On the day of their royal wedding, May 19, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should be ready to have the world’s attention on them. 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 scrutinised.
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 custom-made Ralph & Russo dress that will cost around $135,000.
The big reveal won’t come till 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.
#1 Kate Middelton 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.
#2 Queen Letizia of Spain in Manuel Pertegaz
Thirteen years ago, Queen Letizia blessed us with her Manuel Pertegaz wedding gown. The dress’ open collar, cuffs, and hem were embroidered with real gold and a floral pattern. Her train was 14-foot long which was also embroidered with gold. With her stylish updo, the Spanish royal proved that she’s quite the fashionista.
#3 Grace Kelly in Helen Rose
I would be amiss if I won’t include Grace Kelly in this list. This fairytale wedding had a beautiful wedding dress, gifted 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.
#4 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 puffed sleeves and 25-foot trains was made with lace that belonged to Queen Mary, 10,000 pearls, and sequins. I don’t know of anyone who won’t be able to recognize this dress.
Photos courtesy of Harper’s Bazaar
