We reveal the details behind the showstopping gowns these brides donned for their high-profile celebrations.
Known for their extensive guests lists, opulent ceremonies, and multi-tier confections, there’s so much excitement and intrigue surrounding a royal wedding. However, in addition to the numerous traditions, such a celebration also features an array of showstoppping ensembles, including when it comes to the bride’s dress. From Princess Diana’s statement-making train to Grace Kelly’s lace gown, these fashions play a prominent royal in setting trends for other soon-to-be brides in the years (and even decades) to come.
However, in addition to influencing members of the public, royal brides often take inspiration from those that came before them when selecting their own gowns. For example, Meghan Markle’s timeless dress—that was designed by Givenchy’s Clare Waight Keller—posed a number of resembles to Princess Margaret’s silk organza wedding dress for her 1960 wedding to Antony Armstrong-Jones. And some even turn to an ensemble from the past instead of creating something entirely new for their big-day look, like Princess Beatrice; in 2020, the royal donned a vintage piece from Queen Elizabeth for her micro wedding.
Curious about some of the most beautiful and iconic royal wedding dresses throughout history? Here, we’ve rounded up 21 of our favorites. Read on to see them all.
Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother
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When then-Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon tied the knot in 1923, her gown embodied the quintessential styles of the time. The bride (who eventually became Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother) donned the piece, which featured a drop waist, pearl and silver embellishments, and an art deco headpiece, for her nuptials at Westminster Abbey.
Queen Elizabeth II
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For her wedding to Prince Phillip in 1947, Queen Elizabeth selected a satin Duchesse long-sleeve gown with floral embroidery and pearl appliqués that was designed by Norman Hartnell, who cited Botticelli’s painting “Primavera” as his inspiration for the ensemble. In addition to the dress, the bride donned a 13-foot silk train, setting a standard for future royal weddings.
Grace Kelly
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It’s one of the most famous and stunning weddings dresses of all time: Grace Kelly’s gown for her nuptials to Monaco’s Prince Rainier III in 1956. The high-neck, long-sleeve dress with a dramatic, billowing skirt (and a 10-and-a-half-foot-long train) was designed by Helen Rose and made from 125-year-old Brussels lace, taffeta, and thousands of hand-sewn pearls.
Princess Margaret
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Described by Life magazine as “the simplest royal wedding gown in history,” the silk organza wedding dress worn by Princess Margaret served as the inspiration for many future royal brides, including Meghan Markle. The minimalist, long-sleeve piece was designed by Norman Hartnell, the same man tasked with crafting her sister’s big-day ensemble 13 years earlier.
Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands
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Designed by Bergé-Farwick of Maison Linette, Princess Beatrix’s minimalist, satin wedding dress, which she wore to her 1966 nuptials to Prince Claus, exuded bridal elegance. In addition to the sleek gown, the stunning ensemble also featured a long train and voluminous veil. She paired the piece with a bouquet of white eucharis and lily of the valley.
Princess Anne
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For her wedding to Captain Mark Phillips in 1973, Princess Anne donned a Tudor-style dress designed by Maureen Baker at Susan Small. In addition to her gown, which featured trumpet sleeves, a high neck, and a seven-foot-long train, she also wore Queen Mary’s Fringe Tiara, which Queen Elizabeth had selected for her own nuptials in 1947.
Princess Caroline of Monaco
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In 1978, Grace Kelly’s daughter, Princess Caroline of Monaco, married Phillipe Junot in a 1970s-style gown by Marc Bohan for Christian Dior that reflected the trends of the time. Instead of a tiara, the royal opted for a hairstyle featuring two buns that were secured with dainty flower crowns.
Princess Diana
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Designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, Princess Diana’s silk-and-taffeta dress is one of the most famous wedding gowns of all time. Featured mother-of-pearl sequins and 10,000 pearls, the piece took the designer duo months to create. In addition to her decadent ball gown, the bride donned a 25-foot train made with lace that once belonged to Queen Mary for her royal nuptials.
