When Princess Diana walked down the aisle in 1981 wearing one of the most iconic bridal gowns in royal history, the world was captivated. But behind the scenes, the creation of that fairytale dress was cloaked in secrecy — right down to a carefully chosen codename.
In a new documentary titled Secrets of Diana’s Wedding Dress, airing in the U.K. on June 28, designer Elizabeth Emanuel reveals the extraordinary measures taken to keep Diana’s dress under wraps. Among the most surprising? A pseudonym used during the planning phase: Deborah Cornwall.
“We were very conscious of privacy and security,” Elizabeth recalls in the film. “So we gave her a fake name — we called her Deborah Cornwall. Isn’t that odd?”
A Codename with Royal Layers
Though it sounds fictional, the alias was likely inspired by one of the titles Diana assumed after marrying Prince Charles: Duchess of Cornwall. At the time, this title was little known publicly — Diana was most famously styled as the Princess of Wales.
Ironically, that same title would become more closely linked to Camilla, now Queen Camilla. Following her 2005 marriage to Charles, Camilla adopted the Duchess of Cornwall title instead of using “Princess of Wales,” out of respect for Diana’s legacy.
Secrecy in Every Stitch
The designers, Elizabeth and then-husband David Emanuel, were under immense pressure to protect the gown’s design from leaking. Every detail — from fittings to fabrics — was shielded from the press, and only a tight circle of trusted team members were involved.
To ensure confidentiality, Diana was referred to as “Deborah” during phone calls and internal discussions. It was a discreet yet symbolic step — a small detail that speaks volumes about how carefully this moment in royal history was orchestrated.
A Dress Redesigned, and Redesigned Again
In the documentary, Elizabeth also shares how Diana’s body changed in the lead-up to the wedding. Under the pressures of public life and pre-wedding stress, Diana’s waistline shrank to just 23 inches.
“We altered the bodice multiple times,” Elizabeth says. “Eventually, we had to start it from scratch.”
David Emanuel echoes the emotion of the moment: “It was an extraordinary dress at an extraordinary time in history.”
Beyond the Dress: A Lasting Legacy
While the royal wedding may have been decades ago, the dress continues to cast a long shadow over pop culture and fashion. Elizabeth, who now runs her own fashion studio, has since designed looks for global celebrities like Madonna, Cher, and Rita Ora — but it’s Diana’s dress that remains her most recognized creation.
“It’s really dominated my life ever since,” Elizabeth admits — a reminder that some garments are more than fashion. They become symbols of an era.