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Elizabeth Emanuel made her mark with Princess Diana’s wedding gown, and now her remaking of the spare bridal dress is set to be on show in a virtual museum

Elizabeth Emanuel poses with her recreated spare wedding dress for Princess Diana in London on March 7, 2024. LAUREN FLEISHMAN; HAIR & MAKEUP: GRAZIELLA CAWTHORNE VELLA. Photo: Lauren Fleishman

The remaking of Princess Diana’s backup wedding dress is part of a desire to “preserve history” that might have been lost if Elizabeth Emanuel hadn’t recreated it — that’s the view of the woman who commissioned the designer to make the gown and now has it for her museum.

Renae Plant, director and curator of the virtual Princess Diana Museum, won’t say how much she paid for the recreated bridal gown, which Emanuel recently shipped to its new home in California.

“You cannot put a price tag on history,” Plant tells PEOPLE. “Preserving history is really important. It’s like pieces of art.”

Indeed, Emanuel — who created the famous gown for the then-Lady Diana Spencer for her 1981 marriage to the future King Charles — unlocked some of that history by unveiling part of the missing jigsaw in the royal wedding story by making a replica of what the spare dress for Diana.

Elizabeth Emanuel’s recreated Princess Diana backup wedding dress photographed in March 2024.Lauren Fleishman
Princess Diana’s Wedding Dress Designer Elizabeth Emanuel to Design Modern Interpretation of Iconic Gown (Exclusive)

Plant says “secrecy” was the underlying guiding principle at the time — and Emanuel wanted the alternative as a precautionary measure.

“It was there in case word got out about the first dress,” Plant explains. “Part of what is special too is that it hasn’t been seen in public, and now we get to preserve it and show it to the world.”

Plant, whose museum “weaves through Diana’s life from her childhood to her tragic passing,” is in a good position to assess where Emanuel — as well as the designer’s former partner and fellow Princess Diana wedding dress creator David — fit into the royal story.

“I think they won the lotto when they got the commission,” she tells PEOPLE. “It put them on the map together and that’s how they became well known around the world —designing the most famous dress worn by the most famous woman in the world. And that legacy continues.”

She adds, “To be part of that special day is a huge honor, and they should both be so proud. And you can never take that away from them.”

Princess Diana and Prince Charles on their wedding day in July 1981; Elizabeth Emanuel.Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images; Hoda Davaine-Dave Benett/Getty Images

The making of the new replica white silk gown followed another commission that Emanuel carried out for Plant: a recreation of a fuchsia gown originally created by the Emanuels for Princess Diana. She wore it at a ball in the days before her historic wedding. In fact, parts of that pink gown provided the inspiration for the back-up wedding dress.

“It was very dramatic for that time,” Plant says of the pink gown. “It would be lost in history unless Elizabeth told that through her dressmaking.”

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Elizabeth Emanuel’s scrapbook of sketches and images of the making of Princess Diana’s dress in London on March 7, 2024.Lauren Fleishman
Princess Diana’s Wedding Dress Secrets: Fake Clues, Hiccups and Hidden Touches by the Designers

The virtual museum “weaves through Diana’s life from her childhood to her tragic passing” through clothing as well as capturing the “intricate parts, the letter writing and gift giving Diana used to do,” Plant adds.

Last year, Plant acquired five glamorous evening gowns, identical to the ones designed by Jacques Azagury and worn by Diana during her latter years. The dresses are “twins” of the originals worn by the Princess and include the iconic black halterneck dress she wore to a charity gala on the night that her controversial Panorama interview was broadcast in 1995.

For Emanuel, 70, her newly made dress brings back memories of her special client, Diana. She recalls the excitement — and intense pressure — that mounted in the run-up to the big day on July 29, 1981.

Diana, Emanuel says, found the designers’ studio to be an “oasis of peace” away from the hubbub and excitement. “[Diana] would go upstairs and chat with all the seamstresses. She loved browsing through the rails because this was a new world for her.”

