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Asharq Al-Awsat
Asharq Al-Awsat
World
London - Asharq Al-Awsat

Hidden Messages Under Princess Diana’s Wedding Shoes

Prince Charles and Princess Diana on the balcony of Buckingham Palace/ Reuters

It's been more than two decades since Princess Diana died, but she remains a national icon.

Last year, her friends and family honored Diana by sharing memories of her – she was adored by Britain.

One of the 'secrets' revealed came from the designers of her wedding dress and shoes, which she wore when she married Prince Charles on July 29, 1981.

Diana's shoes were mostly hidden beneath her Elizabeth and David Emanuel gown, which at the time was dubbed he "dress of the century." But the shoes were still special. They were created by celebrity cobbler Clive Shilton. He made sure they were fit for purpose.

Shilton told the Daily Mail: "She was a very shy, sweet, smiley-eyed young girl. Her main concern was that she wouldn't appear taller than Prince Charles, and because she was very tall – 5'10" – the shoes would have to have a low heel,”

As well as the practical solution, the shoes were also enrobed with 542 sequins and 132 pearls. On the top, Diana chose an elegant heart-shaped pattern.

The shoes were suede, and the princess had a small 'C and D' painted under the heel. The pair took six months to develop.

Shilton said: "No one even saw the bottom of the shoes, but it was important to us that they looked fantastic. You would have seen much more of them if she'd tripped!"

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