Worldwide, the British Royal family has an enduring influence and legacy throughout the years. Royals and celebrities alike have display impeccable wedding style at each wedding and we follow them. Styles are replicated in our fashion, whether in a style hat in a Melbourne villa or in an affordable bridal gown in Sydney.
Celebrities like the Beckhams and Cara Delavigne were lauded for their impeccable and bold styles at the star-studded wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry in May 2018. Chic and even strange hats are a regular sighting at any royal wedding. Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice’s quirky hat style caught media attention in the 2011 nuptials of their cousin Prince William. The Queen’s own personal wedding style is a subject of media attention as well when royal weddings come around. Her Majesty dresses in a blend of brightly-coloured suits with matching accessories and hats that have endeared her to the public. Much fascination is placed on the royal wedding gowns which inspire elegant yet affordable bridal gowns for princesses and subjects alike. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding is a successor of a long line of iconic royal weddings.
1. Queen Elizabeth II
The current reigning monarch of the British royal family was married to Prince Philip in 1947. The period after World War II, which ended in 1945, brought austerity to Britain, a major player in the war. The then Princess had to use 200 government ration stamps for fabric for the wedding dress.
2. Princess Diana
Princess Diana or Lady Diana Spencer, was one of the most notorious of fashion icons in the 1990s. Her 25-foot-long train and ruffle-sleeved, taffeta ball gown caught the attention of many. She married Prince Charles in 1981 and the wedding brought international fame to the dress designer, Elizabeth Emanuel.
3. Kate Middleton
Katharine Middleton was married to Prince William in 2011, highly televised ceremony. The young Duchess of Cambridge is hailed as the first commoner to be married into the royal family. The bride wore an elegant Alexander McQueen gown on her big day. The dress was designed by Sarah Barton. Barton used the confluence of modern and Victorian wedding styles to create a gown with long sleeves, floral motifs as well as a train and a full skirt. The dress was the first of many iconic fashion moments by Kate Middleton
4. Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle, a former Suits actress, wore a stunning Givenchy gown that was designed by Clare Waight Keller. The gown had a boat-neckline was made of double-bonded silk cady. The boat-neck collar is part of Meghan Markle’s signature style. The style was highly-sought after in the aftermath of the wedding.
5. Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon
The Queen Mother married King George VI, then the Duke of York, in a classic 1920s ceremony. Her wedding gown was inspired by the idiosyncrasies of the twenties. A major inspiration for the dress was Coco Chanel.
