The Jewish Chronicle

The week that was: 11 March

In a new series for every issue during 2016, we look back at events that took place in the same week over the JC's 175-year history.

March 10, 2016 11:06
Princess Diana wedding dress 1

ByAnonymous, Anonymous

1 min read

March 10 1950:
Jews in Iraq were looking forward to leaving the country after lawmakers in Baghdad passed an emergency bill allowing them to emigrate. Under the law, which was valid for only one year, any departing Jew would have to renounce their Iraqi citizenship and leave a deposit of £2,000 with the government. A call to give remaining Jewish citizens equal rights was rejected. The position of Iraq’s 120,000 Jews had become increasingly precarious since the establishment of Israel two years before.

March 13 1981: Planning was under way for fashion designers David and Elizabeth Emanuel’s most important commission — Lady Diana Spencer’s wedding dress. The couple were chosen to create the gown the future Princess Diana was to wear at her marriage to Prince Charles at St Paul’s Cathedral on July 29. The Emanuels said they were designing something "romantic” for the occasion. A black strapless Emanuel gown had caused a stir when it was worn by Diana at a gala dinner earlier in the month.