Princess Diana's wedding dress has arrived in Edmonton, Canada, for a new exhibition, entitled Diana: A Celebration. The most recognised wedding dress is history was pulled from its cover on Wednesday and will be just one of more than 150 artefacts featured in nine galleries when the exhibit opens on January 9. The late royal wore the Elizabeth and David Emanuel-designed gown on her wedding day to Prince Charles in 1981, and it will no doubt be the star attraction at the West Edmonton Mall.
Nick Grossmark, exhibit curator, told CTV Edmonton: "It's the most famous wedding dress in the world. It was worn by a person who became one of the most important women in the world. "According to the Edmonton Journal, Nick, along with fellow curator Graeme Murton, will accompany the dress as it travels the globe. The two men are the only people allowed to touch it – as long as they are wearing white gloves.Graeme said of the dress, which was shrouded in secrecy before its unveiling: "It had to have a big impact because St. Paul's in London was such a large cathedral. When you come to the exhibition, you're very lucky that you actually see the royal train completely laid out in the case."
While creating the gown, Elizabeth and David Emanuel had the windows of their shop painted over and hired guards to watch over their bins so as to not leak any fabric details to the public. Speaking to The Today Show, David explained how they "hired two security guards to work in 12-hour shifts," referred to Diana using the code name "Deborah," and held secret fittings and even two dress rehearsals inside the cathedral". The piece still holds the record for the longest train on a wedding dress in royal history. Diana and Charles - who had sons Princes William and Harry together - separated in 1995 and were divorced in 1997, just weeks before her tragic death in a Paris car crash.