“I don’t think she’d been particularly into fashion before she met us,” the designer adds.

Princess Diana’s casual wardrobe included a sweater collection like no other royal, ranging from belted turtlenecks to comfortable cardigans

Princess Diana. Photo: Getty

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Princess Diana. Princess Diana Archive/Getty

Princess Diana’s black sheep sweater, which she wore to two polo matches in the 1980s, sent a clear message of how she felt as part of the royal family. (And now the sweater is making a comeback for the new generation!)

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Before Diana married Prince Charles, sweaters (like this purple sweater vest) were a part of her wardrobe as a kindergarten assistant.

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Ahead of their royal wedding, Princess Diana posed for a photo with Prince Charles at Balmoral wearing a pink patterned pullover with trousers and boots.

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Princess Diana cozied up in fun sweaters, like this jumper depicting a koala, while pregnant.

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The royal mom put her own spin on a white turtleneck sweater by cinching it at the waist.

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The royal wrapped up in a white cardigan sans buttons over a pink dress for a 1984 polo match.

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Princess Diana had the perfect practical accessory at a polo game in 1985, casually tying a red sweater (which complemented her floral pants and matched her shoes) over her shoulders.

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During a school run for son Prince William, Diana opted for a blue patterned pullover that she cinched at the waist with a wide belt.

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Princess Diana and Prince William. Getty

Sweaters were a key piece of Diana’s mom wardrobe, like this red cardigan she wore while doing a puzzle at home with William.

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For some outdoor play time with a young Prince Harry, Diana wore a pink knit over a white shirt and gingham pants.

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Diana with William and Harry. Getty

Princess Diana’s polo sweater was the perfect cover-up for a plane ride with her two sons.

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For a family portrait (including a cute pup!), Diana coordinated her blue skirt with an oversized cardigan.

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For Prince Harry’s first day of school, she wore a red skirt and coordinating knit.

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Diana chose a navy cardigan with horizontal white stripes for a school run in 1989.

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Prince William, Princess Diana and Prince Harry. Getty

Princess Diana had a laugh with sons William and Harry during a ski holiday, riding in a sleigh wearing a pink V-neck sweater over a white turtleneck.

Princess Diana’s sweater style is inspiring a new generation

Princess Diana’s fashion icon status is as clear as ever — and now her famous styles can be in anyone’s closet.

Rowing Blazers, the vintage-inspired New York brand that counts Timothée Chalamet and Russell Westbrook as fans, is launching its first women’s collection — and they’ve looked to the Princess of Wales as inspiration.

In addition to 1980s Diana-influenced hats, blazers and bike shorts, Diana’s iconic sweaters — often with a not-so-hidden message — are making a comeback. The collection even revives the “black sheep sweater,” collaborating with original designers Sally Muir and Joanna Osborne.

Princess Diana. Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty; Rowing Blazers
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“Diana was the first member of the royal family that we can remember who had any interest in fashion at all,” the designers tell PEOPLE. “She had a much more adventurous and youthful style than what we were used to in our royalty, and she took an obvious delight in clothes and wore them with terrific style.”

They add, “It’s a delight for us to see a new generation enjoying something we made many years ago and adapting it to a new fashion era.”

Princess Diana’s relaunched black sheep sweater. Rowing Blazers

Since Diana never visited their London shop, Warm and Wonderful, Muir and Osborne believe the sweater, which the royal wore to polo matches in the 1980s, was a gift.

“We always knit things we would like to wear ourselves,” Osborne told PEOPLE about the best-selling item in 1983.

Though copied, Osborne and Muir (now both fine artists) have not produced the original sweater pattern since 1994. With a collaborative label, Warm and Wonderful for Rowing Blazers, the famous sweater that is intrinsically tied to Princess Diana is finally back.

