It’s royal wedding weekend. Prepare yourself for a flood of posts about every detail from the nuptials of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. From the day we got a hint of their relationship to their engagement, headlines have been all about them. I wonder how hard it is to live a life so scrutinized.
For one thing, Meghan’s dress will be the stuff of fashion features. It will also be compared to the great royal wedding dresses of those who came before her. Reports say that Meghan will walk down the aisle in a custom Ralph & Russo dress that will cost around $135,000.
The big reveal won’t come until the day itself, of course. But much pressure is on the designers. Will it have a long train? Will it feature handmade details? You can tell I’m excited to see it. For now, I want to look at my favorite royal wedding dresses from the past.
Kate Middleton in Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen
This Victorian-inspired gown is made of satin gazar, a fabric that holds its shape. In shades of white and ivory, Kate’s dress was fit for the wife of the future king of England.
Queen Letizia of Spain in Manuel Pertegaz
Thirteen years ago, Queen Letizia blessed us with her Manuel Pertegaz wedding gown. The open collar, cuffs and hem were embroidered with real gold and a floral pattern. Her train was 14 feet long, and was also embroidered with gold. With her stylish updo, the Spanish royal proved she was quite the fashionista.
Grace Kelly in Helen Rose
I would be remiss if I didn’t include Grace Kelly in this list. Her fairytale wedding featured a beautiful wedding dress—a gift from her MGM family. It took four months for costume designer Helen Rose to make the dress of lace and seed pearls. Instead of a tiara, Grace wore a Juliet cap and a special veil to keep her face visible throughout the ceremony.
Princess Diana in David and Elizabeth Emanuel
One of the most famous dresses in the world, Princess Diana’s dress is as iconic as the royal herself. The dramatic dress with puff sleeves and a 25-foot train was made with lace that belonged to Queen Mary, 10,000 pearls and sequins. I don’t know anyone who won’t be able to recognize this dress.
