Diana's wedding dress designer says he still misses her as he receives MBE

The man who designed Diana, Princess of Wales' wedding dress has been recognised in the King's Birthday Honours list.

Fashion designer David Emanuel, 73, was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for his work with a leading cancer charity.

The cancer-survivor from Bridgend said he still missed Princess Diana and also praised the "brave" King for his openness about his own diagnosis.

Broadcaster and musician Cerys Matthews was also singled out for an honour and appointed an Office of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to music, with the King's 2026 list featuring more than 80 recipients from Wales.

Emanuel and his former wife Elizabeth designed the princess' dress for her wedding to the then-Prince of Wales in 1981.

"She was just extraordinary," he said of Princess Diana.

"That one dress has put me on the world map. It's incredible.

"She was so kind. As beautiful as she was outside, she was inside as well."

Emanuel, who hosts Say Yes To The Dress UK, was honoured for his work with Macmillan Cancer Support.

He had prostate cancer about 12 years ago and during his treatment discussed his illness with a Macmillan nurse who encouraged him to speak out about his diagnosis.

"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 about talking about conditions and illnesses.

"I'm lucky, very lucky that I survived it."

He said the King disclosing his cancer diagnosis in 2024 had encouraged men to look after and speak about their health.

"I think he's managed his cancer incredibly. 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."

The fashion designer said he was looking forward to telling his children about his honour.

"You know, I'm pretty good at keeping secrets.

"I managed to keep a secret of Diana's wedding dress and I haven't even told my children."

Catatonia singer Matthews, from Swansea, and who was made an MBE in 2014, fronts a weekly show on BBC Radio 6 Music.

She dedicated the award to her grandmother Olive "who couldn't follow her dreams in music".

"It took just two generations to see a change – I was a girl born in peacetime and an era where I was free to pursue pretty much any goal I set for myself," she told BBC Wales.

"I hope this kind of forward progression continues, and for a world where all are free to savour autonomy," she added.

Cliff Jones, who was a member of Tottenham's 1961 double-winning side and played for Wales in the 1958 World Cup, is to be made an MBE for his services for Welsh football.

As part of the King's Birthday Honours, long-serving Labour MP Jessica Morden has been made a dame.

She said: "It's clearly been its own reward and privilege to be the MP for Newport East for the past 21 years.

"However, it's very kind to be acknowledged for the work that I've done in the Labour Party over the last 35 years, much of it behind the scenes."

Ally Outten, 31, said she was "shocked" after receiving a letter which said she would receive a British Empire Medal (BEM).

Outten founded a company which loans prom dresses and suits to disadvantaged pupils for free.

She came up with the idea for the scheme when she was at university and heard a story about a girl who could not afford a dress for her end-of-school celebrations.

"It just struck a chord in my head, and I thought, 'well, I've still got my prom dress on the back of my wardrobe door' and most of my friends still did as well.

"I just thought maybe we can offer them out to people to reuse them."

Outten, from Llandudno, Conwy, said it was "really nice to be honoured and recognised, because I've been working so hard on Prom Ally for so many years now".

Mountain rescue volunteer Karl Lester, from Conwy, said finding out he was getting an MBE was "a shock and surprise".

Since 2008, he has participated in more than 555 rescue operations.

"None of us could do it without the support of family and friends.

"I'm really humbled that someone thinks that highly of me to put me forward for it. It is a big surprise."

He added it would be great if the news of his award would "help raise the profile of mountain rescue, what we do in terms of mountain safety and what we do as volunteers".

Others on the list from Wales include Philippa Ruth Penney, 75, from Monmouthshire, who gets an MBE for church bell ringing.

Kiera Louise Jones, 47, from Carmarthen, also receives an MBE for services to nursing, as does Gwynne Walker, 40, from Brecon, for services to military training and Alys Cole-King, 59, from Conwy, for services to suicide prevention.

Meanwhile, Julie Jones was awarded a BEM for services to music after establishing the Llandeilo Fawr Festival.

Also awarded a BEM was Sudha Bhatt, 74, from Cardiff, for services to community cohesion in Wales, David Cottle, 68, from Swansea, for services to jazz music and Jayne Knight, 69, from Denbighshire, for services to people with learning disabilities.

The King's Birthday Honours awards celebrate the contribution of well-known personalities, government employees and ordinary people who have served their community.

Honours are typically awarded by the King, Prince of Wales or Princess Royal at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle or the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Recipients can select their investiture's date and location but not which member of the Royal Family presides over the ceremony.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens said the recipients had been "commended for their contributions to their communities, to sport, to charity, the arts and to improving the lives of others - often giving their time and effort for free".

She added: "The work of these inspirational individuals has a huge impact across Wales and I thank each and every one of them for their valuable contributions to Welsh society."