Princess Diana. Princess Diana Archive/Getty

Prince Charles, Sarah Ferguson and Princess Diana. Jayne Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty
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Princess Diana also made a statement with a soft pink and white sweater with the cryptic phrase “I’m a luxury” blocked out across the front. Now, British designer George Hostler and his compatriot Gyles Brandreth — a writer, broadcaster and sometime member of British Parliament — have brought back the design for Rowing Blazers’ inaugural women’s collection.

Princess Diana’s relaunched “I’m a Luxury” sweater. Rowing Blazers

“Diana loved Gyles and George jumpers. I know because she told me,” Brandreth tells PEOPLE. “She wore them because they stood out from the crowd, and she liked that. They suited her classy, confident, colorful style. She liked them too because they were witty — and she liked to laugh.”

When deciding to launch the Gyles and George label in 2020, Brandreth says the “I’m a Luxury” knit was a key element.

“It was always one of our favorites and so completely Diana at her laidback smart-casual best,” he says.

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The collection is made entirely in Great Britain, Europe and the United States. The sweaters will retail for $295, with other pieces in the collection ranging from $48 to $795.

“I call it the dress that never was,” designer Elizabeth Emanuel, who recently recreated the spare gown, tells PEOPLE

Princess Diana had no idea that the design team behind her royal wedding gown secretly created a second look for the wedding of the century.

The late Princess of Wales instantly made fashion history when she climbed the steps of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London to marry Prince Charles on July 29, 1981, her majestic wedding dress with a 25-foot train. But unbeknownst to the royal bride and the millions watching the fairy tale unfold on television, Elizabeth and David Emanuel crafted a backup bridal gown for any unforeseen circumstances.

“Neither of us wanted to worry her. It was a complete secret,” Elizabeth tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week’s issue.

The 70-year-old designer, who is based in London and continues to create couture, says she made the spare dress out of an abundance of caution before the big day.

“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.’ “

Elizabeth Emanuel with a recreation of the spare wedding dress in 2024; Princess Diana on her wedding day in July 1981.Lauren Fleishman; PA Images/Getty Images
Princess Diana Almost Called Off Wedding to Prince Charles But Her Dad Changed Her Mind, New Book Claims

The spare gown greatly differed from Diana’s iconic bridal gown, notably lacking the long train. “It’s what made the dress so spectacular — it’s larger than life,” Elizabeth says of the fashion statement.

The second dress’ silk was also white, “not the deep ivory that the royal wedding dress was made of” and featured “slim” sleeves “more fitted to her arms” with frilly cuffs, in a tweak from the puff sleeves on Princess Diana’s gown. Elizabeth further hand-embroidered the designs on the dress Diana wore, while the fabric for the backup was ready-made.

The design itself was inspired by a pink gown that the Emanuels created for the bride to wear at a private ball a few days before her wedding, though the spare was never finished.

“I just thought, ‘If anything happens we’ll finish it off and have it ready,’ ” says Elizabeth, adding that “it likely ended up on some sample rail. It probably got reused, torn up, thrown out, who knows?”

“I call it the dress that never was,” she says.

Elizabeth Emanuel’s recreated version of Princess Diana’s backup wedding dress.Lauren Fleishman
Princess Diana’s Wedding Dress Secrets: Fake Clues, Hiccups and Hidden Touches by the Designers

After scouring old sketches and thumbnails from an old documentary, the designer reproduced the backup bridal gown she made with her former husband for a unique purpose: presentation 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 the museum’s director and curator Renae Plant, who acquired the recreated piece for an undisclosed sum. “You cannot put a price tag on history.”

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Princess Diana and Prince Charles after their royal wedding on July 29, 1981.Shutterstock

Over 40 years ago, Elizabeth says that the future Princess Diana found the studio to be an “oasis of peace” amid the excitement and mounting pressure leading up to her royal wedding day.

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

As the reimagined backup is readied for shipment to California, Elizabeth reflects on the royal wedding day moment she and David helped Diana before she moved into her awaiting carriage.

