Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales, married Lady Diana Frances Spencer, daughter of the eighth Earl Spencer on 29 July 1981 after a short engagement that had been announced on 24 February the same year.
The marriage ceremony was held at St Paul’s Cathedral rather than the more traditional Westminster Abbey as it could hold more guests. Charles, a future King of Great Britain, and Diana invited 3,500 guests. It was solemnised by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Robert Runcie.
Diana travelled to St Paul’s in the Glass Coach with her father. Her gown was designed by husband and wife duo David and Elizabeth Emmanuel. It was a stunning dress made of ivory taffeta and antique lace with a record-breaking 25-foot train. Charles wore the uniform of a naval commander.
Diana wore the Spencer tiara, rather than choosing one from the Royal Collection.
Charles was supported by his brothers, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward. Diana had five bridesmaids, including Lady Sarah Armstong-Jones, now Lady Chatto, the daughter of Princess Margaret and Earl Snowdon.
Around 600,000 people congregated in London to watch the royal processions to and from St Paul’s and to join in the celebrations.
The marriage was viewed by an estimated television and radio audience of 1,000 million people.
After the ceremony, the newlyweds headed to Buckingham Palace for the traditional wedding breakfast in the open-topped State Landau Coach.
Their kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace in front of thousands of cheering royal fans was the first in what became a tradition for royal weddings.
Charles and Diana separated in December 1992 and they divorced on 28 August 1996. Diana died in a Paris car crash on 31 August 1997.
See my post marking the birthday of Diana, Princess of Wales here.
See my post on Diana: Her Fashion Story – the Kensington Palace Exhibition here.
Source:
https://www.royal.uk/diana-princess-wales
Images from Pinterest
HistorianRuby: An Historian's Miscellany 
I have never seen the picture of her in the glass coach or the balcony one of the back of her dress before……both very lovely pictures.
LikeLiked by 3 people
That’s why I chose them! I know they’re not mainstream. I like looking at photos I don’t see that often or haven’t seen before.
LikeLiked by 2 people
As an American, the royal family isn’t as prominent as they would be for British citizens. I grew up in the 1980s and my mother loved Princess Diana. I was much too small for the wedding, but I remember when both of the princes were born. I also remember her crying when Princess Diana was killed. I have followed the princes as they have grown up, married and had children. (Prince Harry is only newly married so, I have followed his accomplishments and set the DVR to record his wedding to Miss Markle.) The younger of the royals have changed the world’s view of royal families, but their mother was a shining symbol of change in how the royal family operated. I grew up thinking it was normal for royals to flit about the globe doing charity work and she and her boys have made it normal. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was 11 when Diana married. I don’t remember a lot, but we were invited to a street party and so watched the wedding at a family friend’s and then enjoyed the street festivities.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like fun. I was 2 years old when the royal wedding occurred.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember the sailor dresses that my sister and I wore and the awful short haircut that my mother did for us as we wanted to look like Lady Di! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
😂 I remember every little girl having the helmet haircut that Princess Diana had
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I remember seeing Diana’s documentary when she died in 1997. I was just a little girl back then. Lovely pictures, and some of these photos I have not seen before most especially the one on the balcony where she was looking out at the crowd.
If you have time please check out my blog and please leave a comment. Here’s the direct link: https://anaskiesbookishmusings.wordpress.com/2018/07/30/july-book-round-up/
LikeLiked by 1 person
I remember that day very well!! As a 15 year old girl, it was like a fairy tale come true. I was up at around 3 am to watch the coverage. The world lost such a treasure when she passed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love this post! I’m a big fan of on this day kind of posts,I find these extremely intriguing and fascinating. Diana is an enigma and this wedding was an important one,as far as royal weddings go,despite how the marriage turned out. I loved the unique pictures and how you used them a lot!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks 🙂
LikeLike
😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Seems like so long ago, yet it wasn’t.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Gorgeous post and lovely I loved the inclusion of those unusual pics that hadn’t been seen before. I vividly remember watching this – my first royal wedding, and I had a jigsaw of that engagement picture that I completed many years later!
LikeLiked by 1 person