of the ’90s-era bob she sported during her time as a member of the iconic group the Spice Girls. In those days, Victoria cut her hair in a true blunt bob that hit just below her chin. She also favored a darker hair color and wore her locks straight, as was in keeping with the trends of the day.

Her new take on the bob is far more modern — while still being trendy. She’s still parting her hair down the middle, but now she’s styling it in soft waves and opting for a few blonde highlights interwoven into her brunette tresses.

Victoria Beckham in 1997.Dave Benett/Getty Images

David Beckham Says Wife Victoria ‘Always Looks Good’: ‘It’s a Problem’

Both then and now, Victoria is a style icon — which is something her husband appreciates about his wife of more than two decades. While speaking at a Bowers & Wilkins event in New York City on Tuesday, Aug. 27, the retired soccer player revealed his wife helps keep him stylish, as well.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

“To be honest, she always looks good. It’s a good problem but it’s a problem,” he said. “She always looks great.”

David added, “She has a huge influence in my style. When I put something on, I know from her reaction whether I need to take it off or whether I need to keep it on.”

The 21-year-old son of David and Victoria Beckham is taking after his ink-covered father by going all in with his body art

Nicola Peltz/Instagra

In early 2021, Beckham got a tattoo of fiancée Nicola Peltz’s late grandmother’s name, Gina, in honor of the actress’s 26th birthday.

Peltz shared a photo of the tattoo, located on Brooklyn’s upper arm, on her Instagram Story with the caption, “best birthday gift.”

02of 15

A Dancer

Brooklyn Beckham/Instagram

This (literally) marked Brooklyn’s 4th tattoo dedicated to his younger sister, Harper Seven. Accompanied by his father, the photographer revisited celebrity favorite Bang Bang Tattoos in New York City to have tattoo artist Mr. K ink the whimsical pointe dancer on the side of his right leg.

03of 15

‘MUM’

Brooklyn Beckham Instagram

Though he missed mom Victoria Beckham’s fall 2018 New York Fashion Week show, he expressed his love and support in another way: a tattoo tribute to his “MUM,” written over a rose-embellished heart.

04of 15

‘buster’

Brooklyn Beckham Instagram

In honor of his longtime nickname, Beckham tattooed “buster” above his belly button — and his father has the same word inked on his neck.

05of 15

‘1975’

Brooklyn Beckham/Instagram

He added a tattoo of his father David Beckham’s birth year on the side of his hand.

06of 15

His Siblings’ Birth Years

Brooklyn Beckham/Instagram

To further express his family love, Beckham had his siblings’ (Romeo, Cruz and Harper) birth years inked above his elbow.

07of 15

Cupid

Doctor Woo/Instagram

The photographer chose a painful spot for this romantic tattoo: his sternum. Doctor Woo hooked him up with the cherub preparing to shoot his arrow.

08of 15

‘brothers in arms’

Brooklyn Beckham/Instagram

Text reading, “brothers in arms” sits beneath the camera on his arm.

09of 15

‘Seven,’ ‘7’ & ‘Mama’s Boy’

Brooklyn Beckham/Instagram

In honor of his father’s soccer jersey number and his sister, Harper Seven, Beckham had “Seven” tattooed on the outside of his wrist, and a numerical seven inked on his left pinky. Sticking to the text theme, he went on to get a tribute to his mother inscribed over his heart. It reads, “Mama’s Boy.”

10of 15

‘Made in England’

Brooklyn Beckham/Instagram

One of Bekcham’s first texted- based additions was the phrase “Made in England” along the outside of his left foot.

11of 15

Rose

Brooklyn Beckham/Instagram

He tapped artist Mark Mahoney for a rose going up his left ribcage.

12of 15

Eagle

Brooklyn Beckham/Instagram

A hand tattoo was a bold choice for a tattoo novice, but clearly Brooklyn is as serious as his dad about his body art, getting a very detailed eagle on his left hand.

13of 15

Compass

Brooklyn Beckham/Instagram

A compass takes up real estate on his left forearm.

14of 15

Camera

Brooklyn Beckham/Instagram

He paid homage to his chosen profession, getting a hyperrealistic camera inked on his inner left bicep by Doctor Woo.

15of 15

Native American Chief

Brooklyn Beckham/Instagram

For his first tattoo, Brooklyn took a cue from his dad, heading to the same artist David Beckham regularly uses, Mark Mahoney, and getting the same controversial image of a Native American chief in a feathered headdress on his forearm.

