Iconic royal wedding dresses throughout the years

From Queen Victoria to Duchess Catherine to Princess Beatrice.

Mar 09, 2019 10:00am
At the start of this month Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank's wedding outfits went on public display at Windsor Castle.
The exhibition, which will run until April 22 and organised by the Royal Collection Trust, includes Princess Eugenie's wedding dress and evening gown, Jack Brooksbank's morning suit, her sister Princess Beatrice's dress, along with the outfits of her bridesmaids and pageboys.
Their wedding was held on October 12, 2018 at St George's Chapel, the same venue the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had tied the knot just months earlier.
Prince Andrew and Fergie's youngest daughter's gown was designed by Peter Pilotto and Christopher de Vos, featuring a neckline which fold around the shoulders and flowing full-length train.
The official wedding portrait of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank. (Image by Alex Bramall)
An audio recording by Princess Eugenie herself is available for visitors to listen at the exhibition, where she explains how she wanted a low back to the dress in order to show the scar from her surgery she had as a child to correct scoliosis, "I had always wanted a low back, part of it showing my scar," Eugenie reveals.
"I believe scars tell a story about your past and your future and it's a way of getting rid of the taboo."
"For me it's a way of communicating with people who are going through either similar situations with scoliosis or having a scar of their own they are trying to deal with."
Eugenie opted for a stunning off-shoulder number with a flowing train and low back. (Image: Getty)
Eugenie also revealed the design of her gorgeous blush silk chiffon evening gown, designed by Zac Posen, was reminiscent of Grace Kelly's outfit in the 1955 film To Catch a Thief.

Visitors will also get the opportunity to get an up-close look at the Princess' bridal bouquet, designed by Rob Van Helden Floral Design, and the stunning Greville Emeral Kokoshnik tiara, that was lent to her by her grandmother the Queen.
In celebration of the exhibition, we take a look at some of the beautiful wedding gowns worn by the royals over the years.
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Queen Victoria, 10 February 1840

Queen Victoria married Prince Albert on February 10, 1840 at the Chapel Royal at St James' Palace, only the second Queen regnant to marry after her accession to the throne - the first was Queen Mary I of England.


Her dress was made from white satin with Honiton lace and she wore a large sapphire and diamond brooch, gifted to her as a wedding present from Prince Albert.

She broke tradition by wearing a wreath of orange blossom with a lace veil, rather than a crown or tiara and it is thanks to Queen Victoria that the white wedding dress has become part of wedding tradition in the western world.

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Princess Elizabeth, 20 November 1947

Before she became Queen, Princess Elizabeth married Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey on November 20,1947.

Elizabeth's beautiful wedding gown was hand-embroidered with more than 10,000 pearls and crystals and designed by Sir Norman Hartnell, who cited Boticelli's painting Primavera as his inspiration.

Her skirt was made of Duchesse satin and her long sleeves were embroidered with garlands of roses in raised pearls entwined with ears of wheat in crystals and pearls.

A 14-foot-long ivory silk tulle train completed the gown, embroidered with rose and wheat motifs.

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Princess Anne, 14 November 1973

For her first marriage held at Westminster Abbey to Captain Mark Phillips, the Princess Royal opted for an Elizabethan-style gown designed by Maureen Baker.

The fitted dress featured a fitted bodice, trumpet sleeves and high-neck with a flared skirt that flowed out to a seven-foot train.

The dress had lines of pearls sewn across the bodice and floral motifs on the back.

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Princess Diana, 29 July 1981

Princess Diana and Prince Charles wed on July 29, 1981 at St Paul's Cathedral with the lavish affair televised and watched by an estimated 750 million people.

The Princess of Wales wore an ivory silk taffeta designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel which featured hand-embroidered tiny mother-of-pearl sequins and pearls.

It also featured lace that had belonged to Queen Mary on the bodice and was finished with a long train and an ivory silk tulle veil, held by the Spencer family's diamond tiara.

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The Countess of Wessex, 19 June 1999

The Queen's youngest son, Prince Edward married Sophie Rhys Jones at St George's Chapel on June 19, 1999.

The Countess of Wessex wore a hand-dyed silk organza and silk crepe gown designed by Samantha Shaw.

Full length with long sleeves, it featured pearl and crystal beading details and she accessorised with a black and white pearl necklace with matching earrings designed by Prince Edward and wore a diamond tiara, lent to her by the Queen.

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The Duchess of Cornwall, 9 April 2005

Camilla Parker Bowles married heir to the throne, Prince Philip on April 9, 2005 at the Windsor Guildhall.

Designed by Robinson Valentine, her floor-length gown featured an embroidered pale blue and gold coat worn over a matching dress gown and she accessorised with a dramatic spray of golden feathers in her hair.

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The Duchess of Cambridge, 29 April 2011

Catherine opted for one of her favourite fashion houses Alexander McQueen to design her wedding dress for her marriage to Prince William in April 29, 2011 at Westminster Abbey.

Designed by Sarah Burton, the gown was a beautiful ivory satin, padded slightly at the hips, narrowed at the waist and inspired by the Victorian tradition of corsetry that is a particular hallmark of Alexander McQueen.

Floral motifs were incorporated into the lace and the back detail of the gown included 58 buttons of gazar and organza.

The long full skirt made of ivory and white satin gazar was designed to look like an opening flower, with soft pleats which unfolded to the floor. The outfit was finished with a short three-metre train, which was carried by her sister Pippa Middleton down the aisle.

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The Duchess of Sussex, 19 May 2018

Duchess Meghan married Prince Harry at St George's Chapel on May 19, 2018 wearing a beautiful gown designed by British designer Claire Waight Keller for French fashion house Givenchy.

The dress was made from double bonded silk cady featuring off the shoulder long sleeves.

As a special touch, Meghan had requested to have all 53 countries of the Commonwealth with her on her journey through the ceremony, so the veil was embroidered with flowers from all the countries of the Commonwealth.

Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara held the veil in place, which was lent to her by the Queen.

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