“We could hear the people outside cheering. Everybody was happy and smiling,” she says. “It really was a fairy-tale wedding. “

Princess Diana and Prince Charles on their wedding day in July 1981.Terry Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty

Next on Elizabeth’s list is creating a modern reinterpretation of Princess Diana’s original wedding dress, which was most recently displayed at Kensington Palace in 2022, on loan from her sons Prince William and Prince Harry.

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

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’

By
Janine Henni

Janine Henni

Janine Henni is a Royals Staff Writer for PEOPLE Digital, covering modern monarchies and the world’s most famous families. Like Queen Elizabeth, she loves horses and a great tiara moment.

People Editorial Guidelines

Published on September 18, 2024 01:13PM EDT

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
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“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

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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.

Photo: KIM KULISH/AFP ; Aaron Rapoport/CORBIS OUTLINE/Corbis

Dodi Fayed and Princess Diana were one of the most high-profile couples in the world at the time of their tragic deaths in 1997 — but the People’s Princess wasn’t the only love Dodi knew in his life.

Before dating Diana, Dodi was in a relationship with American-born model Kelly Fisher. In The Crown season 5, Erin Richards plays Kelly, with the Netflix drama depicting her in a romance with Dodi, much to the chagrin of his father, Mohamed Al-Fayed. Richards reprises her role in season 6 of the series, where she confronts Dodi as he continues his alleged affair with the princess.

In real life, most people didn’t know about Kelly and Dodi’s romance until it ended, largely because it ended quite acrimoniously.

So who is the woman who stole Dodi’s heart, however briefly, before he romanced the then-Princess of Wales? Here’s everything to know about Kelly Fisher and her relationship with Dodi Fayed.

Kelly Fisher was a successful model

Steve Parsons – PA Images/PA Images

Kelly was born in Louisville, Kentucky, where she and her family lived for several years before they relocated to Toronto for her father’s job, she told Aiken Woman.

She was discovered as a teen in Toronto and began modeling while on summer breaks from school. After high school, Kelly went to college for two semesters before dropping out to focus on modeling full-time. Her modeling career highlights include the cover of Marie Claire, as well as for brands including Armani, La Perla and Victoria’s Secret.

Kelly Fisher claimed she and Dodi Fayed were engaged when he and Princess Diana started dating

Kelly met Dodi Fayed in July 1996 while they were both in Paris, and they got together quickly. Kelly later alleged that Dodi started romancing Princess Diana just as speedily, and claimed that there was a significant overlap between her relationship with Dodi and his and Diana’s courtship. Vanity Fair reported that Kelly would wait for Dodi on one of his yachts while he cavorted with the Princess of Wales on another yacht.

Kelly reportedly didn’t know that Dodi was actually having an affair with Diana until The Sunday Mirror published photos of the pair kissing. According to Kelly’s attorney, Kelly and Dodi were slated to marry on Aug. 9, 1997 — and Dodi gave her a large sapphire and diamond engagement ring.

Dodi Fayed’s family denied he was ever engaged to Kelly Fisher

According to Vanity Fair, Dodi’s father, Mohamed Al-Fayed, slammed Kelly as a “hooker” and a “gold digger.” In a report from The Irish Times, a spokesman for Dodi’s family denied he had ever proposed marriage to Kelly but did concede that Dodi knew her.

Kelly’s mother, Judith Dunaway, stood by the model, saying that Dodi asked for permission to marry Kely in November 1996 when the couple attended Kelly’s sister’s nuptials. Dunaway told the press (via The Los Angeles Times), “No one’s daughter deserves to be treated as my daughter was. Kelly loved him, trusted him and has been treated very cruelly by him. Dodi Fayed should be ashamed.”

Kelly Fisher sued Dodi Fayed for ending their engagement and getting together with Princess Diana

KIM KULISH/AFP via Getty

Days after The Sunday Mirror published photos of Dodi and Diana, Kelly enlisted attorney Gloria Allred and sued Dodi for breach of contract, alleging that his leaving her for Princess Diana violated their marriage agreement. In her lawsuit, Kelly claimed that Dodi offered her $500,000 to ditch her modeling career to spend more time with him, but that he only gave her $60,000 and a $200,000 check that bounced; Kelly’s suit sought the remaining $440,000 of the alleged balance, plus damages.

