George Boyle
The wedding gowns of British royalty are often stored in large rooms filled with clothes, with over 20 rooms devoted to royal attire. Some wedding dresses are displayed in exhibitions, such as the wedding dress of Princess Charlotte of Wales, which was displayed at the Queen's Gallery in Buckingham Palace. Other royal wedding dresses that have been exhibited include the coronation outfits in 2013 for the 60th-anniversary celebration and Queen Silvia's Nobel dresses. Princess Diana's wedding dress designer stored a secret sister dress at Hampton Court Palace. The British Royal Household has a large number of experts specializing in managing and caring for the Royal collection, including historical wardrobes and wedding gowns.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location of British Royal Wedding Dresses | Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, Amalienborg Castle, Philadelphia Museum of Art |
| People who take care of the dresses | The British Royal Household has experts that specialize in managing and caring for the Royal collection |
| Number of rooms devoted to royal clothes | Over 20 rooms |
| Condition of the dresses | Some dresses are carefully curated and displayed, while others are stored in special silk covers |
| Princess Diana's wedding dress | Stored at Hampton Court Palace |
| Princess Charlotte of Wales' wedding dress | Displayed at Buckingham Palace |
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What You'll Learn
Princess Charlotte of Wales' wedding dress
Princess Charlotte of Wales, the only daughter of George IV, married Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld on 2 May 1816 at Carlton House in London. Charlotte's wedding dress was a white and silver slip, covered with transparent silk net embroidered in silver lamé with shells and flowers. The sleeves were trimmed with Brussels lace, and the six-foot train was made with the same material as the slip and was fastened like a cloak with a diamond clasp. The dress reportedly cost £10,000, an enormous sum for that time, and was designed by the London dressmaker "Mrs. Triaud". The dress has been preserved and now forms part of the collection owned by Historic Royal Palaces.
The dress was on display at the Queen's Gallery at Buckingham Palace in 2023. The Royal Collection described Charlotte's gown as a silk embroidered bridal gown and the only royal wedding dress that survives from the Georgian period. They also noted that the dress appears to have been significantly altered from its original form, in line with the Georgian practice of repurposing and recycling clothing. The collection also stated that the ensemble is now very frail.
The British Royal Household has a large number of experts specializing in managing and caring for the Royal Collection, including historical clothing items such as wedding gowns. These items are stored in large rooms dedicated to royal clothing.
Other royal wedding dresses have also been displayed to the public. For example, Princess Diana's wedding dress designer stored a secret "sister dress" at Hampton Court Palace. Additionally, Queen Silvia's Nobel dresses were exhibited, and Princess Lilian's wedding dress is currently on display.
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Princess Diana's secret sister dress
The British Royal Household has a large number of experts specialising in managing and caring for the Royal Collection, including historical clothing items such as wedding gowns. While there is no definitive information on where all the British royal wedding dresses are stored, it is speculated that they could be kept in one of the over 20 rooms devoted to royal clothes in Windsor Castle.
Now, let's focus on Princess Diana's secret "Sister Dress".
Princess Diana's wedding dress designer, Elizabeth Emanuel, created a secret "Sister Dress" that was never worn by the princess. This black silk taffeta gown was made from the same fabric as the dress Lady Diana Spencer wore to her first official royal appearance with her future husband, Prince Charles, in March 1981. The "Sister Dress" featured a V-neck trimmed with ruffles and was covered in sequins. It was kept in storage at Hampton Court Palace for over four decades before being auctioned off in June 2025. The dress was expected to fetch between $20,000 and $40,000 at auction, with the top bid at the time being $5,000.
The "Sister Dress" was created by Elizabeth and her then-husband, David Emanuel, who also designed Princess Diana's iconic 1981 wedding dress. The secret dress was a show-stopping evening gown that put Lady Diana Spencer on the map as a fashion icon. While the princess ultimately chose a more daring, strapless version of the dress, she is said to have loved the "Sister Dress" as well. Elizabeth Emanuel recalled that the decision to go with the strapless option created a buzz and marked a transformation in Princess Diana's public image, with the press paying more attention to her fashion choices.
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$59.99
Queen Victoria's white wedding dress
While there are no clear details on where British royal wedding dresses are stored, it is believed that there are over 20 rooms devoted to royal clothes. These rooms are filled with clothes, mainly belonging to the queens but also to Prince Philip.
