From Queen Elizabeth’s Pearls and Meghan Markle’s Givenchy veil, to Kate Middleton’s Alexander McQueen creation and Princess Diana’s iconic tiara
Britain is quite renowned for their taste in gowns. It is a symbolic fashion element which has transcended from years ago till present day. In Britain, gowns are often worn to balls, weddings and social functions. The royal family has also been known for showcasing beautiful wedding gowns over the past years.
In a low-key wedding on July 17, two years ago, British royal Princess Beatrice, the eldest daughter of Prince Andrew, wed Italian noble and real estate tycoon Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. This is not the only royal wedding anniversary this month; on July 30, 2011, her aunt Princess Anne’s daughter Zara wed rugby player Mike Tindall, and most recently, her half-sister Stephanie also chose a summer wedding date. However, one of the most famous royal wedding dresses was worn in 1981, on the wedding day of Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana, on July 29. Here are some historical royal wedding attire examples.
- Princess Beatrice’s hand-me-down from Queen Elizabeth
Princess Beatrice, the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, wore the same Queen Mary Fringe Tiara that Queen Elizabeth wore on her own wedding day in November 1947 when she married Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in 2020. Queen Mary had ordered the tiara from Garrard in 1919. But it wasn’t the only historical artifact about Princess Beatrice; the queen also gave her granddaughter a dress by 20th-century designer Norman Hartnell made of Peau De Soie taffeta and organza. The item is recognizable from photos taken in the 1960s of the queen wearing it at various occasions. A Duchesse satin trim and a distinctive pattern of diamanté are notable features, although triple organza sleeves and other reversible changes were also made.
- Meghan Markle’s incredible veil
British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller collaborated with French fashion brand Givenchy on the Duchess of Sussex’s wedding gown in May 2018. The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, and according to the official British royal website, Markle and Waight Keller collaborated closely on its design. “The pure lines of the dress were achieved using six meticulously placed seams,” the website states. Because the American-born Duchess of Sussex chose to take into account the 53 Commonwealth nations, the designer’s creation of a distinctive floral arrangement for the veil is particularly outstanding.
- Kate Middleton’s Victorian-style bodice
The iconic dress Kate wore when she entered Westminster Abbey in London was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The dress has a silk net bodice that was appliquéd with floral designs cut from machine-made lace. The bodice was designed in the manner of the Victorian era, with little padding at the hips to highlight a slim waist and 58 organza and gazar buttons on the back secured by Rouleau loops. According to the company, the long, voluminous skirt produced a semi-bustle at the back and was “intended to imitate an emerging flower, with delicate pleats which unfolded to the floor.” Kate’s dress had a train that was slightly under three meters long.
- Princess Diana’s spectacular train and tiara
The striking ivory silk taffeta gown that Lady Diana Spencer wore to her marriage to the Prince of Wales in July 1981 was created by David and Elizabeth Emanuel. The beautiful dress had a tight, boned bodice with embroidered panels made from Queen Mary’s lace. The wife of Prince Charles attracted further attention for her outfit because it was adorned with shimmering pearls and sequins in the shape of a heart. But what really stole the show was her ivory silk tulle veil, which was secured by the Spencer family’s diamond tiara, and her 7.6-meter-long (25-foot-long) train.
- Queen Elizabeth’s pearl and crystal spread
When Queen Elizabeth was still Princess Elizabeth and had not yet come to the throne, she married the late Prince Philip in November 1947. She wore a Sir Norman Hartnell-designed ivory duchesse satin dress with a rose of York hand-embroidered with 10,000 pearls and crystals. The dress, according to the designer, was inspired by Botticelli’s picture Primavera, which represents the arrival of spring. According to the Royal Family website, it had a spreading skirt, a fitted bodice with a heart-shaped neckline and long, tight sleeves, and a four-meter, 13-foot train with flower and wheat embroidery on “transparent tulle accented in seed pearls and crystal.”