During an August 1997 press conference, a tearful Kelly looked on as Allred told reporters, “Mr. Fayed needs to take responsibility for the woman that he ‘left at the altar’ and treated with such total disrespect. He threw her love away in a callous way with no regard for her whatsoever.”

At the press conference, Kelly invited Princess Diana to meet with her to discuss their respective romances with Dodi. The Princess of Wales never responded to the invitation. At the time, a rep for the Fayed family told The Associated Press (via The Los Angeles Times), “We are content to leave it to the good sense of the British and American people to judge this development for what it is.”

Kelly Fisher dropped the lawsuit against Dodi Fayed after his death

Just days after Kelly announced she was suing Dodi, Dodi and Princess Diana died in a Paris car crash following a paparazzi chase — then Kelly and Allred dropped the lawsuit.

Allred said in a statement at the time, “Out of respect for the tragedy, and tremendous loss the Fayed family has suffered, she has authorized me as her attorney, to dismiss her lawsuit against Mr Fayed. Although she does have the legal right to pursue the lawsuit against his estate after his death, she has voluntarily chosen not to exercise that right.”

She continued in part, “Kelly loved Dodi very much, and she is devastated by his loss, and that of Princess Diana. Nothing is more important than the life of a human being. In the light of this enormous tragedy, Kelly forgives Dodi for all of his past injustices against her.”

Kelly Fisher didn’t go to Dodi Fayed’s funeral

Kelly didn’t attend Dodi’s funeral on Sept. 1, 1997. Allred told the media that Kelly wanted to attend her ex’s memorial services, but that it “happened so fast” that Kelly could not fly to London in time.

Phone recordings of Dodi Fayed and Kelly Fisher were made public after he died

Netflix

Kelly participated in the inquest into Princess Diana’s death, and in 2008, transcripts of heated phone calls between Kelly and Dodi became public. In the conversations, she accuses Dodi of two-timing her and Princess Diana, saying, “You even flew me down to St. Tropez to sit on a boat while you seduced Diana all day and f— me all night.” She also told Dodi in one call, “You are f—crazy. We were together the whole time. And you knew it.”

Per the transcripts, Dodi repeatedly tried to end the conversation, calling Kelly “hysterical,” saying they were broken up when he was with Diana and accusing her of totaling his $50,000 car, which she denied.

Kelly Fisher married a pilot

In 2007, Kelly met pilot Mikhail Movshina while they were both on a safari in the Central African Republic. She told Aiken Woman in 2014, “He was working with the government to stop the Sudanese poachers from slaughtering the elephants for their tusks.”

After Movshina’s work in Africa ended, he and Kelly lived together in Paris and then in the Swiss Alps. In 2010, upon learning she was pregnant, she and Movshina moved to Aiken, South Carolina, to be closer to her family. She and Movshina still reside in Aiken, along with their daughter, Alexandra, who was born in 2011.

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

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.”

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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.

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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 upcoming season of the hit Netflix drama will feature the moment the Princess of Wales stepped out onto a minefield in Angola in 1997

Princess Diana (left) and Elizabeth Debicki (right) reenacting Diana’s walk through an active landmine in ‘The Crown’. Photo: John Stillwell – PA Images/PA Images via Getty; Courtesy Netflix

Elizabeth Debicki recreated Princess Diana’s trailblazing walk through an active minefield for the sixth and final season of The Crown.

Photos from the Netflix series show the Australian actress, 33, dressed in the same attire as the Princess of Wales, who stepped out onto a landmine in Angola in 1997 to raise awareness for banning minefields across the globe.

