Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty ; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty ; Anwar Hussein/Getty ; Patrick ROBERT/Sygma
While the style will vary from royal bride to royal bride (Princess Margaret’s Norman Hartnell gown was once called “the simplest royal wedding gown in history,” whilePrincess Charlene of Monaco’sGiorgio Armanicreation took a team of seamstresses more than three months to put together and boasted 40,000Swarovski crystals), they are all utterly unforgettable.
Here are the best royal wedding dresses of all time.
Princess Diana
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So cumbersome was the train that Diana told bridesmaid India Hicks to do her “best” while carrying it down the aisle. “We knew what that meant: If we pulled too much, straightening the material, her tiara and veil would slip,” Hicks toldHarper’s Bazaarin 2018. “But if we didn’t pull enough, the effect of the train would be lost.”
Additionally, the gown featured a ruffled neckline, a puffy skirt and voluminous sleeves. Inside were two hidden gems: a blue bow at the waistband for her “something blue” and a little gold horseshoe as a good luck charm.
The people’s princess also wore a custom tulle veil that was hand-stitched with 10,000 micro-pearls to create what Elizabeth Emanuel later called a “fairy dust effect” toVogue U.K.“We used the same sequins on the gown itself, so that it would also sparkle as Diana walked down the aisle,” she said.
Kate Middleton
Chris Jackson/Getty
The dress’s English Cluny and French Chantilly lace was hand-cut and hand-appliquéd with a rose, a thistle, a daffodil and a shamrock to represent the four countries that make up the United Kingdom. This was accomplished using an old Irish Carrickmacross lace-making technique that Kate claimed as her “something old,” perBBC. Meanwhile, a blue ribbon was sewn into the dress’s interior as her “something blue.”
With such intricate detailing, embroiderers were reportedly required towash their hands every 30 minutesto keep the garment clean, with needles being renewed every three hours.
Meghan Markle
Andrew Matthews - WPA Pool/Getty
Between its pure white hue and delicate double-bondedsilk cady material, those sewing the gown took special care: They were instructed towash their handsevery 30 minutes “to keep the tulle and threads pristine.” Waight Keller later explained, “Over a period of time, you build up oils on your hand and when you work on something of such purity — absolute pure white — you need to keep it immaculately clean … There were many people involved in the workmanship, and obviously it took an enormous amount of hours to do it.”
The bride’s 16-foot veil was highly symbolic as it was designed torepresent the 53 countries of the Commonwealthas well as Markle’s home state of California. “We both loved the story of that,” Waight Keller said. “It also meant that every single one of those countries also journeyed up the aisle with her. It was a really poetic moment.”
The veil also contained a hidden piece of fabric from Meghan’s first date withPrince Harry. “Somewhere in here there’s a piece of blue fabric that’s stitched inside,“the Duchess of Sussex saidin the HBO documentaryQueen of the World.
Embroideredcrops of wheat, which symbolize love and charity, were also worked into the front of the veil.
Queen Elizabeth II
Hulton Archive/Getty
The Queen’s “something borrowed” came from theQueen Mary diamond fringe tiara, which once belonged to her grandmother, Mary of Teck. Though it snapped ahead of her nuptials, the bride had it quickly repaired — but a slight gap at the center of the diamond frame remained.
Princess Eugenie
Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie.Steve Parsons - WPA Pool/Getty
The result was a stunning piece from every angle, including a low-cut back to show off a scar Eugenie obtained at the age of 12 fromsurgery to correct scoliosis. “I think you can change the way beauty is, and you can show people your scars and I think it’s really special to stand up for that,“the royal saidin an interview onThis Morning.
With a neckline that folded down at the shoulders and dipped into a low V-back, the dress flowed into a long cathedral train. It also featured several meaningful motifs that were sewn into the jacquard, silk, cotton and viscose fabric, including a thistle forBalmoral Castlein Scotland, ivy for the couple’sformer home at Ivy Cottageand a shamrock to represent motherSarah Ferguson’s Irish roots.
As for accessories, Eugenie borrowed theGreville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiarafrom the Queen, which matched a pair of diamond-and-emerald drop earrings she received as a gift from Brooksbank. She completed her bridal ensemble withCharlotte Olympia peep-toe heels.
Princess Beatrice
Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Princess Beatrice.Benjamin Wheeler/PA Wire
Meanwhile, the skirtdrew a comparisonto mom Sarah Ferguson’s 1986 Lindka Cierach wedding dress: It was tweaked to be lined in Duchesse satin — the same materialas the Duchessof York’s sleeves.