Now, Queen Victoria's wedding dress is a different story. The dress, made of white satin, featured a deep flounce of Honiton lace, an imitation of an old design. In her journal, Queen Victoria described her jewels as follows: "My jewels were my Turkish diamond necklace & earrings & dear Albert's beautiful sapphire brooch."
Queen Victoria is often credited with popularising the white wedding dress, which came to symbolise romantic propriety and purity innocence and romance. However, this is not entirely accurate. In fact, Victoria's choice of a white wedding dress was influenced by a combination of factors, including practicality, patriotism, and purity. As the head of state, she wanted to support Britain's lace industry, which was facing challenges due to the invention of machine textiles. White was the perfect colour to showcase the lace, and for non-royals, the choice to wear a white gown was a show of wealth.
The idea of a white wedding dress was not novel in 1840, and it had been a popular colour choice for centuries. However, Queen Victoria's wedding dress contributed to the colour's massive gain in popularity among brides. Victoria treasured her lace flounce and veil, and continued to wear them to special occasions throughout her life, including the weddings of her children and grandchildren. When Victoria died in 1901, it was rumoured that she was buried with her wedding veil over her face.
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Kate Middleton's Alexander McQueen gown
While it is unclear where Kate Middleton's wedding gown is stored, the British Royal Household has a large team of experts specialising in managing and caring for the Royal Collection, including historical wardrobes and wedding gowns.
The gown is made of delicate ivory and white satin and lace, with a demure V-neck and long lace sleeves. The back is finished with 58 gazar and organza-covered buttons. The skirt, which echoes an opening flower, is made of layers of soft ivory and white satin and organza, which end in a delicate lace trim. The train measures just under three metres and is made of hand-cut English lace, appliqued with lace flowers.
The Royal Bride's veil is made from layers of soft, ivory silk tulle, trimmed with hand-embroidered flowers. The veil is held in place by a Cartier 'halo' tiara, lent to Miss Middleton by The Queen. The tiara was purchased by The Duke of York (later King George VI) for his Duchess (later The Queen Mother) three weeks before he succeeded his brother as King. It was presented to Princess Elizabeth (now The Queen) by her mother on her 18th birthday.
The bridal bouquet was designed by Shane Connolly and drew on the language of flowers. It included sweet William, ivy, lily-of-the-valley, hyacinth, and myrtle, following the tradition that began with Queen Victoria, of carrying myrtle in a royal bridal bouquet.
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Meghan Markle's dress by Givenchy
The British Royal Household has a large number of experts specialising in managing and caring for the Royal Collection, including historical wardrobes and wedding gowns. While the exact location of where the dresses are stored is not publicly known, it is speculated that they are kept in one of the many large rooms devoted to royal clothes within Windsor Castle.
Now, let's focus on Meghan Markle's dress by Givenchy.
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was designed by British designer Claire Waight Keller, the then-creative director of the French fashion house Givenchy. Markle chose to work with Waight Keller for her "timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanor." The dress was made of double-bonded silk cady, featuring pure lines achieved through six meticulously placed seams. It epitomised minimal elegance, referencing the iconic codes of the House of Givenchy and showcasing the expertise of its Parisian couture atelier.
The bateau neckline was a natural choice, as Meghan had previously worn this style at other official engagements. The slim three-quarter sleeves added a modern touch. The lines of the dress extended towards the back, where the train flowed in soft, round folds, cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza. The dress was complemented by a 16-foot veil, also designed by Givenchy, representing the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country.
The choice of designer was significant, as Waight Keller became the first female artistic director of the historic fashion house in 2017, reflecting the Duchess's commitment to empowering women. The dress was well-received, with Waight Keller expressing honour at the opportunity to collaborate with Meghan Markle on such a remarkable occasion.
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Frequently asked questions
Royal wedding dresses are often stored in large rooms filled with clothes. Some are stored in Buckingham Palace, which has rooms that are cooled to a certain temperature 24/7. For example, Princess Charlotte of Wales' wedding dress from 1816 was stored in Buckingham Palace before it was put on display in 2023.
Some dresses have been stored in castles. Amalienborg Castle in particular has been used to store Mary's wedding gown.
Yes, British royal wedding dresses have been put on display. In 2013, coronation outfits were displayed to the public at the Summer BP opening. Princess Charlotte of Wales' wedding dress from 1816 was also put on display at Buckingham Palace in 2023.
Yes, some British royal wedding dresses have been given away. Princess Diana gave her wedding dress to the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
