On July 29, 1981, the world was introduced to Princess Diana’s now-legendary wedding gown, a dress that has since been described as the world’s most famous (excluding that of Kate Middleton’s Alexander McQueen in 2011). The spectacular dress, designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel, has become iconic for its dramatic train—which was close to eight metres in length—as well as its even lengthier matching tulle veil.
That moment in history will now be recreated in The Crown’s fourth season, and we’ve finally been given our first official look at the reimagination. Netflix released the first look at Emma Corrin as Princess Diana in the iconic wedding gown, a design that she wore to her and Prince Charles’ royal wedding at St. Paul’s Cathedral.
The dress was designed by Amy Roberts, who Netflix said, “wanted to pull in many of the style choices and create the same spirit of David and Elizabeth Emanuel’s original design, but make something new.”
Roberts even collaborated with its original designer to create the piece.
“Without access to the original patterns, Amy collaborated with David Emmanuel. He was enormously helpful, talking the design team through the detail of many of the original drawings to help them create this gown for Emma Corrin. Four months and five fittings later, with three people spending a collective 600 hours working, they had a dress. It’s made of 95 metres of fabric and 100 metres of lace, with a train that is approximately 30 metres long.”
Netflix added that the Nottingham-based team who created the original lace on Emmanuel’s design also made the lace for this one.
“Sadly the man who worked on the real-life dress passed away, but it’s his son who worked on the one you’ll see in The Crown.”
Diana’s actual dress used to be on display at Althorp House, the estate belonging to the Spencer family where she grew up, but since 2014 it has been privately owned by Prince Harry and Prince William.
It’s also not the first time the series has commissioned a replica of a famous royal gown. When Vanessa Kirby’s Princess Margaret wed Antony Armstrong-Jones, the show dressed her in a copy of the gown designed by Norman Hartnell.
The upcoming season of The Crown will take place between 1979 and 1990, a period in the royal family which saw Prince Charles—played by Josh O’Connor—and Diana wed. It will also depict Britain’s first female Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher—played by Gillian Anderson—come into office.
Returning to their roles are Olivia Colman as Queen Elizabeth II, Helena Bonham Carter as Princess Margaret, Tobias Menzies as Prince Philip and Erin Doherty as Princess Anne.
Netflix will release The Crown season four on November 15.
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