The model shared an image of the winged cross tattoo on his Instagram story on Thursday

Photo: Romeo Beckham/instagram

Like father, like son! Romeo Beckham showed off his new tattoo featuring a cross and angel wings that is just like his father David Beckham’s own body art.

The model, 19, debuted two new tattoos on his Instagram story on Thursday. He posted one picture of his neck and another of his hand featuring a bird with the phrase, “Lead with love” below it.

Romeo shouted out celebrity tattoo artist Dr. Woo for inking him once again, writing “@_DR_WOO_ MASTERPIECE ONCE AGAIN.”

His father has more than 60 tattoos, one of which is Romeo’s name which is located just under the soccer star’s crucifix, according to Men’s Health.

Ira L. Black/Getty
Whoa, Nelly! David Beckham Gets Another Tattoo On His Neck

This is not the first time that the father-son duo has taken style inspiration from each other.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE‘s free weekly newsletter to get the biggest news of the week delivered to your inbox every Friday.

Last year, Romeo posted a photo on Instagram of himself and his father relaxing on a couch while sporting matching bleached hair.

He captioned the image with a simple black heart emoji while his mom also posted the image, writing, “Family time @davidbeckham @romeobeckham x.”

The former soccer star — who famously sported bleached blonde hair in the late 1990s — teased Romeo about his choice of hairstyle in July.

David Beckham Jokes About Sons Romeo, 18, and Cruz, 16, Copying His ’90s Hairstyle

In July, he posted an Instagram photo with Romeo and his brother Cruz, and wrote in the caption, “Sometimes the boys need reminding who did it first in the 90’s by the look on their faces they are not to pleased about it  #DadDidItFirst  @joshwoodcolour  @romeobeckham @cruzbeckham “

Eddie Keogh/getty

Romeo has since ditched the blonde hairdo and gone back to his roots with a brown buzz cut.

In November, he made his red carpet debut with girlfriend Mia Regan at British Fashion Awards after two years of dating.

The dress by Jacques Azagury, once owned by PEOPLE, was first worn by Princess Diana during a 1985 visit to Italy

The allure of Princess Diana is still strong, as proven by the hefty price tag attached to the royal’s latest dress up for auction.

Julien’s Auctions announced on Sunday that Princess Diana’s ballerina-length evening dress by Moroccan-British fashion designer Jacques Azagury that she wore in Florence, Italy in April 1985 and again to the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra in 1986, along with a matching illustration, sold for $1,148,080. The winning bid was 11 times its original estimate of $100,000.

The identity of the buyer is unknown.

The sale shatters the previous world record for the most expensive dress worn by Princess Diana to be auctioned. The previous record was set earlier this year when her purple evening dress by designer Victor Edelstein sold for $604,800.

According to Julien’s Auctions, “The dress with padded shoulder pads features a black velvet bodice with embroidered stars in metallic thread made from Jakob Schlaepher fabric with a two-tier royal blue organza skirt with a sash and bow. The ballerina skirt was the perfect nod to Diana’s love of dance and her being a patron of The English National Ballet.”

The dress was once owned by PEOPLE, purchased for $26,450 at the Christie’s of New York auction that Diana held shortly before her tragic death in 1997. PEOPLE loaned the ensemble to Kensington Palace for the “Fashion Rules” exhibit in 2013.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles in April 1985.Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty

Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton Were Encouraged to Dress Like Princess Diana, New Book Claims: ‘Diana Cosplay’

In addition to the Azagury dress, a blush pink chiffon Emanuels blouse worn by Diana in her 1981 engagement portrait sold in the same auction for $381,000, nearly four times its original estimate of $80,000.

Princess Diana wore numerous dresses by Azagury in her life. Recently, five glamorous evening gowns identical to the ones designed by Azagury and worn by Diana were sold to a private collector in Los Angeles for an undisclosed sum.

Princess Diana in Florence in April 1985.Georges De Keerle/Getty

“The whole collection means a lot to me, and the only reason I am selling them is because as of five weeks ago, I retired,” Azagury recently told PEOPLE. “I really wanted people to keep enjoying these iconic dresses and ideally to keep the whole collection together.”

The retired designer added that Princess Diana was “always very excited by fashion, and she knew she would please so many people just waiting for her to come out in the next dress, whether they were waiting in the streets or watching her on the television. She took a long time making sure that everything was just right, choosing the right shoes and jewelry.”

