When did Prince Charles and Princess Diana marry? Date of wedding day - and age difference explained

The wedding gown, designed by David Emmanuel, that Princess Diana wore on her wedding day has gone on display in an exhibit at Kensington Palace.

But when did Princess Diana and Prince Charles marry - and how much of an age difference was there between them?

This is everything you need to know.

How old was Diana when she married Charles?

Diana first met Prince Charles in November, 1977, when she was 16 years old. Charles was 29 and dating her older sister, Sarah, at the time.

It was in 1980 when Charles took interest in Diana, and by 1981 the two were engaged, when Diana was just 19 years old.

The engagement was announced on 24 February 1981 and they were married on 29 July 1981. Diana was 20 years old when they married - Charles was 32.

They were married in St Paul's Cathedral in a ceremony that was globally televised and drew in millions of viewers. The wedding reception was held at Buckingham Palace.

Diana gave birth to their first child the following year. Prince William Arthur Philip Louis of Wales was born on 21 June 1982. On 15 September 1984, she then gave birth to Prince Henry “Harry” Charles Albert David.

Where can I see her wedding dress?

You’ll be able to get a close up look at the wedding dress that Diana wore in 1981 at Kensington Palace.

The dress, complete with its 25ft sequin encrusted train, will be on show for the first time in 25 years.

Diana’s children, the Dukes of Cambridge and Sussex, loaned the grown to the London exhibition Royal Style in the Making, which opens to the public from 3 June, and will continue into the new year.

The temporary exhibition looks at what it is like to design an outfit for a royal, and explores “the intimate relationship between fashion designer and royal client, revealing the process behind the creation of a number of the most important couture commissions in royal history”.

As well as the Princess of Wales’ wedding dress, also on display is a rare, surviving toile from the 1937 coronation gown of Queen Elizabeth.

Organisers say that “the display also features never seen before items from the archives of some of the most celebrated royal couturers of the 20th century, set alongside examples of the glittering gowns and stylish tailoring created for three generations of royal women”.

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Can I buy tickets?

If you’re hoping to visit the exhibition, you’ll need to pre-book your ticket in advance.

This is to allow the exhibition to meet social distancing requirements.

You won’t be able to enter the palace without a ticket, however the duration of your visit is not impacted in any way. Under five’s go free and do not need a ticket.

National Art Fund Pass holders are entitled to free entry to both the palace and the Royal Style in the Making exhibition by presenting a valid Art Fund Pass on the day of their visit. Art Fund members are unable to pre-book tickets, but will be admitted to the first available time slot when they visit.

The admission ticket includes access to all public areas of the palace and gardens, and takes you on a one way route through the palace to:

- Victoria: a royal childhood

- The King’s state apartments

- The Queens state apartments

- Royal Style in the Making exhibition

Adult (age 18-64) tickets cost £23, child (age 5-15) tickets cost £11.50 and concession (age 65+, 16-17, full time students) tickets cost £18.40.

Alternatively you can buy a Family Saver 1 ticket which covers one adult and up to three children for £40.20, or a Family Saver 2 ticket, which covers two adults and up to three children from £63.20.

Once you’ve bought your tickets, you can choose to receive them via email or by post.