Lady Gabriella Windsor
Thomas Kingston and Lady Gabriella.Andrew Parsons - WPA Pool/Getty
Lady Gabriella Windsorentrusted Luisa Beccaria to create herbespoke blush gownfor her 2019 nuptials to financier Thomas Kingston. With a lace overlay, which featured embroidered flowers and jewels over layers of tulle, the color was difficult to nail down, Beccaria explained toVogue. “It was a lot of work — and to obtain the [correct] color was really complicated,” she told the outlet. “We had to put so many different layers of blush and cream organdy tulle so that it looked like just a little touch of blush. … She wanted something modest and not that obvious.”
According to the Italian designer, the bride was sure to incorporate Valencienne lace and a modern sensibility. “She fell in love with a certain lace. I had it special embroidered in her own color,” she said. “She didn’t want to go too much into the past and do something so formal. We tried to incorporate a little bit of tradition, though.”
As for the silhouette, the royal wanted to avoid anything too voluminous, so the designer kept the front of the gown “quite skinny.” They left the focus on the long train and nearly 20-foot veil, which also had a touch of blush. “We decided to leave Lady Ella’s dress very simple in the front,” Beccaria added. “And she wanted long sleeves and embroidery that goes over the hand, like a glove.”
Lady Gabriella wore aRussian fringe-style tiarafull of diamonds that belonged to her grandmother,Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark.
Grace Kelly, Princess of Monaco
Mondadori via Getty
The actress’s gown included a high-neck lace bodice that buttoned up the front and was embroidered with hand-sewn seed pearls and a pleated, bell-shaped silk faille taffeta skirt.
In place of a tiara, the princess wore alace Juliet Cap, also embellished with pearls, beneath a veil stitched at the edges to showcase two lovebirds.
The gown is now on display at thePhiladelphia Museum of Art, where Kelly donated it shortly after the wedding in a nod to her hometown.
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York
The dress was also rife with meaning. The bodice was beaded with the letter “S” four times and bumblebees and thistles — symbols from the duchess’s new coat of arms — and edged with pearls, theLos Angeles Timesreported. The train featured matching embroidery, plus that of anchors and waves in a nod to Andrew’s Royal Navy background. At its center was a large “A,” also for the groom. “The most important thing to me was thatSarah loved it,” Cierach told PEOPLE in 1986. “I wanted her sense of fun to come out in the dress.”
The gown was estimated to cost roughly $45,000 and took the designer and her team about four months to create, along with a second replica that was made forMadame Tussaud’s Wax Museum.
Ferguson paired it with theYork Diamond Tiara.
Princess Charlene of Monaco
Andreas Rentz/Getty
“My uncle wanted to make sure the dress was timeless and sophisticated,” Roberta Armani, Giorgio’s niece,toldVogue.
The gown itself, which featured a shoulder-baring neckline and a 16-foot train, used roughly 426 feet of silk. “It was such a huge responsibility that we actually made two dresses, just in case something happened to one of them,” Roberta added.
It also had a jaw-dropping66-foot-long veil, which was kept simple to leave the emphasis on her gown.
As for the bride’s hair, Charlene told the magazine that she forwent a tiara in lieu of family heirlooms from her sister-in-law. “Princess Carolinehas lent me some beautiful diamond hair clips which belonged to her grandmother,” she said.
Alessandra de Osma
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Ekaterina Malysheva
Gisela Schober/Getty
Russian fashion designerEkaterina Malyshevahad not one, not two, but three bespoke wedding looks for her 2017 nuptials to Prince Christian’s elder brother, Prince Ernst-August Jr. Malysheva commissioned Lebanese designer Sandra Mansour to create all three. “Each piece tells the story and shows a different side to the bride,” Mansour toldVogue U.K..
The main wedding gown, meanwhile, boasted hand-embroidered chantilly lace with a pearl overlay that took four months to create. It also featured a sweeping fairytale-esque train that fanned out into a circle.
Lady Charlotte Wellesley
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Elisabetta María Rosboch von Wolkenstein
Elisabetta Villa/Getty
The bride of Belgium’s Prince Amedeo,Elisabetta María Rosboch von Wolkenstein, said “I do” to the royal in a Valentino Haute Couture masterpiece with a sheer Swiss-dot fabric overlay, complete with embroidery at the neckline and bust, over a strapless base with a ballgown skirt.
Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece
Tim Graham Photo Library
Nothing but couture would do for Marie-Chantal née Miller, who became Crown Princess of Greece when she exchanged vows with her husbandPavlos, Crown Prince of Greece.
The pair married on July 1, 1995, with the bride in a Valentino gown. The high-neck lace dress featured floral motifs and was encrusted with pearls. Its ivory silk skirt was decorated with rose appliqués. Behind the bride was a nearly 15-foot veil, and her mother-in-lawQueen Anne-Marie’s antique corsage tiara was on her head.
Princess Margaret
Fox Photos/Getty
Princess Margaret’s wedding dress was not overly extravagant, withLifemagazine reportedly calling it “the simplest royal wedding gown in history.” The Norman Hartnell creation featuredsilk organza materialand minimal crystal embellishments, focusing on the voluminous skirt and modest V-neckline.
