Rhiannon Hendricks
Meghan Markle's wedding dress was an off-the-shoulder white Givenchy gown designed by Clare Waight Keller. The dress had quarter-length sleeves and a dramatic train. Markle's choice of a white wedding dress caused some controversy as it broke with tradition—it is customary for brides who have been married before to wear off-white. Markle had previously been married to Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2013, while her husband, Prince Harry, was a first-time groom.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Wedding dress colour | White |
| Wedding dress designer | Givenchy |
| Wedding dress style | Off-the-shoulder with quarter-length sleeves and a dramatic train |
| Previous marriage | Yes, to Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2013 |
| Royal tradition | Off-white for second weddings |
| Queen's opinion | The Queen "had reservations" and was "surprised" by Meghan's choice |
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What You'll Learn
Queen Elizabeth II's preference for divorced brides
It was speculated that Meghan Markle would not wear a white wedding dress for her marriage to Prince Harry, as she had done for her first wedding. Instead, it was thought she would follow in the footsteps of Queen Elizabeth II and Kate Middleton by wearing an off-white shade, such as ivory, cream, oyster, or champagne.
Historically, marrying a divorced person was taboo for the British monarchy, and divorce was difficult even for royals. In the 1800s, George IV attempted to divorce his wife, Caroline of Brunswick, but was unsuccessful, causing a disaster for the monarchy. In 1953, Princess Margaret considered marrying a divorced man but ultimately abandoned the relationship, possibly to maintain her place in the line of succession.
The Church of England, of which the British monarch is the head, originally held that divorce was acceptable but remarriage was not. This position was influenced by King Henry VIII's struggle to annul his first marriage without the approval of the Catholic Church, which led him to break ties with Catholicism and establish the Church of England in the 1530s. Over time, divorce laws became more liberal, but the Church of England did not recognize the marriage of divorced persons whose ex-spouses were still living until 2002.
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Royal tradition
Royal brides traditionally wear white wedding dresses, a custom that was started by Queen Victoria when she married Prince Albert in 1840. Mary Queen of Scots was the first British royal to wear a white wedding gown in 1559 when she married her first husband, Francis Dauphin of France.
However, in the case of Meghan Markle, there was some controversy surrounding her choice to wear a white wedding dress when she married Prince Harry in 2018. This was because it was not her first marriage, and she had previously been married to Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2013.
According to royal expert Katie Nicholl's book, "The New Royals," Queen Elizabeth II "had reservations" about Markle's choice to wear pure white. The Queen was reportedly surprised by Markle's decision and felt that if someone has been married before, they should wear off-white on their wedding day. This is what the Duchess of Cornwall, who had also been previously married, did when she married Prince Charles.
Despite the Queen's reservations, Markle chose to wear a stunning off-the-shoulder pure white Givenchy dress designed by Clare Waight Keller. The elegant gown featured quarter-length sleeves and a dramatic train, and Markle completed the royal look with a veil and tiara.
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Markle's first wedding dress
Meghan Markle wore a white wedding dress—an off-the-shoulder Givenchy gown designed by Clare Waight Keller—when she married Prince Harry in 2018. The dress had quarter-length sleeves and a dramatic train, and Meghan paired it with a veil and tiara, looking like a member of the royal family.
This was Markle's second wedding, as she had previously been married to Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2013. Queen Elizabeth II "had reservations" about Markle wearing white, according to an excerpt from Katie Nicholl's book, "The New Royals." The Queen was surprised by Markle's choice of dress colour, as she believed that "if you've been married before, you wear off-white on your wedding day," as the Duchess of Cornwall did. Markle's preference for a white dress reportedly caused tension in the royal family in the weeks leading up to the wedding.
Markle had previously discussed her preferences for bridal wear, describing her taste as "whimsical or subtly romantic." She had also expressed her admiration for Paris-based designer Delphine Manivet and newcomer Christos Costarellos, as well as her appreciation for couturiers Elie Saab and J.Mendel.
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Markle's bridal wear preferences
Markle's choice of a white dress differed from her first wedding to Engelson, where she wore a strapless white gown with a V-shaped cut-out and an embellished belt around the empire line.
In the lead-up to her wedding to Prince Harry, it was widely believed that Markle would wear an off-white shade for her nuptials, potentially opting for hues of ivory, cream, oyster, or champagne. This prediction was based on the royal tradition upheld by Queen Elizabeth II and Kate Middleton, who both chose not to wear white for their weddings. It was also speculated that Markle would not wear a full-length gown or train, in keeping with traditional etiquette for women marrying for the second time.
Despite these expectations, Markle chose to wear a pure white dress for her wedding to Prince Harry. While the Queen reportedly had reservations about this choice, it is important to note that Markle had previously expressed her preference for "whimsical or subtly romantic" wedding dresses. She had also mentioned her love for Paris-based designer Delphine Manivet and newcomer Christos Costarellos, praising their "uniqueness and beauty".
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The Queen's 'reservations'
The Queen's reservations about Meghan Markle's wedding dress choice were reportedly due to the bride's previous marriage. According to royal sources, Queen Elizabeth II believed that if someone was getting married for a second time, they should wear off-white on their wedding day. This sentiment is said to be the reason for the Duchess of Cornwall's off-white wedding dress when she married Prince Charles, as both she and Markle had been married before their current marriages.
The Queen's preference for off-white in such circumstances may be considered a relatively benign tradition, but it is one that Markle did not follow. Markle's choice of a pure white wedding dress, designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, was reportedly a surprise to the Queen. The dress was an off-the-shoulder style with quarter-length sleeves and a dramatic train. Markle's elegant gown was complemented by a veil and tiara, befitting her new role as a member of the royal family.
In the lead-up to the wedding, there were reports of tension within the royal family. It is said that Prince Harry shouted at the Queen's royal dresser, Angela Kelly, declaring that "what Meghan wants, Meghan gets". This incident resulted in the Queen giving her grandson a stern telling-off. Additionally, there was an argument between Meghan and Kate Middleton, now the Princess of Wales, over Princess Charlotte's flower girl dress.
Despite the Queen's reservations about Markle's wedding dress, she ultimately felt that the wedding went fairly well. However, she did express regret that Markle had not reconciled with her estranged father, Thomas, before the wedding. The Duchess of Sussex's relationship with her father broke down during the wedding preparations, and it is believed that they are still not on speaking terms.
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Frequently asked questions
Meghan Markle wore a pure white wedding dress when she married Prince Harry in 2018. Markle had previously been married to Trevor Engelson from 2011 to 2013, and it was speculated that the Queen believed she should have worn off-white as it was not her first wedding.
Meghan Markle wore an off-the-shoulder, pure white wedding dress designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The dress had quarter-length sleeves and a dramatic train. She changed into a halter-style dress from Stella McCartney for the reception, which was also white.
According to an excerpt from Katie Nicholl's book, "The New Royals", Queen Elizabeth II "had reservations" about Meghan Markle's choice to wear a pure white wedding dress. A source told Nicholl that the Queen was "surprised" by Markle's choice of colour.