Queen Rania of Jordan
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Created by Bruce Oldfield, the dress Queen Rania of Jordan wore to marry Prince Abdullah in 1993 featured gold-trim details, an embroidered collar, and a voluminous skirt. The royal accessorized her look with white gloves, a statement-making headband, and drop earrings.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh
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For her wedding to Prince Edward at St. George’s Chapel—the same venue as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle—Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh wore a pearl-encrusted V-neck silk organza coat dress crafted by Samantha Shaw. The groom himself designed the jewelry she paired with the look: a black-and-white pearl necklace and matching drop earrings.
Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso of Lesotho
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‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso made history as the first commoner to marry into the royal family of Lesotho when she said “I do” to King Letsie III in 2000—and the dress she donned for the occasion was just as spectacular. She paired the long-sleeve ball gown, which was covered in beaded embellishments, with a jewel-encrusted tiara, drop earrings, and a diamond necklace.
Queen Letizia of Spain
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When Queen Letizia, a former journalist, married King Felipe of Spain on May 2, 2024, she donned a showstopping design by Manuel Pertegaz. The piece, which was estimated to cost approximately $8 million, featured natural silks, gold embroidery, and a 15-foot train.
Kate Middleton
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For her royal nuptials to Prince William in 2011, Kate Middleton selected a lace-covered wedding dress with a plunging neckline designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. In addition to the trendsetting gown, which was estimated to cost $434,000 at the time, the bride wore a nine-foot-long train.
Princess Charlene of Monaco
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Charlene Wittstock married Monaco’s Prince Albert in an Armani Privé dress, which she called a “masterpiece.” According to Vogue, the dress took over 2,500 hours to create and featured a five-meter-long train adorned with 40,000 Swarovski crystals and 20,000 mother-of-pearl teardrops.
Zara Phillips
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On July 30, 2011, at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter Zara Phillips married Mike Tindall in a classic A-line ivory silk wedding dress created by the queen’s couturier, Stewart Parvin. To accessorize, she added Jimmy Choo heels, a silk tulle veil, and a bouquet full of white florals.
Princess Sofia of Sweden
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Sweden’s Princess Sofia and Prince Carl Philip tied the knot in Stockholm on June 13, 2015. For the occasion, the bride wore a long-sleeve dress created by Ida Sjöstedt—and covered in delicate lace made by José María Ruiz. She completed her look with a hand-cut and hand-stitched train.
Meghan Markle
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In 2018, Meghan Markle opted for a surprisingly minimalist wedding gown designed by Givenchy’s Clare Waight Keller to say “I do” to Prince Harry. In a nod to the countries in the Commonwealth, her veil included a 53 embroidered florals to represent each one. Her ensemble also featured a sentimental touch: a piece of the dress she wore on the couple’s first date was sewn into the veil.
Princess Eugenie
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Princess Eugenie wed Jack Brooksbank on October 12, 2018, wearing a custom gown by British label Peter Pilotto. The regal dress featured a slightly off-the-shoulder neckline, long sleeves, and a dramatic train. While also beautiful, the ensemble featured a meaningful design: The back of the dress dipped to show off the princess’s scar from a childhood scoliosis operation, a silhouette she specifically requested.
Charlotte Casiraghi
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In June of 2019, Charlotte Casiraghi, Grace Kelly’s granddaughter, hosted an intimate ceremony to tie the knot. However, a larger celebration followed a month later. For those subsequent festivities in Provence, Casiraghi wore a couture Giambattista Valli gown with a sheer neckline, lace detailing, and layers of tulle.
Countess Olympia von und zu Arco-Zinneberg
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In 2019, Prince Jean-Christophe Napoleon Bonaparte, a descendant of Napoleon Bonaparte, married Countess Olympia von und zu Arco-Zinneberg, the great-granddaughter of Austria’s last emperor, Karl I, in Paris. The bride wore a white Oscar de la Renta gown with a complemetnary capelet and cathedral veil. The entire look was embroidered by 10 dressmakers and took over 1,440 hours to create.
Princess Beatrice
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After canceling her May 2020 nuptials due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Princess Beatrice wed Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in secret on July 17, 2020. Both her “something borrowed” and “something old” happened to be her wedding dress, which was loaned to her by Queen Elizabeth. However, the bride made the gown her own by adding voluminous organza sleeves and altering the hemline.
