Princess Diana’s Wedding Gown on Exhibit

“Diana – A Celebration,” an award winning exhibition directly from Althorp Estate in England, the ancestral home of the Spencer Family, has been on view in the United States at the Western Reserve Historical Society, the Florida International Museum, The Houston Museum of Natural Science, and the Dayton Art Institute.

The exhibit is on view through February 16, 2011 at the Grand Rapids Art Museum in Grand Rapids, MI. Union Station in Kansas City, MO will host the exhibition from March 4 to June 12, 2011.

A highlight of this magnificent exhibition is Diana’s fairy tale wedding gown, complete with 25 foot train, diamond tiara, shoes, and parasol. The wedding took place on July 29, 1981 at St. Paul’s Cathedral, filled with hundreds of family, friends, and dignitaries from around the world. Diana was just 20 years old. An estimated 1 billion people around the world watched the wedding on television.

Diana was a fashion trend-setter, and 28 dresses, suits and gowns designed by Versace, Valentine, Chanel, and Azagury are included in the exhibition. The Tiara Gallery features exquisite jewelry, fit for a Princess. Home movies of her childhood, historical artifacts, personal letters, photos and heirlooms will also be on display.

For over 300 years, the women of the Spencer family devoted themselves to charity and community work. Diana carried on this proud family heritage with her work on behalf of several causes. The exhibition includes a look at the many causes Diana worked to advance.

After her tragic death in 1997, condolences poured in from around the world. The exhibit concludes with the musical score and handwritten lyrics of the Elton John/Bernie Taupin composition dedicated to Diana, which was adapted from the song “Candle in the Wind.”

Diana truly was the "People's Princess." In an era when we are questioning the very existence of royalty, wondering if they are worth their expense to the state and if they have any authority in a modern age, she served as a shining example of what royalty can be.