Royal Weddings: No Bridesmaids, A Historical Tradition

Royal weddings are known for their extravagant celebrations and unique traditions. One notable aspect is the absence of adult bridesmaids. While it is customary for British brides to have children as bridesmaids and page boys, royal weddings often take this a step further, with only young bridesmaids and pageboys accompanying the bride. This tradition of opting for a bridal party composed solely of children is believed to have originated with Queen Elizabeth's wedding, where her sister, Princess Margaret, served as the chief bridesmaid. This tradition was further reinforced by subsequent royal weddings, such as those of Sarah, Sophie, and Anne, who were all attended by bands of young bridesmaids.

Royal bridesmaids are typically children or early teens

Royal bridesmaids are typically children or young teens. This tradition is not unique to royal weddings, as it is a common practice in British weddings in general. However, it differs from weddings in the US, where bridesmaids are usually adults and represent the bride's closest friends.

The tradition of having young bridesmaids can be traced back to Queen Elizabeth's wedding. Since then, royal bridesmaids have often been children or early teens from the royal family or those closely associated with them. For example, Princess Charlotte and Prince George, the children of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, were bridesmaids and page boys at the weddings of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and Princess Eugenie.

In addition to their young age, royal bridesmaids also typically wear white, which is believed to be a symbol of purity, cleanliness, and perfection. This tradition dates back to Queen Victoria's wedding, where she wore a white satin gown, setting a standard for bridal dressing that continues to this day.

While royal weddings follow many traditions, they also allow for some exceptions. For instance, Pippa Middleton, the sister of Princess Kate, served as her bridesmaid, even though it is not customary for adult women to be bridesmaids at royal weddings.

Royal weddings do not traditionally have adult female bridesmaids

Royal weddings are known for their grandeur and tradition. One notable aspect is the absence of adult female bridesmaids. While it is customary for British brides to have children as bridesmaids and page boys, royal weddings have their own unique customs.

The tradition of not having adult female bridesmaids at royal weddings is long-standing. Since Queen Elizabeth's wedding, royal bridesmaids have predominantly been children or early teens. This tradition was continued by Queen Elizabeth's sister, Princess Margaret, who served as her chief bridesmaid. Other notable British royal weddings, including those of Sarah, Sophie, and Anne, also featured children-only bridal parties.

The choice of bridesmaids often reflects the bride's closest friends. However, in British royal weddings, the focus is typically on the bride herself. By having children as bridesmaids, all attention remains on the royal bride as she walks down the aisle. This was the case for Meghan Markle, who chose not to have adult bridesmaids at her wedding to Prince Harry. Instead, she opted for a group of young bridesmaids and page boys, including Princess Charlotte and Prince George.

While there may be exceptions, such as Kate Middleton having her sister Pippa as a bridesmaid, the tradition of not having adult female bridesmaids at royal weddings is generally upheld. This tradition sets royal weddings apart and ensures that the bride remains the centre of attention during the ceremony and celebrations.

Bridesmaids are usually the bride's closest friends, but this is not the case with British royal weddings

In the US, bridesmaids are usually the bride's closest friends, but this is not the case with British royal weddings. Royal bridesmaids are typically children or young teenagers, often with early teens being the oldest bridesmaids. This tradition is thought to have started with Queen Elizabeth's wedding.

Royal weddings are steeped in tradition, and the bridal party is no exception. While adult bridesmaids are the norm in the US, British royal weddings feature young bridesmaids and page boys. This tradition was followed by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who had Princess Charlotte and Prince George as their bridesmaid and page boy, respectively.

The choice of young bridesmaids is not the only unique aspect of British royal weddings. Royal bridesmaids also typically wear white, which is considered unusual as it is usually seen as impolite for wedding guests to wear white to avoid upstaging the bride. However, this tradition can be traced back to Queen Victoria's influence and the historical belief that white deterred evil spirits.

While Meghan Markle chose not to have a maid of honour, she was surrounded by her close friends on her wedding day, who actively helped her prepare for the wedding. This is a reminder that while the bridal party may not include adult bridesmaids, the bride's friends still play an important role in supporting her and celebrating this momentous occasion.

Royal bridesmaids are often the bride's goddaughters or other relatives

This tradition of having children as bridesmaids is not unique to Markle's wedding. Since Queen Elizabeth's wedding, royal bridesmaids have typically been children or early teens. Princess Diana, for example, had a teenage Lady Sarah Armstrong-Jones as a bridesmaid, and Queen Elizabeth's chief bridesmaid was her sister, Princess Margaret.

The choice to have younger bridesmaids is also influenced by British tradition, which favours children as bridesmaids and page boys. This is in contrast to weddings in the US, where bridesmaids are usually the bride's closest friends.

The bride may not want to choose between friends, so has no adult bridesmaids

Royal brides often choose not to have adult bridesmaids as, by tradition, bridesmaids in royal weddings are children or young teens. This tradition is not unique to the British royal family, as other royal weddings across Europe also tend to have younger bridesmaids.

However, this was not the case for Kate Middleton, who chose her sister, Pippa, to be her maid of honour. This was an exception rather than the rule, and Meghan Markle returned to the tradition of not having adult bridesmaids for her wedding to Prince Harry.

Markle is reported to have a large group of close adult female friends, and it is speculated that she chose not to have adult bridesmaids as she did not want to choose between them. Instead, she had six young bridesmaids, including Princess Charlotte and Harry's goddaughters, Zalie Warren and Florence van Cutsem.

Although Markle's adult friends did not have official roles in the wedding, they were still involved in the day. They helped her prepare for the wedding and supported her the day before in London and on her wedding day in Windsor.

Frequently asked questions