Designers of Diana’s wedding dress ‘amicably’ settle High Court claim
David Emanuel brought legal action against his former spouse and co-designer Elizabeth Emanuel over an alleged breach of copyright.
Two fashion designers who crafted Diana, Princess of Wales’s wedding dress have settled a High Court claim over the auctioning of drawings of their designs.
David Emanuel brought legal action against his former spouse and business partner Elizabeth Emanuel, as well as a south London auction house, over alleged copyright infringement.
The High Court in London was told that the pair designed and produced a number of clothes for Diana – the mother of the Prince of Wales and the Duke of Sussex – including several evening gowns and a blouse worn for her official engagement portrait.
According to court documents, Mr Emanuel previously claimed Ms Emanuel had infringed his copyright by reproducing drawings of the designs they had collaborated on and putting them up for sale without his consent, including of Diana’s wedding dress.
However in a statement on Friday, the pair announced they had settled the case “amicably”.
Ms Emanuel said: “During our time together, David and I created many of the most famous clothes of the 20th century.
“David was instrumental in the success of The Emanuel Partnership and I am glad that we have put our recent differences behind us and can now look forward to continuing our respective careers.”
Mr Emanuel said: “Emanuel was at the forefront of haute couture in the 1980s until Elizabeth and I went our separate ways.
“Our creations were very much in demand from the world’s most famous women throughout that period.
“We had a very distinctive house style and in keeping with that we created some of the most iconic dresses of the 20th century.”
