The night before her wedding, Lady Diana Spencer was nervous and full of dread. She even allegedly wanted to call the whole thing off! “Too late now, Duch, your face is already on the tea towels,” her sisters teased. This caused Diana to crack a smile. She knew that her life would never be the same.
Prince Charles married Diana on July 29, 1981 and the wedding was watched by 750 million people. I wasn’t born yet so I had to watch it on YouTube.
On Valentines Day of this year, I had just accepted my own marriage proposal when we rushed over to St Paul’s Cathedral in London to enjoy Evensong. I was surprised by it’s size, it looked so much bigger on the outside. I stared at the walls and ceilings wondering what it must have felt like for Diana on her wedding day. Charmed by it’s smell and warmth. My spirits lifted by the sound of song. And tickled by the “no photos” patrol.
Feeling a little under the weather, I decided to curl up and watch Diana’s wedding in it’s entirety 39 years later. Diana seemed the happiest on the drive to St Paul’s Cathedral with her father, John Spencer. Spencer was beaming, I don’t know if he had ever seen a better day. The narration by the enthusiastic media correspondent could come off as parody but it gives you a sense of how truly loved and admired Prince Diana was from the get go.
Her introduction to the public was swift and people were enamored. She seemed humble, kind, and full of electricity. Her sly smirk splashed across newspapers everywhere. She was “The People’s Princess.” You could see Diana timidly peek from underneath her veil as she walked her aging father down the aisle. She would later admit that she was looking for Camilla Parker Bowles. ?
The music throughout the service is so soothing that it almost put me to sleep. Until a woman in tie-dye appeared and I realized that she was an entire vibe.
For six minutes New Zealand opera star Kiri Te Kanawa stole the show. The only thing fiercer than her outfit is her vocal cords.
I enjoyed watching what appeared to be John Spencer attempting to talk to Queen Elizabeth and her giving him the polite side eye. Some nervous looks from Prince Charles, and 90 people trying to manage Diana’s train.
Ok, fine. I’ll say it. Kiri Te Kanawa had the better dress.
Diana would later say that on that day she felt like a “lamb to the slaughter.” Although we know that it wasn’t happily ever after, I do believe that you see genuine moments of happiness between Charles and Diana. Somewhere between the costumes and the kisses, it really was “The Wedding of The Century.”
Kinsey Schofield is the Editor-in-Chief of To Di For Daily and you can follow her on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.