Elizabeth Debicki reenacts Princess Diana’s walk through an active landmine in Angola in 1997 in season 6 of “The Crown.”.Courtesy Netflix

Sporting the same hairstyle as the late princess, Debicki can be seen wearing a similar protective face covering and vest atop the same clothing and accessories as Diana.

Princess Diana’s famous walk through the area being cleared by the charity HALO Trust on Jan. 15, 1997, was a significant contribution to the cause of ridding the world of minefields.

‘The Crown’ Recreates Princess Diana’s Landmark Trip to Angola

Elizabeth Debicki reenacts Princess Diana’s walk through an active landmine in Angola in 1997 in season 6 of “The Crown.”.Courtesy Netflix

“As soon as Princess Diana made her walk, it became a front of mind issue,” HALO USA’s executive director Chris Whatley told PEOPLE last year. “It took the convening power of Princess Diana to do that, to put it on the world stage to create that public momentum that allows for the political support, the rallying that continues to this day.”

Because of her efforts to show the dangerous effects of landmines, the Ottawa Mine Ban Treaty — which calls for the prohibition of using, stockpiling, producing and transferring anti-personnel mines — was signed a month after Diana’s untimely death on Aug. 13, 1997. 133 countries have since signed the treaty and an additional 31 have acceded.

Princess Diana walks through an active landmine in Angola in 1997.John Stillwell – PA Images/PA Images via Getty

The True Story Behind Princess Diana’s ‘Panorama’ Interview — and What ‘The Crown’ Didn’t Cover

The Crown creator Peter Morgan recently addressed the Daily Mail’s reports that the show will portray the late Princess Diana as a “ghost” in the upcoming installment, telling Variety, “I never imagined it as Diana’s ‘ghost’ in the traditional sense.”

“It was her continuing to live vividly in the minds of those she has left behind,” Morgan, 60, continued. “Diana was unique, and I suppose that’s what inspired me to find a unique way of representing her. She deserved special treatment narratively.”

Morgan also discussed the decision to not include the Princess of Wales’ death in a car accident after being chased by photographers in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris. PEOPLE previously confirmed that the scene would be omitted from season 6 of The Crown, which premieres in two parts on Nov. 16 and Dec. 14.

“Oh, God, we were never going to show the crash. Never,” he told Variety.

Morgan said he was “prepared to write the show without Diana” if they couldn’t find the right actress to play the princess.

He explained to Variety, “I think I would’ve been paralyzed writing for someone that I didn’t believe could do it, so I would’ve tried to reconfigure the whole show almost without Diana, which seems now impossible, but that only because I did feel it was impossible because of who we got.”

David and Victoria Beckham have been married since 1999 credit:Bang Showbiz

David Beckham believes his wife Victoria is finally “having the success she deserves”.

The 49-year-old soccer star believes the former Spice Girl has really earned the success she’s currently enjoying as a fashion designer.

During an appearance at the Royal Television Society’s annual conference in London, David explained: “She’s a strong, driven, passionate person who’s gone from being a Spice Girl to being respected in this industry, it’s very tough.

“She’s worked hard for 18, 19 years on her business and suddenly she’s having the success she deserves.”

David was the focus of a Netflix docu-series in 2023, and his wife is now set to become the subject of a new documentary, too.

David believes that the upcoming project will shine a light on Victoria’s passion and hard work.

He said: “People are going to see her personality and her work ethic.”

David faced a huge amount of criticism from fans and pundits during his playing days, but the former England captain hopes that some lessons have been learned from his experience.

The ex-Manchester United star – who married Victoria in 1999 – previously told Variety: “I think that my takeaway from my documentary was how important mental health is. Because, 20 years ago, nobody was talking about it. And nobody was taking it seriously.

“Now, it’s so great that people can actually talk about their feelings.”

David confessed to being hurt by some of the comments made about himself and his wife.

He shared: “There were many things said about us over the 27 years. It can be hurtful.”

Despite this, David recognises that he still has a lot to be “thankful for”.

The sporting icon said: “I was never one of these people that was going to sit back and complain.

