While their marriage was not a fairytale, one of the most iconic weddings to date is that of Princess Diana and Prince Charles. From those puffy sleeves to that trailing train, Princess Diana made many memorable fashion moments with her bridal attire, influencing brides for decades to come.

In 1981, Lady Diana Spencer said “I do” to Prince Charles, making her a princess, both officially and in people hearts. The shoes she wore to walk down the aisle had a surpringly sweet hidden meaning.

For her big day, Princess Diana opted to wear flats. Celebrity accessories designer Clive Shilton explains that she did this so that she would not appear taller than her future husband, as they were the exact same height.

‘Her main concern was that she wouldn’t appear taller than Prince Charles, and because she was very tall – 5ft 10in – the shoes would have to have a low heel.’

The shoes were adorned with 500 sequins, over 100 seed pearls, satin and lace. The suede arches featured a sweet, romantic detail painted on them: the letters ‘C’ for Charles and ‘D’ for Diana, with a heart between them.

Other royals must have taken inspiration from Princess Diana since then. Megan Markle had fabric from the dress she wore on her first date with Prince Harry sewn onto her wedding gown, and her veil was embroidered with 53 flour and fauna to represent the Commonwealth countries. Kate Middleton’s wedding dress sleeves featuring floral embroidery representing the national emblems of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Feature image: Pinterest