A look back at Prince Charles and Princess Diana's iconic wedding

Though their marriage would end in divorce in 1996, the wedding of Prince Charles and Princess Diana had all the makings of a fairytale. <p>The Prince announced his engagement to 19-year-old aristocrat Diana Spencer on February 24, 1981. The Queen's eldest son had proposed with a diamond and sapphire ring during a private dinner at Buckingham Palace. Decades later, the couple's son Prince William would pop the question to his longtime love Kate Middleton, now the Duchess of Cambridge, with the same beautiful gem. <p>Photo: © Tim Graham/Getty Images</p>
On July 29, 1981, Diana became the first British citizen to marry an heir to the British throne in 300 years. The couple were married at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. <p>Photo: © Serge Lemoine/Hulton Archive/Getty Images</p>
The beautiful 20-year-old bride was escorted by her father Earl Spencer for the three-and-a-half minute walk down the aisle. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
For her big day, Diana wore a stunning silk taffeta gown by Welsh designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel. The dress was embellished with pearls, sequins and antique lace and featured a 25-foot train – the longest in royal history! <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
Charles and his princess were wed in front of a congregation of 3,500, which included Queen Elizabeth, Prince Philip and the Queen Mother. <p>Photo: © Tim Graham/Getty Images</p>
The newlyweds departed the cathedral to the refrain of Elgar's Pomp and Circumstance before taking an open-topped State landau to Buckingham Palace. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
Queen Elizabeth travelled from the cathedral to the palace with her new in-law, Earl Spencer, after the lavish ceremony. <p>Photo: © Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images</p>
The father of the groom, Prince Philip, and the mother of the bride, Frances Shand Kydd, rode together in an open carriage on their children's wedding day. <p>Photo: © Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images</p>
Diana and Charles were escorted to the palace by the Household Cavalry as they waved to the huge crowd of well-wishers. <p>Photo: © Tim Graham/Getty Images</p>
600,000 Spectators lined the streets of London, while an estimated 750 million people watched the event on television. <p>Photo: © Terry Fincher/Getty Images</p>
The Prince and Princess of Wales' wedding was attended by a number European royals including the crowned heads of Norway, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Liechtenstein and Monaco. <p>Photo: © OFF/AFP/Getty Images</p>
At ten minutes past one, Charles and Diana emerged on the balcony of Buckingham Palace with their wedding party, along with the Queen and the Queen Mother, where they shared a public kiss. <p>Photo: © Getty Images</p>
After their kiss, the newlyweds retired back inside the palace for toasts and a wedding breakfast with 120 of their closest friends and family. <p>Photo: © Tim Graham/Getty Images</p>
The royal couple had 27 wedding cakes for their big day — however, the official cake, which stood over five-feet tall, was made by David Avery, the head baker of the Naval Armed Forces. The cake featured Charles' coat of arms in addition to Diana's family crest and their first name initials. The impressive dessert was topped off with roses, lilies of the valley and orchids. <p>Photo: © Princess Diana Archive/Getty Images</p>
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