One of the most talked-about factors at any Royal Wedding is the dress. Fashionistas and Royalists will speculate for months about the bridal gown, and the media coverage devoted to the dress after the event is considerable.
Here are five of the most iconic British Royal wedding dresses of our times:
The Queen
Who else to start with but Queen Elizabeth II herself? When she wed Prince Philip, Norman Hartnell designed “the most beautiful dress” he could imagine for the then-Princess. The ivory silk frock was adorned with seed pearls, crystals and a train featuring a star pattern.
Princess Diana
William and Harry’s mum’s dress was designed by the Emanuels, and was a frock typical of frothy 1980s style, with generous frills and flounces. The silk taffeta gown also featured a train measuring over seven metres.
Sarah Ferguson
Fergie designed her own dress for her wedding to Prince Andrew. Made from ivory satin, the gown featured the embroidered letter ‘A’. Like Diana’s, it also had a long train, as well as a fitted bodice and rounded neckline.
Kate Middleton
Kate also opted for a long, flowing train on her wedding gown, along with fluid lines and lots of lace. Alexander McQueen designed the frock, which also featured an oriental-style neckline.
Meghan Markle
Last year, Meghan opted for something sleeker and simpler than the Royal brides who wed before her. Her veil, also by Givenchy, was very much the star of the show, featuring a beautiful, delicate floral design. Current fashion sees florals adorning everything from dresses, veils and tiaras to cakes and wedding stationery.