Princess Diana’s dress displayed at Kensington Palace in 2013.John Stillwell/PA Images via Getty

How Kate Middleton’s Power Pantsuit Era Nods to Princess Diana: ‘She’s Transforming Before Our Eyes’

While Azagury is happy to share the dresses with the public, some of which come with sketches and personal handwritten notes from Princess Diana, he has held some sentimental items back for himself.

“One of the most precious things that I have is a framed picture that the princess sent me the morning she was leaving for France, from which she never returned,” he said.

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Princess Diana and Prince Charles in April 1985.Anwar Hussein/WireImage

Azagury arrived at his shop to find a member of her staff waiting with a parcel. “Inside was a framed picture of Diana wearing three of the famous five dresses, with a message saying; ‘To Jacques, lots of love Diana’ — that I will be keeping all for myself,” he said.

Elizabeth Emanuel tells PEOPLE her project big project is the “sequel” Princess Diana’s bridal style

Princess Diana’s wedding dress designer is going to “climb back into the time machine” and make a modern version of the iconic bridal gown the late Princess of Wales wore to marry the future King Charles in 1981.

“I’m going to try and capture the spirit of the original — but through my eyes now,” Elizabeth Emanuel tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week’s issue. “I want to preserve all the sparkles and pearls but with a completely different vision.”

The designer adds of the “sequel” to the original gown, “It’s a really exciting thing because I often get asked, ‘Would you do the same dress again?’ Well, I wouldn’t change a thing on the dress in 1981, but if I was looking at it through my eyes now, there’s so many possibilities.”

Elizabeth and her former husband David famously made the ivory wedding dress that Lady Diana Spencer wore for her royal wedding at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London on July 29, 1981, which instantly defined a decade of style. All eyes were on the royal bride, whose gown featured a ruffled collar, puffed sleeves, a voluminous skirt and a show-stopping 25-foot train.

Elizabeth Emanuel (right) helps straighten out Princess Diana’s wedding dress on July 29, 1981.Ted Blackbrow/Daily Mail/Shutterstock
Princess Diana’s Wedding Dress Secrets: Fake Clues, Hiccups and Hidden Touches by the Designers

Unbeknownst to the 20-year-old bride and the millions watching on television, the Emanuels crafted a second dress as a precautionary measure.

“I was a bit neurotic, and I thought, ‘What happens if somebody breaks in and steals the dress or something spills or there’s a fire or it gets stolen?’ ” Elizabeth says. “So I thought, ‘I’m gonna make a backup dress.’ “

Inspired by a pink gown that she and David made for Diana to wear at a private ball a few days before her royal wedding, Elizabeth got to work. The extra dress differed from Diana’s iconic bridal gown, notably lacking a long train. The silk was white, “not the deep ivory that the royal wedding dress was made of” and while the actual wedding dress had puffed sleeves, Elizabeth says the backup had “slim ones, more fitted to her arms” with frilly cuffs.

Elizabeth Emanuel at her London studio with the recreated spare Princess Diana wedding dress on March 7, 2024.Lauren Fleishman; Hair & Makeup: Graziella Cawthorne Vella

As for the fabric, Elizabeth hand-embroidered the intricate designs on the dress Diana wore, while the material for the backup was used ready-made.

The spare dress was never finished, and the designer isn’t sure what became of it. Today, the 70-year-old London-based creative has reproduced it for a special reason: to exhibit at the virtual Princess Diana Museum.

“We never got to see that dress on Diana and thought it would be lovely to envision it,” says Renae Plant, the museum’s director and curator. “You cannot put a price tag on history,” she adds of the acquisition for an undisclosed sum.

Elizabeth Emanuel and Princess Diana at Kensington Palace in August 1986.Tim Graham/Getty Images
Princess Diana’s Most Glamorous Looks of All Time

As nerves mounted in the run-up to her wedding day, Diana found the design studio to be an “oasis of peace,” Elizabeth says.

“She would go upstairs and chat with all the seamstresses. She loved browsing through the rails because this was a new world for her,” the designer says.

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Princess Diana and Prince Charles after their wedding on July 29, 1981.Terry Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty

Princess Diana’s relationship with Elizabeth and David began shortly after they provided a blouse for a photo shoot marking the royal’s engagement to Prince Charles in February 1981. A month later, Diana was a vision in a black strapless gown created by the couple, prompting her to set the husband and wife design team on the path to stardom.

“She said, ‘Would you do me the honor of making my wedding dress?’ ” recalls Elizabeth, who was in a fitting with another bride when Diana rang. “It was hard to control myself.”