Princess Diana's wedding dress is being returned to her sons Princes William and Harry, as her will stated. The late people's princess had asked that some of her most cherished possessions, including her magnificent wedding gown, be kept in the safe hands of her brother Charles Spencer – also known as Earl Spencer. Diana requested that her belongings be handed back to her sons when they both turned 30, and given that Harry will reach the milestone birthday in two weeks, the wedding dress is making its way home.
Princess Diana's 25-foot train has gone down as the longest in royal history
Up until now Diana's gown had been flown around the world as the major focus of an exhibition entitled Diana: A Celebration. The final stop was at a museum in Cincinnati, Ohio, which closed its display in mid-August.
GALLERY: 30 photos to celebrate Prince Harry's thirtiethMade of ivory silk and embellished with pearls, sequins and antique lace, the gown was created by Welsh designer David Emanuel and his then-wife Elizabeth for the princess' 1981 wedding to Prince Charles. It was topped off with a spectacular 25-foot train – the longest in royal history. For two months a year Diana's wedding dress was stored at Althorp – the family's estate in Northamptonshire.
Princess Diana with wedding dress designers David Emanuel and his then-wife Elizabeth
Charles, who has said of his sister that "she intrigued the world with her blend of intoxicating sophistication and her sincere touch," had loaned out the dress and 150 other objects for the world exhibition.
All profits have so far been donated to The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund. Calls are now being made for the royal wedding dress to be exhibited at Kensington Palace, where Diana's eldest son Prince William and his wife Kate are based, with part of the takings being given to one of Diana's charities.
David Emanuel was also behind Princess Diana's iconic black, strapless gown
Designer David, who was also behind the late princess' iconic strapless black gown that she wore to her first public engagement at the Royal Opera House, has spoken about how he was approached. "I picked up a call in the studio and she said, 'It's me'. She never said 'Lady Diana'. I always used to say, 'Hello, Me,'" recalled David. "She said, 'I'm just wondering, would you do the honour of designing my wedding gown? I thought, Christ, perhaps it's a hoax call... All this press that she's getting married and nobody knows anything and then she rang up and I said, 'Yeah!'"