Princess Diana's mysterious second wedding dress is missing

Princess Diana had a backup wedding dress in case of emergencies - but nobody knows where the gown is today. 

• The designers of Princess Diana's wedding dress prepared a second dress for the big day, in case anything happened to the original. 
• However, the location of this mysterious second dress is currently unknown - and may never be revealed. 
• In other Royal News, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan make surprise virtual appearance in honor of Black History Month. 

Princess Diana’s wedding dress is so iconic that it’s hard to imagine the stunning bride saying ‘I do’ in anything else - but it wasn’t the only option on the big day.

The designers of the taffeta ivory gown reportedly had an alternative piece ready to go, just in case anything went wrong with the original garment. However, almost 40 years later, the location of this never-before-seen dress remains unknown. 

According to Chloe Savage, who worked on the bridal gowns of both Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, it is very common to prepare a backup dress for royal weddings. The understudy outfit is an essential reserve if the dress were to be damaged or if photos of the design were leaked to the press before the big day. 

"It only takes one person to ruin the surprise,” she told Insider. “For a day like that, when it's going to be so big, you really do need an emergency backup in some format." 

More from woman&home:

• Best jewelry making kits - for crafting intricate, one-of-a-kind pieces for yourself or as a special gift
• Best eReaders  - for digital book lovers - to help you decide which one to buy
• Best sewing machine - 5 machines to get you started with the hobby

Despite the importance of Princess Diana’s second wedding dress at the time, its whereabouts today is a mystery. Elizabeth Emanuel, who co-designed both the original and the substitute dress with her brother David, has admitted that she can’t remember what happened to the backup. 

"I don't know if we sold it or put it into storage," she told the Daily Mail in 2017. "It was such a busy time. I'm sure it'll turn up in a bag one day!"

Without the primary source for reference, royal fans must rely on Emanuel’s memory to envision the almost-famous dress. And if the British designer’s description is anything to go by, the creation was far less spectacular than the original dress. 

As it was made under a strict deadline, it lacked the extravagance of Princess Diana’s show-stopping dress.  

"It was only three-quarters finished - we simply didn't have time to make it in its entirety," Emanuel explained. 

The dress consequently looked like a draft of the final piece, sharing the same outline without the intricate details. Unlike the bridal gown we all know and love, the alternative had no lace or embroidery. Princess Diana didn’t even try it on, as it was only to be worn as a last resort. 

“We wanted to make sure that we had something there; it was for our own peace of mind, really,” said Emanuel. 

We’re quite relieved the lackluster design didn’t make it down the aisle, but that hasn’t stopped us from wondering - where on earth is this royal artifact hiding?