Deborah Chan
Royal weddings are a grand affair, with celebrities and royals in attendance and billions watching on TV. Guests are expected to follow a strict dress code, with men wearing a uniform, morning coat, or lounge suit, and women in day dresses and hats. The royal family also has a dress code, with certain rules for different occasions, and the Queen must approve the bride's wedding dress.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bride's dress approval | The Queen must approve the royal bride's wedding dress before she walks down the aisle |
| Bride's dress colour | White or cream |
| Bride's dress features | Long sleeves, high neckline, no cleavage, no shoulders |
| Bride's bouquet | Must contain myrtle |
| Bride's tiara | Optional, but often a family heirloom |
| Male guests' dress code | Uniform, morning coat or lounge suit |
| Female guests' dress code | Day dress with a hat |
| Female guests' hosiery | Tights |
| Female guests' handbag | Small |
| Male guests' dress colour | Navy or grey suits are customary |
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What You'll Learn
Royal wedding guest dress code: hats, no cleavage, shoulders, or back
Royal weddings are a grand affair, with celebrities, royalty, and the media in attendance. Guests are expected to follow a strict dress code, which can be a small price to pay for passage into these glamorous events.
For men, the daytime formal dress code is a morning coat, waistcoat, tie, and striped trousers. They can also wear a uniform or a lounge suit. It is customary to wear navy or grey suits, and garish waistcoats or ties should be avoided.
For women, the dress code is a day dress with a hat. The dress should be modest, with no visible cleavage, shoulders, or back. Women can also wear a fashionable jacket to cover up. Small handbags are permitted, and tights are expected.
Guests should also be mindful of the type of hat they wear. While hats with giant flowers, feathers, and ribbons are common, they should not be too large or over-the-top, as this can obstruct the view of those seated behind. Fascinators are also acceptable.
Overall, the royal wedding dress code is conservative and traditional, and guests are expected to obey the standards of British etiquette and the Church of England.
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Royal wedding guest handbag rule: only small bags are permitted
Royal weddings are a huge event, with billions watching on television and in the news. Guests are expected to bring their finest fashion game and follow a strict dress code. One of the lesser-known rules is the royal wedding guest handbag rule, which states that only small bags are permitted.
This rule may seem frivolous, but it is quite practical. With so many guests in attendance, large bags could take up valuable space and cause congestion. Small bags also ensure that guests can move around easily and not worry about misplacing their belongings.
The royal wedding dress code for guests includes guidelines for both men and women. Men are expected to wear a uniform, morning coat, or lounge suit. Morning dress is the daytime formal dress code, and it includes a morning coat, waistcoat, tie, and striped trousers. Navy or grey suits are customary, and garish waistcoats or ties should be avoided.
Women, on the other hand, are expected to wear a day dress with a hat. The hat should not be too large or over-the-top, as it could block the view of those seated behind. Etiquette expert Myka Meier emphasizes that the royal wedding is a conservative event, and guests should avoid showing excessive skin. No visible cleavage, shoulders, or back should be on display.
Overall, the royal wedding guest handbag rule is just one of the many guidelines that guests must follow to ensure they are appropriately dressed for the occasion.
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Royal wedding dress colour: white or cream
Royal weddings are a huge event, with a lot of specific traditions and guidelines that brides must follow. One of the most important aspects is the wedding dress, which is traditionally white.
The tradition of wearing a white wedding dress is commonly credited to Queen Victoria, who wore a white court dress to her wedding to Prince Albert in 1840. Prior to Queen Victoria, royal brides did not typically wear white, opting instead for "heavy brocaded gowns embroidered with white and silver thread," with red being a particularly popular colour in Western Europe. Debutantes were required to wear white court dresses for their first presentation at court, and white dresses offered an opportunity for conspicuous consumption, signalling that the bride's family was wealthy enough that she could choose a dress that would be ruined by any sort of work or spill.
In recent years, ivory has become an increasingly popular choice for wedding dresses, offering a softer, more romantic and vintage-inspired look. Ivory is a warm, slightly off-white colour with subtle undertones of yellow or cream, which gives it a warmer appearance.
