From Princess Diana's £92,000 ($127,000) dress to the 12-carat blue Ceylon sapphire wedding ring that broke protocol, Prince Charles and Lady Diana’s nuptials will go down in history as the wedding of the century.
While Di never shied away from doing things her own way, whether it was speaking out about mental health or wearing colored nail polish, she did follow British tradition when it came to choosing children to walk down the aisle before her on her special day, a practice the duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex both continued.
Aligned with British tradition, Lady Diana chose five young girls, ranging between five and 17 in age, to join her as her bridesmaids on her special day. Here, the royal couple, their bridesmaids and page boys were photographed in the Throne Room after the couple's nuptials.
Before the wedding night ended, Princess Diana gifted each bridesmaid a Halcyon Days china box holding silkworms that had spun the silk for her wedding dress. A week later, she also sent a thank you note and paperweight set with a rose from her bouquet to each girl, the perfect mementos to commemorate the unforgettable experience.
In celebration of the phenomenon's 40th anniversary, Daily Mail is lifting back the veil on the five young girls whose lives were forever changed the day of the royal wedding. These are the stories behind who they were, why Charles and Diana chose them, and where they are today.
After the fairytale wedding at St Paul's Cathedral, the wedding party, including the bridesmaids and page boys (pictured), returned to Buckingham Palace. There, the royal couple started the tradition of kissing on the balcony.
LADY SARAH ARMSTRONG-JONES
Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones was the oldest of the bridesmaids at 17 years old. She is the daughter of Lord Snowdon and Princess Margaret, the Queen's only sister. In addition to taking care of Diana's 25-foot veil, Lady Sarah also held her bouquet throughout the nuptials.
At just 17 years old, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones was the oldest of the bridesmaids and served as the chief bridesmaid. Lady Sarah is the only daughter of Lord Snowdon and Princess Margaret, the Queen's sole sister, making her Lilibet’s only niece. Lady Sarah and her older brother, David, were raised in Kensington Palace, which brought them close to the Royal Family. Diana and Margaret, whom she lovingly called Margo, had a special relationship, so it’s no surprise Lady Sarah was given a role in the wedding.
Princess Diana’s veil was 25 feet long - the longest ever - and Sarah, along with the help of Lady India, were in charge of it the moment Lady Di stepped out of her carriage. Before the wedding, Diana tied a 25-foot piece of fabric around her waist and the duo practiced helping her in and out of the carriage and walking down the aisle. India Hicks later shared the train had become completely crumpled in the carriage, but that didn't stop Diana from looking stunning. Lady Sarah was also given the honor of holding her bouquet throughout the nuptials.
Lady Sarah grew up alongside Princess Diana and was chosen as one of Prince Harry's godparents three years after the royal wedding. In 1994, a solo Diana attended Lady Sarah's wedding to Daniel Chatto. Following the Panorama interview the next year, Sarah's mother, Princess Margaret, cut off Diana because she was ashamed. However, the Princess of Wales and Lady Sarah remained close friends.
Three years later, Lady Sarah was chosen as one of Prince Harry’s six godparents, strengthening her ties with her royal cousins. After graduating from boarding school, Lady Sarah traveled to India to work as a wardrobe assistant on the set of the movie Heat and Dust. There, she met her future husband, Daniel Chatto, who was an actor in the film. The couple married in a low-key wedding, which was attended by a solo Diana, in 1994, making her Lady Sarah Chatto. Although Diana's relationship with Margo became strained after her Panorama interview the following year, Lady Di and Sarah's friendship endured.
Lady Sarah remains extremely close to the Royal Family, especially Her Majesty who's reminded of her late sister through Sarah. Sarah was one of 30 people chosen by the Queen to attend Prince Phillip's funeral (pictured) in April 2021.
Today, the 57-year-old and her brother, David, the 2nd Earl of Snowdon, have chosen not to undertake any royal engagements, allowing them to live their lives out of the spotlight while remaining extremely close to the royals.
Sarah was one of 30 people who attended Prince Phillip's funeral, a testament to how highly regarded she is by Her Majesty. The two are extremely close as Lady Sarah is said to remind the Queen of her late sister. Her brother, David Armstrong-Jones, the Earl of Snowdon, was also present.
Sarah and her husband have two sons, Samuel and Arthur, who are 25th and 26th in line to the throne, and were also raised in Kensington Palace. Lady Sarah also serves as the vice president of the Royal Ballet, a position her mother also held.
Today, Lady Sarah prefers to stay out of the spotlight. She has two sons, Samuel and Arthur, who are 25th and 26th in line to the throne, and were also raised in Kensington Palace, like their mother. One of Sarah's only royal duties is as the vice president of the Royal Ballet, a position her mother also held.
INDIA HICKS
When India Hicks was 13 years old, her godfather and second cousin, Prince Charles, called her to ask if she'd stand in his wedding. Although she considered herself a tomboy and did not want to wear a dress, she, of course, said yes.
Next in line was 13-year-old Lady India Hicks. While on vacation in the Bahamas, India received the call of a lifetime when her godfather and second cousin, Prince Charles, asked if she would be a bridesmaid in his wedding. At first, Lady India revealed she was appalled because she had considered herself a tomboy and realized she would have to wear a dress to the wedding. Eventually she, of course, said yes.
Lady India’s royal connection is through her mother, Lady Pamela Hicks, the late Duke of Edinburgh’s first cousin who was also a bridesmaid at his and Her Majesty’s wedding in 1947. India later revealed it was the wedding that had brought her and Diana closer. She said: ‘It was during these rehearsals I got to know Diana, whom I first met at a dress fitting,' she continued. 'Diana was warm and kind to me. Of course, she was a child herself, innocent and awkward.'
Lady India shared that she had gotten to know Princess Diana during their rehearsals leading up to the wedding. India had nothing but good things to say about the Princess of Wales, sharing that 'Diana was warm and kind to me. Of course, she was a child herself, innocent and awkward.'
The night before the wedding, as raucous celebrations broke out across the city, Lady Pamela voiced her worry about getting home and putting her daughter to bed. Princess Margaret then suggested they stay with her and her daughter, Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones, at Kensington Palace. Lady Pamela
