Princess Diana’s wedding dress designer blasts Meghan for not championing clothes by British designers - and points out that 'French couture doesn't come cheap'
- David Emanuel, 62, designed Lady Diana's wedding dress and other outfits
- Designer says he wished the Duchess of Sussex would wear more British brands
- Questioned choice of French couture house for her wedding dress
- Said he hopes she will use Archie's wardrobe to champion British labels
The designer behind Princess Diana's iconic wedding dress has hit out at her daughter-in-law Mehgan for not championing more British designers in her royal wardrobe.
In an exclusive interview with Yahoo UK's The Royal Box, fashion Designer David Emanuel, 62, urged Meghan use her profile to support British brands both through her own choices and how she dresses her son, Archie.
'I really do feel very strongly that now she is married into the Royal Family "The Firm" as we know it, I think she should be supporting British designers quite frankly,' he said.
'I followed the Royal tour - she was in Australia, Fiji and Tonga and I think there was only something like three British designers represented,' he added, although the true number was in fact 20 British designers out of 74 labels.
He also noted that Meghan's love for designer labels, including Givenchy, saying: 'As we know, French couture is not inexpensive.
Meghan loves to wear couture, but the designer behind Lady Diana's wedding dress said he wished she'd wear more British brands (pictured: Wearing a coat by Sentaler and dress by Aritzia - both Canadian designers and a bag by American Gabriella Hearst in Birkenhead in January)
David Emmanuel (pictured), 62, said Meghan's wardrobe should be more British, as she is a member of the royal family
Meghan, wearing a coat by Italian brand Emporio Armani and pregnancy dress by Swedish budget brand H&M
Following the birth of baby Archie, Emanuel said he could see Baby Sussex sporting English fashion, such as ' little shirts, Peter Pan collars, Mother of Pearl buttons and little shorts as he gets older.'
'But American is Meghan. Meghan is American. So who knows, he might be in baby Ralph Lauren? Who knows,' he said.
Emanuel added that dressing a baby in all Ralph Lauren would be 'expensive' and 'unnecessary,' adding: 'But you know she's the Mother. If she wants to put him in baby Ralph Lauren, it will be in baby Ralph Lauren.'
Emmanuel complained that, while Givenchy, the dress worn by Meghan on her wedding day to Prince Harry has been made in France (pictured)
Meghan and Harry with their son Archie, born on 6 May. Will Archie be Baby Classic English or will his America mother dress him in Ralph Lauren?
Keep it chic like the Duchess of Sussex in a double-breasted dress by Wales Bonner
The world has been waiting for a glimpse of the newest member of the Royal Family, but of course we want to see the proud new parents too!
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex introduced their newborn son Archie at Windsor Castle last week, and they looked positively glowing with pride.
We all remember the Jenny Packham dresses that the Duchess of Cambridge wore when leaving the hospital with each of her three children, and we're certainly going to remember this beautiful look on Meghan.
She teamed a belted white double breasted midi dress by Wales Bonner, with her Jennifer Meyer turquoise necklace and some nude suede court shoes by Manolo Blahnik.
British designer Grace Wales Bonner's pieces are all about clever tailoring, which explains the tuxedo detail on this elegant midi.
Feeling inspired to copy Meghan's new motherly style? We love the dress/jacket hybrid design, and we've rounded up some similar alternatives below. Wear with nude pumps, or layer with some cropped culottes.
'But please, Meghan, if anything, buy British!' he exclaimed.
Emanuel, who famously designed the dress worn by the late Lady Diana on the day of her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981, said he was sad to see royals turn to non-British designers for their bridal gowns.
'The last couple of weddings is that they've gone off-piste a bit. The Duchess of Sussex for instance, she went to Givenchy,' he said. 'Yes it was a British designer, but the gown was made in France.'
Meghan and Prince Harry exiting Westminster Abbey on Commonwealth Day in March. Meghan is wearing a matching coat and dress from Victoria Beckham
'It's not for me to say, but I think it must have cost a small fortune.'
Talking about the late Diana, and how she would seeing Harry experience fatherhood for the first time, he said:
'She loved children. I should imagine she would be gloriously happy to see Harry with a baby. It could have been and should have been fabulous. But unfortunately it didn't turn out like that.'
While Diana turned to Emanuel for her gown, her daughter-in-law Kate Middleton made the unexpected decision to turn to Alexander McQueen for her gown.
Emanuel designed the dress worn by Lady Diana in 1981, with its 7.62 meter-long train, on the day of her wedding to Prince Charles
Meghan's love for designers is well-known, and she will gladly wear one brand head to toe. She's often seen wearing haute couture brands such as French Dior and American Ralph Lauren.
However, her love of fashion also spreads to British designers' pieces as much as foreign's.
For instance, on Commonwealth Day, Meghan sported a matching coat and dress from British designer - and her close friend - Victoria Beckham.
During her pregnancy, some of Meghan's outfit carefully incorporated at least one item by a British designer.
