Deborah Chan
Royal wedding dresses are often made of luxurious fabrics such as silk, satin, and lace, with intricate details like embroidery, pearls, and crystals. They are designed to create a fairytale-like entrance for the bride and have been influential in setting trends and reflecting cultural traditions. From Queen Victoria's ivory silk and satin dress to Princess Diana's romantic silk taffeta gown, each royal wedding dress holds a special place in history. Today, with brides like Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, and Princess Beatrice, the tradition of enchanting royal wedding dresses continues to captivate the world.
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What You'll Learn
Queen Victoria's dress
Queen Victoria's wedding dress, worn in 1840, was made of Spitalfields silk and Honiton lace. The full skirt contained seven widths of fabric in forward-facing pleats, with a deep V-shaped, basque-style waistline. The off-the-shoulder sleeves were short and puffed, and the wide, open neckline and sleeves were trimmed with lace. The 20-year-old queen also wore a satin train over six yards long, which was carried by twelve attendants.
The colour of the dress was perhaps the most notable aspect, as it broke from the royal custom of wearing gold or silver. Victoria chose a white dress to showcase the delicate handmade Honiton lace, which she also wore to support and stimulate Britain's lace industry. White was also a symbol of purity and virginity, and the notion of the Queen as an innocent bride captivated the public. The colour and style of Victoria's dress were widely publicised through newspaper reports, paintings, and souvenir artwork, and it quickly became popular with wealthy, fashionable brides.
Victoria's wedding lace was also mounted on the dresses she wore to the christenings of her nine children and the weddings of two of her children and one of her grandchildren. When Victoria died, she was buried with her wedding veil over her face. The dress and veil were conserved and displayed at Kensington Palace in 2012, although the lace was too fragile to be moved.
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Princess Diana's dress
Princess Diana's wedding dress is one of the most iconic royal wedding dresses of all time. Designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, the silk taffeta and antique lace gown featured a 25-foot train and a 153-yard tulle veil. The dress was valued at £9,000 at the time of the wedding, which would be equivalent to $43,573 in 2023.
The Emanuels described the dress as something that "had to be something that was going to go down in history, but also something that Diana loved" and which would be "suitably dramatic in order to make an impression." The dress certainly made an impression, with its excessive amount of fabric making it difficult for Diana to fit into her carriage on the way to the ceremony. The large amount of fabric also caused the wrinkles on the dress, as it had to be folded over and over again to fit Diana into the carriage.
The dress featured a V-neck, three-quarter sleeves, and a wide skirt, with tiny pearls sewn onto the bodice. The fabric was specially spun at a British silk farm, and a small blue bow was sewn into the waistband as Diana's "something blue." The lace used to trim the dress was antique and handmade, and a square of Carrickmacross lace that had belonged to Queen Mary was attached to the gown.
The dress set wedding fashion trends after the wedding, with large puffed sleeves, full skirts, and soft touch fabrics becoming popular requests. Copies of the dress were available within hours of the wedding, and it is still considered a "gold standard" in wedding fashion. In 2018, Time magazine named it one of the "Most Influential British Royal Wedding Dresses of All Time."
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Kate Middleton's dress
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, is known for her exquisite taste in fashion. Her wedding dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, is a testament to her style. The gown, made of ivory and white satin gazar with a 2.7-metre-long train, is considered one of the most famous wedding dresses of the 21st century. The dress, with its narrow waist and slight padding at the hips, exemplified the traditional techniques of Victorian corsetry, a McQueen signature.
The choice of designer was an unexpected one, as McQueen had a reputation for causing controversy. However, Middleton leaned into the brand's appreciation for craftsmanship and tailoring, creating a beautiful and timeless gown. The dress, with its long sleeves and V-neckline, was handcrafted with English lace and featured a floral motif commemorating Great Britain. It paid tribute to the United Kingdom through its lace embroidery and signified the monarchy's next era.
The Princess of Wales is known for her distinctive personal style, incorporating coat dresses, neat blazers, and block colours that ensure she stands out in a crowd. She frequently nods to the tradition and history of the royal family while mixing in high-street pieces to remain approachable. Middleton is also unafraid to dial up the glamour, channelling fairytale princess vibes when the occasion calls for it. Her wardrobe choices on royal tours are carefully selected to pay homage to host nations while showcasing British designers on an international stage.
In addition to her wedding dress, Middleton has worn several other notable gowns. She has stepped out in a Roland Mouret off-the-shoulder dress, a vibrant Karen Millen pleated marigold number, and a Disney princess-worthy ballgown. She has also been known to rewear outfits, such as a cream Self-Portrait dress and a red Catherine Walker coat dress, showcasing her belief in ethical engagement with fashion.
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Meghan Markle's dress
Meghan Markle's wedding dress for her marriage to Prince Harry was designed by British designer Clare Waight Keller, the artistic director of Givenchy. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers. Markle chose Waight Keller for her "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour". The dress was made of double-bonded silk, with a simple silk crepe, a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter sleeves, and a sculpted waistline that fell into a train of triple silk organza. The dress was paired with a 16-foot or 25-foot veil, embroidered with flowers representing the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, as well as the California poppy and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace. The veil was held in place by the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau Tiara, lent to Markle by the Queen, and complemented by Cartier earrings and a bracelet.
Markle also wore a second dress to the evening reception, a halter-neck gown designed by Stella McCartney.
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Princess Louise Margaret's dress
Princess Louise Margaret of Prussia wore a heavy white satin dress when she married Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught and Strathearn, on 13 March 1879. The skirt was sewn with 12-inch-wide lace and decorated with myrtle leaves, the emblem of the bridal state in Germany. The 13-foot-long train was made of Silesia lace, one metre in width, and featured a sprig of myrtle. The veil, made of point d'Alençon lace, was about 9.8 feet square and featured a design of intertwined orange blossoms, roses, and myrtle leaves. The veil was fastened to her hair with five diamond stars, a gift from the bridegroom.
Princess Margaret, the sister of Queen Elizabeth II, wore a silk organza dress designed by Norman Hartnell when she married Antony Armstrong-Jones on 6 May 1960. The dress was designed to flatter Princess Margaret's petite frame, with minimal adornments such as crystal embellishments and beading. The skirt was made of 30 metres of fabric. The only trimming on the dress was rouleau piping in the same white silk organza. The bodice was hip-length and slightly pointed in the front, with long sleeves and a high stand-up neckline with a small V-front. The skirt was made of three layers of organza cut into 12 panels set in unpressed pleats. It flowed into a small train at the back, which was covered by a tulle veil bordered with satin. The dress has been described as "stunningly tailored" and "a study in simplicity". It is now part of the Royal Collection and is on display at Kensington Palace in London.
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Frequently asked questions
Queen Victoria wore a gown made of silk, satin, and lace for her wedding to Prince Albert.
Princess Louise Margaret wore a dress made of white satin and decorated with traditional myrtle leaves for her wedding to Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, on 13 March 1879.
Lady Diana Spencer's wedding dress for her wedding to The Prince of Wales in July 1981 was made of ivory silk taffeta, with a bodice of embroidered lace panels and a full skirt.
Kate Middleton wore a custom Alexander McQueen gown with a bodice of ivory satin and full lace sleeves for her wedding to Prince William on 29 April 2011.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by Givenchy's Clare Waight Keller. It was made of double-bonded silk cady.
