Lyla Dejesus
Queen Camilla's wedding dress broke tradition, but it was another royal's outfit that broke an unwritten rule. Camilla did not wear white on her wedding day, but the late Queen Elizabeth II did. Queen Elizabeth II wore a white overcoat, matching white hat, and black gloves to her son's wedding. There are several theories as to why Queen Elizabeth II wore white, including that she wanted to show her support for the late Princess Diana. Camilla, on the other hand, wore a floor-length pale blue and gold embroidered coat over a matching chiffon dress.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of wedding | 9 April 2005 |
| Colour of wedding dress | Pale blue and gold |
| Type of ceremony | Civil ceremony |
| Previous marriages | Both Charles and Camilla were previously married and divorced |
| Queen Elizabeth II's outfit | White |
| Camilla's outfit to Princess Diana's wedding | Pale grey |
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What You'll Learn
Queen Camilla's wedding dress broke tradition
Secondly, Queen Camilla rewore her wedding dress in 2007, just two years after her wedding, which is typically considered bad luck. She wore it again in 2025 to celebrate her and King Charles' 20th anniversary. The dress was an Anna Valentine design, which has since been repurposed by the same designer with additional embroidery details by the King's Foundation artisan Beth Somerville.
Lastly, the late Queen Elizabeth II, the groom's mother, wore white to the wedding, which is considered a wedding guest 'sin'. She wore a white overcoat, matching white hat, and black gloves. This caused a stir as it is traditionally the bride who wears white.
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Queen Elizabeth II wore white to the wedding
Queen Camilla notably did not wear a white wedding dress when she married King Charles on April 9, 2005. Instead, she wore a pale blue and gold coat over a chiffon dress. However, another royal at the wedding, Queen Elizabeth II, wore white. Queen Elizabeth's outfit consisted of a white overcoat, a matching white hat, and black gloves.
Queen Elizabeth's choice of attire sparked interest and commentary, as it is traditionally considered taboo for guests to wear white to weddings. Wearing white is typically reserved for the bride, and doing so is often seen as an attempt to upstage the couple getting married. However, there are differing opinions on whether Queen Elizabeth's choice to wear white was a breach of etiquette. Some have suggested that the former monarch did not attend the wedding ceremony itself, so the rules of etiquette may not have applied. Additionally, it is fairly common in England to wear light colours, including whites and pastels, to weddings.
Queen Elizabeth's outfit choice may have been a result of several factors. One possibility is that she was already planning to wear her white wardrobe from 1938, which she had created as an alternative to wearing black following her mother's death. Another theory is that she chose her outfit after being informed of Camilla's plans, to avoid any clashing. It is also worth noting that the perception of wearing white to weddings has evolved over time. While it is now seen as a symbol of purity and innocence, historically, it was associated with wealth and status due to the difficulty of maintaining a white outfit's colour.
Queen Elizabeth's wedding dress, which she wore when she married Prince Philip in 1947, was made of ivory silk satin and embellished with 10,000 seed pearls. The design included flower motifs such as jasmine, smilax, lilac, and white rose-like blossoms, with a heart-shaped neckline and long tight sleeves. The choice of ivory silk was influenced by her mother's desire for a "rich, lustrous stiff satin." The dress was kept secret until the wedding day, and its cost during modern times would be approximately £30,000.
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Camilla wore a pale blue dress
Camilla's wedding dress has been a topic of interest for many, especially due to the late Queen Elizabeth II's choice to wear white to her son's wedding. While Camilla did not wear a traditional white wedding dress, she opted for a colourful ensemble, donning a pale blue chiffon gown featuring gold embroidery. This was paired with a matching floor-length embroidered pale blue and gold coat, designed by London-based designers Antonia Robinson and Anna Valentine.
The choice to wear blue was perhaps a strategic one, as some have theorised that Queen Elizabeth II's decision to wear white was a public statement of support for the late Princess Diana. In a striking contrast, footage shows Queen Elizabeth II wearing a bright blue dress to Diana and Charles' wedding in 1981, followed by a photo of Camilla standing in the congregation in a dress that appears white.
The colour blue has continued to feature prominently in Queen Camilla's wardrobe, as she has been seen wearing a range of blue and white ensembles during royal tours, signalling a deeper meaning. According to fashion experts, the combination of blue and white traditionally signifies trust, loyalty, and peace, reflecting a calm yet authoritative presence befitting her royal role.
The choice of colour may also have been influenced by the desire to avoid calling attention to herself, as wearing white to a wedding is often seen as a faux pas. Additionally, it has been noted that Camilla wore a pale grey dress to Princess Diana and Prince Charles' wedding, not white, despite speculation to the contrary based on photographs.
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Camilla wore grey to Princess Diana's wedding
Camilla Parker Bowles, now Queen Consort, wore a pale grey dress with a veiled pillbox hat to the wedding of Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles in 1981. In photos and videos from the day, her outfit often appears to be white. However, it is considered taboo to wear white to a wedding, as it is usually the colour of the bride's dress.
It is speculated that Camilla's choice of outfit was a "quiet rebellion". Diana herself noticed Camilla's attire, as she recalled to Andrew Morton in 1991: "So walking down the aisle, I spotted Camilla, pale grey, veiled pillbox hat". Some have suggested that Camilla's outfit was a "message" to Diana, as the colours grey and white are similar. It is possible that Camilla's outfit was a form of protest, as wearing colours such as white or black when not requested by the couple is often seen as a sign of dissent.
However, it is also possible that Camilla was simply unfamiliar with wedding guest etiquette. As one source notes, "wedding guest etiquette can be a bit of a minefield". Additionally, it was common in England at the time to wear whites and pastels to weddings, so it may not have been as taboo as it would have been in other cultures. Furthermore, light colours can look white on film, so it is possible that the true colour of Camilla's dress was washed out.
Interestingly, Queen Elizabeth II wore white to the church blessing of Charles and Camilla's wedding in 2005. This may have been a deliberate choice, as it is unusual to wear white to a wedding, especially when it is your son's. However, others have suggested that she wore white purely because she liked the colour, and that the rules around etiquette didn't apply as she did not attend the wedding itself.
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Camilla's first wedding dress was white
Camilla wore this white wedding dress for her wedding to Andrew Parker-Bowles. The couple were married in a Roman Catholic ceremony on July 4, 1973, at the Guard's Chapel in London, with members of the Horseguards present. Camilla and Andrew Parker-Bowles remained married until 1995 and had two children together: food writer Tom Parker Bowles (one of King Charles' godsons) and art curator Laura Lopes.
For her second wedding to then-Prince Charles in 2005, Camilla did not wear a white dress. Instead, she wore a cream silk chiffon dress with woven disk appliqués on the hemline and neckline, and a matching oyster silk basket weave coat. This was followed by a religious service, for which she wore a floor-length pale blue and gold embroidered coat over a matching chiffon dress.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Queen Camilla did not wear a black wedding dress. She wore a pale blue and gold embroidered chiffon dress with a matching floor-length coat.
No, Queen Camilla did not wear white to Princess Diana's wedding. She wore a pale grey dress.
Yes, Queen Elizabeth II wore white to Queen Camilla's wedding. She wore a white overcoat, matching white hat, and black gloves.