“I was very fortunate to live the life that I did through my career. And I’m so thankful for that.”

Speaking at a television conference, David Beckham gives an insight into the making of his hit documentary series, Beckham, which on Sunday night won an Emmy.

By Gemma Peplow, culture and entertainment reporter, at the RTS Convention

Tuesday 17 September 2024 15:40, UK

Image:Pic: Beckham/Netflix

David Beckham has said creating his hit documentary series made him feel “uncomfortable”, as he was forced to discuss “things I’d never spoken about before”.

The football star spoke about the process of making Beckham, which was released on Netflix last year, at the Royal Television Society’s annual conference.

When asked by session presenter Jane Featherstone how he could make an “authentic documentary” about himself with his own Studio 99 firm, he said he worked with a team and a director he knew would push him.

Image:The documentary series delved into Beckham’s life and career

The 49-year-old said it took him a “long time” to say yes to making the series – but once decided, he wanted it to be helmed by someone who would come at it “from a different angle” to the story people may think they know.

“It was really difficult,” Beckham said, of being interviewed for about 50 hours by director Fisher Stevens. “It took me a long time to come to terms with the fact that I was going to make it… when I retired, I wasn’t ready to talk about my career and talk about what had happened over that time.”

But as he approached the 10-year anniversary of his 2013 retirement from football, he thought: “Maybe this is the right time.”

Beckham said both he and his wife, Victoria, were “nervous” about the idea. “Because as much as people think they know everything about us, [they] don’t really. We don’t really let kind of those doors open to our house… I’m not going to lie, I hated probably almost every moment…”

Image:Beckham said his former Manchester United boss, Sir Alex Ferguson, encouraged him not to read headlines at the time

As the audience laughed, the former England and Manchester United star clarified: “I wouldn’t say I hated it. I would just say it was very difficult…

“I’ll go back and say it wasn’t hate, but it was really difficult because there were moments when I was talking about things that I’d never spoken about before.

“This was a time when I was playing in my career and there wasn’t social media. Everything that was said about me, I knew what was being said – but the boss would turn round to me, Sir Alex Ferguson, and say, ‘don’t read the papers today. Do yourself a favour, don’t read the papers, go out there and play’. And that’s really all that I kind of saw.”

Beckham said he did not want to see what was in the series until it was finished. “I didn’t go into the edit. I didn’t see any cuts. I saw the odd clip, but I didn’t see anything. And I just let Fisher have that control.”

Praising Stevens, he said: “Finding the right director took a while… But then when I met Fisher, I was like, okay – this is the man that is going to make me feel really uncomfortable. And I think I had to feel uncomfortable to make the documentary that we made…

“Fisher made me feel uncomfortable from the moment we sat down to talk, to the moment I finished. And I really needed that because I needed a director to come at it from a different angle. Because everyone kind of knows my career and my life and things like that. So I needed someone like him to bring something different out of me.”

2:09

Play Video – David Beckham speaks to Sky News

David Beckham speaks to Sky News at documentary premiere

Beckham said watching the series for the first time at the premiere was an “emotional” experience, but he “loved” the result. On Sunday night, the programme picked up the award for outstanding documentary series at the Emmys in the US.

The star also spoke about Victoria Beckham’s upcoming documentary series, announced earlier in the summer, which will chart her career from Spice Girl to fashion designer and beauty entrepreneur.

Asked if he would be giving her “notes” now he has his own documentary behind him, Beckham laughed and replied: “Do you know my wife?”

He continued: “I’m actually really excited about this one with Victoria because she is an amazing woman. She’s a strong, driven, passionate person that has gone from being a Spice Girl, and to be respected in this industry is very, very tough.

“She’s worked hard for the last 17, 18 years on her business and all of a sudden she’s having the success that she really deserves. And no one really sees what she does. No one really sees the amount of work she puts in.

“She’s over everything, from where people sit at the shows to what they wear to everything that goes into her business. She’s over every single piece and I want people to see that.”