THE STUNNING BLACK TAFFETA GOWN, DESIGNED BY ELIZABETH AND DAVID EMANUEL, WHICH CATAPULTED THE THEN 19 YEAR OLD DIANA ON TO THE WORLD STAGE WHEN SHE WORE IT JUST WEEKS AFTER BECOMING ENGAGED TO PRINCE CHARLES, SOLD AT AUCTION FOR £192,000, NEARLY FOUR TIMES WHAT IT WAS EXPECTED TO ACHIEVE. THE PRINCESS OF WALES, WHO WAS THEN LADY DIANA SPENCER, WORE THE DRESS TO A BLACK-TIE EVENT AT GOLDSMITHS' HALL IN LONDON IN MARCH 1981, HER FIRST OFFICIAL ENGAGEMENT WITH HER FIANCE, CHARLES. THE COUPLE WERE ATTENDING AN EVENT IN AID OF THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE DEVELOPMENT APPEAL AND IMAGES OF THE ROYAL BRIDE TO BE STEPPING OUT OF A LIMOUSINE IN THE BLACK GOWN WITH A PLUNGING NECKLINE MADE NEWSPAPER HEADLINES AND IMMEDIATELY ESTABLISHED DIANA AS THE MOST GLAMOROUS MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY. AS THE ROYAL WEDDING APPROACHED THE PRINCESS RETURNED TO THE DESIGNERS TO HAVE IT ALTERED AS SHE HAD LOST WEIGHT, BUT IT WAS EASIER TO MAKE ANOTHER AND THE ORIGINAL REMAINED FORGOTTEN FOR MANY YEARS. THE DRESS, WHICH HAD BEEN EXPECTED TO SELL FOR AROUND £50,000,, WAS BOUGHT AT AN AUCTION IN LINDON BY A FASHION MUSEUM IN CHILE. DESIGNER ELIZABETH EMANUEL WRITING IN HER BOOK ABOUT THE BRIDAL GOWN, DESCRIBED HOW THE INFAMOUS BLACK DRESS BEGAN LIFE AS A SAMPLE THAT HAD BEEN LOANED OUT TO THE ACTRESS LIZA GODDARD. SPEAKING ABOUT DIANA, SHE ADDED: 'THE TRANSFORMATION WAS INCREDIBLE. SHE ARRIVED LOOKING LIKE THE NURSERY SCHOOL TEACHER SHE WAS, BUT NOW SHE LOOKED LIKE A MOVIE STAR. WE GAVE HER THE DRESS, MADE A LITTLE SHAWL TO GO WITH IT SO SHE COULD COVER UP ON THE NIGHT AND AWAY SHE WENT. WE HADN'T CONSIDERED THE FACT THAT WHEN DIANA BENT OVER, AS SHE WOULD HAVE TO DO WHEN GETTING OUT OF THE CAR, SHE WOULD SHOW QUITE A LOT OF CLEAVAGE. WE JUST THOUGH SHE LOOKED FABULOUS.' THE DRESS WAS THE STAR LOT AT AN AUCTION OF ITEMS FROM THE EMANUEL'S ARCHIVE HELD AT LA GALLERIA, IN CENTRAL LONDON, BY SPECIALIST VINTAGE FASHION AUCTIONEERS KERRY TAYLOR AUCTIONS.
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