While the royal bride chooses her wedding gown and works with a designer on the style, it is ultimately the Queen who has the final say. The bride's bouquet must contain myrtle, a tradition started by Queen Victoria, who was given a myrtle plant by Prince Albert's grandmother. After the wedding, the bouquet is left at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at Westminster Abbey.
For guests attending a royal wedding, the dress code is formal and conservative. Male guests are expected to wear a uniform, morning coat, or lounge suit, while female guests are expected to wear a day dress with a hat.
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Royal wedding jewellery: tiaras and family heirlooms
Royal brides are known for wearing dazzling jewels atop their heads as they walk down the aisle. Here is a look at some of the most iconic royal wedding tiaras and the stories behind them.
The Spencer Tiara
The Spencer Tiara, an heirloom from Princess Diana's family, was first worn by Diana herself at her wedding to King Charles in 1981. It was made up of several pieces of jewellery, with new pieces added by Garrard in 1937. The tiara has since been worn by Diana's sisters, Lady Sarah and Jane, and Victoria Lockwood, who married Diana's brother, Earl Spencer, in 1989.
The Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara
Princess Eugenie wore this tiara, on loan from her grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, on her wedding day. It was originally created in 1919 by Boucheron for Margaret Greville, a close friend of Queen Mary. The tiara features a 93.7-carat emerald at its centre, with six additional emeralds along the band.
Queen Mary's Bandeau Tiara
Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex, wore this stunning tiara, also known as the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau tiara, on her wedding day. It was made by Garrard in 1925 for Queen Mary, the Queen's grandmother. The centrepiece is a brooch with 10 diamonds, gifted to Mary of Teck in 1893. The tiara was loaned to Meghan by Queen Elizabeth from her private collection.
The Cubitt-Shand Tiara
The Cubitt-Shand tiara is a floral family heirloom that was worn by Laura Parker Bowles, the daughter of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, on her wedding day in 2006. It once belonged to Camilla's grandmother, Sonia Cubitt, and was also worn by Camilla at her first wedding in 1973.
The Queen Mary Fringe Tiara
This tiara was worn by Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Anne on their wedding days. It was loaned to Princess Beatrice of York by Queen Elizabeth for her wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. The tiara is believed to have been chosen for its sentimental value and its all-diamond design, which complemented the bride's gown, also on loan from the Queen.
Royal wedding jewellery often includes tiaras and family heirlooms, with many brides choosing to debut their first tiara on their wedding day. These dazzling jewels are a significant part of royal wedding traditions, with each piece carrying its own unique history and significance.
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Royal wedding bands: made from 24-carat Welsh gold
Royal weddings are a grand affair, with a lot of attention to detail, especially when it comes to the dress code. From the bride's gown to the guests' attire, there are many traditions and guidelines to follow. One such tradition is the use of Welsh gold in royal wedding bands.
The tradition of royalty wearing Welsh gold wedding rings dates back to 1923 when the Queen Mother married King George VI. The Clogau St. David's mine in North Wales has provided three generations of royal wedding bands. The 24-carat Welsh gold used in these rings has a higher percentage of pure gold than the usual 18-carat gold, giving the jewellery its rich colour.
While 24-carat gold is 100% pure gold, it is rarely used in jewellery due to its softness and tendency to get easily damaged. Over the centuries, jewellers have added other metals, often silver, to increase the durability of the gold. The addition of these metals determines the carat of the gold, with 18-carat gold being harder-wearing than 24-carat gold.
The royal family has continued the tradition of using Welsh gold in their wedding rings. In recent years, the late Queen Elizabeth II supplied the Welsh gold for the wedding rings of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, using gold from her personal stockpile, gifted to her on her 60th birthday.
The use of Welsh gold in royal wedding bands is a long-standing tradition that symbolises the richness and heritage of the British royal family. While the specific source of the gold may vary, the tradition of incorporating Welsh gold into these important rings remains a significant aspect of royal weddings.
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Frequently asked questions
Male guests are expected to wear a uniform, morning coat, or lounge suit. Morning dress includes a morning coat, waistcoat, tie, and striped trousers.
Female guests are expected to wear a day dress with a hat. Tights are also recommended.
Royal wedding guests should avoid wearing black, as it is traditionally only worn during funerals. Garish waistcoats or ties should also be avoided.
Guests should bring a hat or fascinator, and a small handbag.
