Franklin Dean
Royal wedding dresses are often a closely guarded secret until the big reveal on the day of the wedding. However, once revealed, they are a source of fascination and inspiration for many. Royal brides have become fashion icons, with the world looking forward to seeing their bridal gowns, jewels, and other accessories. Some of the most famous royal wedding dresses include Princess Diana's ivory gown with its 25-foot train, Grace Kelly's modest dress designed with a Catholic ceremony in mind, and Queen Victoria's white wedding dress, which started the trend for white wedding dresses. Many royal wedding dresses can be seen at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Royal wedding dresses throughout history | Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, Princess Diana, Duchess Wallis, Queen Victoria, Princess Margaret, Princess Beatrice, Meghan Markle, Kate Middleton, Princess Grace Kelly, Princess Victoria, Princess Anne Marie, Queen Soraya of Iran |
| Places to see the dresses | Philadelphia Museum of Art |
| Details of the dresses | Lace, silk, ivory, satin, pearls, diamonds, tiaras, trains, embroidery, floral, flounces, ruffles, wreaths, veils, bows, buttons, collars, bodices, jewels |
| Designers | David and Elizabeth Emanuel, Norman Hartnell, Helen Rose, Samantha Shaw, Claire Waight Keller, Jasper Conran, Atelier Boisanger, Pauline Ducruet, Valentino, Oscar de la Renta |
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What You'll Learn
Princess Diana's wedding dress
The dress was designed to be "theatrical" and "dramatic", with a full skirt and long train. The bodice featured a piece of antique Carrickmacross lace that once belonged to Queen Mary, the grandmother of King Charles III. An 18-karat gold horseshoe was also stitched into the petticoats as a sign of good fortune, along with a petite blue bow as her "something blue". The Emanuels also created a second, backup wedding gown in case their original creation was leaked to the press. This spare dress was made of pale ivory silk taffeta with embroidered scalloped details on the hem and sleeves, and also featured tiny pearls sewn onto the bodice.
The veil, which was 153 yards long, was designed by the Emanuels with input from Princess Diana. She requested that the tiny mother-of-pearl sequins be scattered on the tulle, creating a "fairy dust effect". The same sequins were also used on the gown itself, so it would sparkle as she walked down the aisle. The veil was secured with a pearl and diamond tiara.
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Queen Victoria's wedding dress
The Royal Collection Trust, RCIN 71975, in London, possesses the gown, and it has been featured in British Vogue and National Geographic. The dress is also mentioned in Queen Victoria's journal, where she describes it as "a white satin dress, with a deep flounce of Honiton lace, an imitation of an old design." She also mentions her jewellery, which included a Turkish diamond necklace and earrings, and Prince Albert's sapphire brooch.
Queen Victoria was a strong advocate of the Honiton lace industry, and her endorsement of the fabric significantly boosted its popularity. She continued to wear her wedding lace to the christenings of her children and even insisted that her daughters use the same lace for their wedding dresses. The lace was also used in the royal christening gown worn by her children, including the future King Edward VII.
The trend of wearing white wedding dresses has continued in the royal family, with Princess Elizabeth (later Queen Elizabeth II) incorporating the white rose of York, hand-embroidered in pearls and crystals, into her wedding dress in 1947.
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Princess Grace Kelly's wedding dress
The wedding dress is currently owned by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which displayed it for the 50th anniversary of the wedding between April 1 and May 21, 2006. The museum reported that the exhibit was its most popular to date. The dress has had a lasting impact on bridal fashion, with celebrities like Paris Hilton, Miranda Kerr, and Kate Middleton paying homage to Grace Kelly with their wedding looks. Brenda Janowitz's novel, 'The Grace Kelly Dress', published in 2020, explores the influence of the dress over 60 years.
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Kate Middleton's wedding dress
The dress was a fitted white V-neck gown with a long-sleeved lace overlay, a two-metre-long train, and gazar and organza-covered buttons. The lace used for the bodice was influenced by the traditional Carrickmacross lace-making technique from Ireland. The skirt was made of ivory and white satin gazar and designed to echo an opening flower. The dress was also said to pay tribute to the United Kingdom through its lace embroidery.
The original dress was displayed at Buckingham Palace from 23 July 2011 to 3 October 2011, breaking royal records. Replicas of the dress were also produced and sold.
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Meghan Markle's wedding dress
Markle chose Waight Keller because she admired the designer's "elegant aesthetic" and "relaxed demeanour". She also wanted to highlight the success of a leading British designer who had served as the creative head of globally influential fashion houses. The dress was made in Paris by a small team of ateliers, with only five months to manufacture it. Waight Keller and Markle met for eight fittings to perfect the design.
The veil, which was 16 feet long, was designed to represent the distinctive flora of each of the 53 countries of the Commonwealth. It was made from five-metre-long silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza. The veil was held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, lent to Markle by the Queen. A piece of the blue dress from Markle's first date with Prince Harry was also stitched into the veil.
The dress was estimated to cost about $265,000, which the bride paid for herself.
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Frequently asked questions
Princess Diana's wedding dress is known for its 25-foot (7.6-meter) train made from 150 yards (137 meters) of silk. You can see her iconic ivory silk taffeta gown, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, at Kensington Palace.
Queen Victoria wore a white wedding dress when she married Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha on February 10, 1840, at St. James Palace. You can see her dress, made of white Moiré Antique fabric with three flounces of Honiton lace, at Kensington Palace.
Grace Kelly's wedding dress was designed by MGM studio costume designer Helen Rose and was a gift from Kelly's movie studio. Today, you can see the dress at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
Kate Middleton wore a custom Alexander McQueen gown when she married Prince William on April 29, 2011. Her dress is currently on display at Kensington Palace.
