Skip to main contentSkip to footer

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Read our full commerce guidelines here.

Princess Diana concealed last-minute wedding dress disaster – did you spot it?

Even royal brides suffer from fashion faux pas

princess diana wedding
Nichola Murphy
Deputy Lifestyle Editor
Share this:

Princess Diana was a beautiful bride when she married her ex-husband Prince Charles on 29 July 1981, but her wedding preparations at Clarence House were not smooth-sailing.

RELATED: Lady Kitty Spencer rocked six designer wedding dresses for sentimental nuptials – inside

The Princess of Wales, then 19, suffered a last-minute fashion mishap after putting on her puff-sleeve bridal gown designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel – and although it wasn't fixed by the time she walked down the aisle at St Paul's Cathedral, it went largely unnoticed by the 3,500 guests and 750 million people who tuned in to watch on TV.

WATCH: Prince Charles and Princess Diana leave St Paul's Cathedral after their wedding

After putting on her ivory silk taffeta gown, Princess Diana was adding the final touches by dabbing her perfume, Quelques Fleurs, onto her wrists when she dropped some down the front of the dress, staining the fabric in a very obvious place.

RELATED: 22 unbelievable royal wedding facts: Kate Middleton, Princess Beatrice, Princess Diana and more

READ: Sarah Ferguson swapped bridal gown for eye-catching outfit at royal wedding – and wow

So how did she hide the perfume stain from millions of eyes? According to her makeup artist Barbara Daly in the book Diana: The Portrait, she attempted to clean the dress to no avail. 

Instead, Diana placed her hand on that part of the fabric as though she was holding up the front of her dress to walk – when in fact the clever hand placement was a deliberate attempt to conceal the beauty mishap.

princess diana wedding dress aisle

The Princess of Wales reportedly tried to hide a perfume stain

It seemed to work, as everyone was too delighted to catch a glimpse of the stunning gown, which featured a record-breaking 25-foot train and 10,000 mother of pearl sequins and pearl embellishments. She paired it with the Spencer tiara, a cathedral-length veil and silk shoes with the letters  'C' and 'D' on the bottom to represent the bride and groom's initials.

David Emanuel recently revealed in an exclusive interview with HELLO! that the Princess actually called him on the day of her wedding.

He reminisced: "After all the photographs, they went in to have the wedding breakfast and I went back to my studio in Mayfair. All of my workroom ladies were there so we had a glass of champagne.

diana perfume

Houbigant Paris Quelques Fleurs perfume, £90.88, Nordstrom

SHOP NOW

"We had a little party and just as I’m about to lock up, the phone rings… I thought who’s calling? It was Diana! She said 'I just wanted to say thank you so much for the gown. I loved it. Prince Charles loved it. All the family loved it.'

"It couldn’t have been more special for me to hear from the client. When you design for a bride you want her to be happy. As long as the bride is happy that is all that matters. The fact she took the time before she went off on honeymoon… that’s genuine kindness."

Diana later changed into a very unexpected pink ensemble as she headed on her honeymoon with her new husband Prince Charles.

SEE: 26 most iconic royal wedding dresses of all time

HELLO!'s selection is editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items our editors love and approve of. HELLO! may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. To find out more visit our FAQ page.

Planning your wedding? Sign up to HELLO!’s brand new Bride Guide newsletter for expert advice, budget help, wedding inspiration and real life stories delivered straight to your inbox.

More Weddings

See more