Fashion designer David Emanuel, who co-created Princess Diana's iconic wedding dress, has been awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours for his services to charity through Macmillan Cancer Support. The 73-year-old kept the honour a secret from his family, including his children, until the official announcement.
Personal Connection to Macmillan
Mr Emanuel revealed his deep connection to the charity after being diagnosed with prostate cancer 12 years ago. During treatment, a Macmillan nurse encouraged him to speak openly about his condition. 'And I did and I got loads of replies. It was quite amazing,' he said. 'Because of that Macmillan asked, would I be an ambassador for them. And I said yes, by which time I'd read more and realised that men in particular are very bad at talking about conditions and illnesses.'
He added: 'It has just been so rewarding, because it just makes you feel great when you talk to people. I'm lucky, very lucky, that I survived it.'
Praise for the King
The designer also praised the King for being open about his cancer diagnosis, describing his approach as 'very brave'. He suggested that the King's public disclosure in early 2024 has prompted men to prioritise and discuss their health more openly. 'It makes men now finally react,' said Mr Emanuel. 'If the King is suffering, you think: Well I should get checked. It's very brave. I was brought up to be sort of more private about it, but now I talk from the hilltops, I don't care. You're given a second chance, and you want to help others, that's what it's about.'
Keeping Secrets
Speaking to the Press Association, Mr Emanuel said he was looking forward to finally sharing news of his honour with his family after months of secrecy. 'You know, I'm pretty good at keeping secrets,' he said. 'I managed to keep a secret of Diana's wedding dress and I haven't even told my children.'