Queen Rania of Jordan
RABIH MOGHRABI/AFP
Bruce Oldfield was behind the dressQueen Rania of Jordanwore to walk down the aisle at her 1993 wedding toAbdullah II of Jordanat Zahran Palace. The British designer reportedly drew inspiration from Syrian gowns at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum, ultimately crafting a voluminous ballgown with a belted waist and a bolero jacket with intricate gold-and-white beading at the neckline, skirt, collar and three-quarter-length sleeves. Though Rania forwent a tiara, she wore a sparkly hairpiece to match her dress, a veil and a pair of gloves that stopped at the wrist.
Queen Soraya of Iran
Bettmann
Princess Mabel of Orange-Nassau
Michel Porro/Getty
For Princess Mabel van Oranje’s big day, she commissioned Viktor & Rolf to create an inimitable bateau neck gown embellished with georgette silk bows, the largest of which could be seen at the end of her nearly 10-foot long train. According toThe Guardian, it took the designers 600 hours to finish it in time for the royal to exchange vows with her late husband, Prince Friso, who died from complications of a skiing accident in 2013.
Queen Sonja of Norway
Keystone/Getty
Queen Sonja of Norway’s Molstad gown was a reflection of the decade for her 1968 wedding to Crown Prince Harald. The dress featured an A-line cut and high neckline with pearl embellishments, which were also sprinkled along the sleeves. The train was attached at the shoulders for a cape-like effect. In lieu of a tiara, Sonja placed artificial flowers in her hair.
Empress Michiko of Japan
Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden
Torsten Laursen/Getty
Princess Ariana Austin Makonnen of Ethiopia
Dotun Ayodeji
The ornate dress featured a billowing tulle skirt that pouffed at the back and a beaded bodice in place of jewels. “The beading on the bodice of my dress was incredible, so I wore very little jewelry,” the bride said. “Just a simple pair of diamond drop earrings.”
‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso, Queen Consort of Lesotho
Patrick ROBERT/Sygma
Born Anna Karabo, Lesotho’s queen consort ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso looked majestic in her long-sleeved wedding dress to marry King Letsie III in 2000. Its layered, split-front skirt even featured beaded crown embellishments! Up top, a lace bodice gave way to a bejeweled cummerbund.
Princess Madeleine of Sweden, Duchess of Hälsingland
“Working with Princess Madeleine has just been so easy,” said designer Valentino Garavani. “She is a very lovely girl. She is modern, fun, full of energy and enthusiasm, and she is so beautiful. It has been a pleasure and an honor.”
Queen Camilla
Anwar Hussein Collection/ROTA/WireImage
Though King Charles’second weddingtoCamilla, Queen Consort, was a far more subdued affair than his first, as was the bride’s gown, she changed into a second dress on her big day.
The Queen Consort chose a Robinson Valentine whitesilk chiffon gownwith scalloped edging and a matching white overcoat. She paired it with an ornate cream Philip Treacy hat for the couple’s daytimecivil ceremonyat Windsor Guildhall.
Princess Camilla, Duchess of Castro
BENAINOUS/COCHARD/SCORCELLETTI/Gamma-Rapho
Italy’s Princess Camilla, Duchess of Castro, wed Prince Carlo in 1998. Her one-of-a-kind wedding dress consisted of a sheer overlay with floral appliqués across the bodice and in a band at the neck, over a white strapless silhouette with a full skirt. She donned a floral-detailed veil, featuring a sprig of flowers where it attached to her hair.
Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty
Mary Donaldson, Crown Princess of Denmark, wore her own bateau-style wedding dress to exchange vows withFrederick, Crown Prince of Denmark, in 2004. Made of Duchesse satin, the bride’s Uffe Frank gown was ivory and boasted a 19-foot train.
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway
Princess Märtha Louise of Norway wore a two-piece ensemble for her 2002 marriage to Ari Behn.
The couple divorced in 2017.
Princess Josephine-Charlotte of Belgium
Kurt Hutton/Keystone/Getty
Empress Masako of Japan
TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP
Mary, Princess Royal and Countess of Harewood
The white-and-silver silk train was emblazoned with flowers that represented the British Empire, including the English rose, the Welsh daffodil, the Canadian maple and the New Zealand fern. Indian lotus flowers were also embroidered into the veil.
Princess Mary also wore a flower bridal wreath on her head.
Princess Stéphanie de Lannoy, Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg
A lavish two-day wedding ceremony, like the one Princess Stéphanie de Lannoy and Prince Guillaume, Hereditary Grand Duke of Luxembourg had, required a lavish dress. Elie Saab delivered for the bride with a lace gown with silver floral embroidery, three-quarter sleeves and a 16-foot train that spanned a large portion of the aisle of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral,USA Todayreported.
Princess Anne
Queen Noor of Jordan
Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg
source: people.com
