An Iconic Image

We’re skipping forward a few decades in this third installment of Wedding Lanterns‘ celebrity wedding series, to the shoulder-padded, bomber jacketted, bleach denim-ed, Pat Butcher ear ring-ed, 1980s, and to one of the most iconic and symbolically charged weddings of all time. This is of course the wedding of the late Lady Diana Spencer to our Prince Charles.

Looking back at images of the wedding ceremony now, in the light of all the tragedy that has come to pass since, one can’t help but feel the presence of impending doom lurking in the shadows. Were those smiles concealing a deep rooted uncertainty and sadness? Was that kiss just for show or born out of a genuine affection? Far be it for me to comment…What is certain however, is that when Lady Diana married Prince Charles in 1981, the wedding pictures became the images that defined an era. The dress, which spawned a decade of meringues, was designed by David and Elizabeth Emmanuel and featured a 25 foot train and 10,000 hand sewn pearls and sequins.

The wedding itself was a momentous occassion, as around 600,000 people filled the streets of London to catch a glimpse of the pair. In addition 750 million viewers tuned in fo the live broadcast, making it the most popular programme shown in history. It was a national holiday in Britain.

Fit for a Princess

The couple were married at St Paul’s Cathedral before an invited congregation of 3,500. Lady Diana was just 20 at the time. Arriving from Clarence House in a glass coach, the young prnicess made the three minute walk up the red-carpeted aisle (what a strangely symbolic nod to her new celebrity, a celebrity that was always at odds with her royal title), with her luxurious (and probably extremely heavy) train of ivory taffeta and antique lace flowing behind her. This was a wedding dress to rival the puffiest and boldest of gowns. There was certainly nothing subtle about it, but why would there be? This was, after all, a royal wedding.

Of course, we all know what happened in the next two decades…but still the wedding is lodged in people’s memories, frozen in time in an image which has become part of the warp and weft of British culture. Taken in isolation, it was a happy day, as weddings should be, and captured the imagination of a nation.

Had the wedding taken place in 2009, there may even have been a ritual releasing of wedding lanterns, as is the fashion of these days. Still, there’s William and Harry yet to come. I might just give Buckingham palace a call…