14 Photos from Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ Extravagant 1981 Wedding Day

Stephanie SengweWed, July 29, 2026 at 10:30 AM UTC

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Princess Diana Prince Charles wedding dayCredit: Anwar Hussein/WireImage

Lady Diana Spencer and then-Prince (now King) Charles’ 1981 wedding was nothing short of a spectacle. One that, even today, remains among the most talked-about weddings of all time.

The pair first met in 1977, when she was 16 and he was 29. In 1980, the Prince of Wales began courting the nursery school assistant, and by February 1981, Charles had proposed and the two were headed down the aisle.

Princess Diana and Prince Charles wed in an extravagant ceremony held at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London on July 29, 1981. With Diana being the first British woman to marry an heir to the throne in 300 years, the palace spared no expense, declaring the special day a public holiday and doling out a jaw-dropping $48 million, according to Smithsonian magazine.

About 3,500 people attended the ceremony, while more than 600,000 people lined the streets and 7.5 million more tuned in at home to watch the nuptials.

The pair welcomed sons William and Harry in 1982 and 1984, but the former Prince and Princess of Wales’ marriage was famously tumultuous. In his authorized biography, The Prince of Wales, published in 1994, Charles confirmed he began his affair with former flame Camilla Parker Bowles in 1986. Ex-army Major James Hewitt also claimed to have begun an affair with Diana around this time, which he said lasted for the next five years.

Charles and Diana would separate in 1992 before officially divorcing in 1996.

Below, look back at Princess Diana and Prince Charles’ epic wedding day.

01 of 14

Heading to the Chapel

Princess DianaCredit: Doug McKenzie/Getty

Lady Diana Spencer was pictured in a glass coach as she rode in the streets of London on her way to say “I do.”

02 of 14

Train Gang

Royal wedding, 1981Credit: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty

Her Elizabeth and David Emanuel-designed gown was not just showstopping, it was also a challenge to wrangle: Multiple people were seen assisting the bride as she got out of her coach.

03 of 14

Heaven Sent

Diana Princess of Wales on her wedding day on July 29, 1981.Credit: Ron Bull/Toronto Star via Getty

In this aerial shot, Princess Diana’s 25-foot train could be seen in all its glory. Her bridesmaids, Prince Charles’ goddaughter India Hicks and Queen’ Elizabeth’s niece Lady Sarah, can be seen lifting the enormous garment up the stairs.

In a 2018 essay for Harper’s Bazaar, Hicks revealed that as Princess Diana entered the cathedral, she told the girls, “Do your best.”

“We knew what that meant: If we pulled too much, straightening the material, her tiara and veil would slip,” Hicks said. “But if we didn’t pull enough, the effect of the train would be lost.”

04 of 14

One of One

Princess Diana walking down the aisleCredit: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty

The immense train made sure the royal bride would be unmissable in the massive sea of attendees.

05 of 14

Breaking Tradition

Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer during their wedding ceremony.Credit: Bettmann/Getty

In her wedding vows, Diana famously broke tradition, opting to leave the word “obey” out of her vows to Prince Charles. “Lady Diana has chosen to follow the new ritual of the Church of England, and she will promise in the ceremony at St. Paul’s Cathedral only to ‘love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health,’” The New York Times reported ahead of the pair’s nuptials.

Above, the pair were pictured sitting side by side during the ceremony.

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06 of 14

Introducing the Wales

Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer at St Paul’s Cathedral on their wedding dayCredit: Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty

The newly-minted Prince and Princess of Wales took in the crowd as they exited St. Paul’s Cathedral after becoming husband and wife.

07 of 14

Carried Away

Princess Diana and Prince CharlesCredit: Anwar Hussein/WireImage

The couple smiled to onlookers as they headed to Buckingham Palace in a carriage.

08 of 14

Grand Arrival

Prince Charles and Princess Diana on their wedding dayCredit: Ron Burton /Mirrorpix/Getty

In this black and white shot, the newlyweds are surrounded by the bridesmaids as they return from St. Paul’s Cathedral.

09 of 14

Big Kiss

Princess Diana and Prince Charles Wedding DayCredit: Tim Graham Photo Library

The pair thrilled onlookers as they shared the traditional balcony kiss as the Queen took in the scene.

10 of 14

Sweet Moments

Princess Diana and Prince CharlesCredit: Terry Fincher/Princess Diana Archive/Getty

The Prince of Wales was later pictured kissing his blushing bride’s hand as they stood on the Buckingham Palace balcony overlooking the sea of people.

11 of 14

Royal Goodbye

Princess Diana and Prince CharlesCredit: Anwar Hussein/Getty

The two waved to the crowd as they headed inside to continue the festivities.

12 of 14

Just Us Two

Princess Diana and Prince CharlesCredit: David Levenson/Getty

The Prince and Princess of Wales linked arms for a wedding portrait taken by Lord Lichfield, who was the official wedding photographer.

Diana’s bouquet was also in full view. It was made of gardenias, tephanotis, odontolglossum orchid, lily of the valley, Earl Mountbatten roses, freesia, veronica, ivy, myrtle and trasdescantia and weighed about four pounds.

13 of 14

The Wedding Party

Princess Diana and Prince Charles with their wedding partyCredit: PA Images via Getty

The bride and groom took a snap with their wedding party, which included two pageboys (Lord Nicholas Windsor and Edward van Cutsem) and three more bridesmaids in addition to Hicks and Lady Sarah (Diana’s favorite former student, Clementine Hambro, Catherine Cameron and Sarah-Jane Gaselee). Also in the photo are Charles’ brothers, Edward and Andrew.

14 of 14

Family Matters

The royal family and the SpencersCredit: PA Images via Getty

In this family portrait, the royal family and the Spencers gather around the newlyweds. Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, Princess Margaret, as well as Diana’s parents, Earl Spencer and Frances Shand Kydd, are featured in the photo.

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