The Surprising Link Between Queen Camilla's Old Title and Princess Diana's Secret Alias Revealed in New Documentary

Long before she walked down the aisle in what would become one of the most iconic wedding dresses of the 20th century, Princess Diana was hiding in plain sight—under a name now loaded with royal irony: Deborah Cornwall.

The alias, recently revealed by designer Elizabeth Emanuel in the Channel 5 documentary Secrets of Diana's Wedding Dress, was used to protect Diana's identity during the creation of her bridal gown. But four decades on, the codename has resurfaced with new meaning—connected not just to Diana's short-lived royal title, but to Queen Camilla herself.

Why 'Deborah Cornwall'?

According to Emanuel, the pseudonym was chosen for practical purposes, allowing Diana to attend fittings and make calls discreetly in the lead-up to her wedding to Prince Charles in July 1981. The surname Cornwall was a nod to the duchy Charles holds and the courtesy title Diana would assume upon marriage: Duchess of Cornwall.

At the time, Diana was more famously known as the Princess of Wales, and the title of Duchess of Cornwall carried little emotional weight. Today, however, it is closely associated with Camilla—now Queen Camilla—whose relationship with Charles would become one of the most controversial royal narratives of the modern era.

In a twist of fate, the alias Diana used to shield herself from the press now echoes the very title adopted by the woman often blamed for the breakdown of her marriage.

A Hidden Dress and a Secret Name

The documentary details the extreme lengths the design team, Elizabeth and David Emanuel, went to in order to maintain secrecy. Reporters attempted to bribe staff and rummaged through bins, prompting the designers to throw out decoy fabric samples and employ two full-time security guards, Bert and Jim, to guard their West London studio.

They even created a second wedding gown as a backup. 'I thought, what happens if someone steals the dress, or there's a fire?' Elizabeth recalled to People Magazine. 'So I made a backup dress.'

Diana, keen to thank the seamstresses personally, once visited the atelier in disguise. 'They were almost crying,' said Emanuel. 'She was just so warm, so real.'

The Dress That Changed Royal Fashion

The final gown—complete with a record-breaking 25-foot train, hand-sewn lace, and voluminous puffed sleeves—cemented Diana's status as a global style icon. Yet behind the dramatic silhouette was a tight-knit team working in a cramped attic under intense pressure. Diana's waist reportedly slimmed down to 23 inches during fittings, forcing the team to remake parts of the bodice.

'We couldn't make an understated dress,' said David Emanuel. 'It had to be significant.'

A Title Etched in Royal History

For Elizabeth Emanuel, who now designs for stars like Madonna, Dua Lipa and Rita Ora, the experience still shapes her legacy. 'It's really dominated my life ever since,' she says in the documentary.

As for the alias Deborah Cornwall, it is now seen in a new light. Once a codename meant to safeguard Diana's privacy, it has become a poetic symbol—tying together two women linked by love, legacy, and the ever-shifting politics of royal titles.

Secrets of Diana's Wedding Dress airs 28 June at 9 p.m. on Channel 5 in the UK.