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Royal Weddings

HRH Prince Harry of Wales and Miss Meghan Markle: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex – May 19th, 2018

Duke and Duchess of Sussex were married May 19th, 2018 at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor. The bride’s gown was a sleek, modern number designed by Givenchy. On her dark hair was perched a tiara loaned by the Queen – once worn by Queen Mary and referred to as Queen Mary’s Diamond Bandeau Tiara. Also sparkling was Meghan’s engagement ring. Harry proposed to Meghan with a 3-stone diamond ring. The large center stone was ethically sourced from Botswana, while the smaller side stones had been refitted from the jewels owned by Harry’s late mother Diana, Princess of Wales.

The large, arched entrance to St. George’s Chapel was immersed in a beautiful floral display, which continued into the church itself. The elegant creation was the work of floral designer Philippa Craddock. The ceremony was both traditional and modern. The ancient St. George’s chapel swelled with light, music, and the praises of love along with a gospel choir and American bishop Michael Curry were nods to Markle’s heritage. In an unusual move, only Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, was invited to sit in the family pews of the chapel. It was reported that Meghan invited her father, but he was unable to attend due to health issues. Instead, Meghan walked down the aisle alone to start, with Prince Charles escorting her down the last stretch of the aisle leading up to the altar.

HRH Prince William of Wales and Miss Catherine Middleton: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – April 29th, 2011

Prince William, the eldest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales, married Miss Catherine Middleton on April 29th, 2011. For their engagement press conference, Kate wore a rich blue dress to compliment her sparkling ring – the iconic sapphire which had previously belonged to William’s mother. The Prince proposed to Kate with the ring while vacationing in Kenya, saying that this was his way of keeping Diana close while they celebrated this special time in their lives. Their wedding was held in the ancient Westminster Abbey in London, and the day culminated in the famous kiss on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Kate’s gown was created by Sarah Burton, the head of the Alexander McQueen design team. It featured intricate lace applique on the bodice and sleeves with a high waist and a full, embroidered train. [The history behind Kate’s wedding tiara]

HRH Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten: The (former) Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh – November 20th, 1947

Described by Winston Churchill as a “bright ray of colour on the hard gray road we have to travel”, the wedding was the first royal celebration following World War II. People were still limited as to what they could buy and eat, yet many would send Elizabeth their clothing coupons so that their Princess could have the most beautiful wedding gown imaginable. There were even gifts of food from abroad, and hundreds of pairs of stockings – a rarity during the war.

Elizabeth was given an unusual spiked fringe tiara to wear on the day; unfortunately it snapped just before the ceremony! It was hastily repaired and, if you look closely, looks ever-so-slightly off in the center. It did not, thankfully, ruin the bride’s day.

Elizabeth’s wedding dress was designed by Sir Norman Hartnell, who created a beautiful, sleek gown that would be suitably fashionable today. Hartnell said that his inspiration for the gown’s design was Boticelli’s famous painting, Primavera, which symbolized the coming of spring – much like the wedding of the Princess herself, whose youth and beauty represented a new era for Britain.

HRH Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank – October 12th, 2018

When Jack Brooksbank proposed to Princess Eugenie with a pink padparadscha sapphire, the world swooned. Not only was it a unique ring, but it was a reflection of them as a couple – bright and happy. The pair radiated joy in the engagement photos, and especially on the day of their wedding.

Eugenie’s gown was designed by Peter Pilotto. The graceful neckline was deep and folded around her shoulders to show her back. It was Eugenie’s way to show support and gratitude to the doctors that mended her scoliosis when she was a young girl. The beautiful dress was accented with the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara, on loan from the Queen. The curved diamond and emerald tiara was the perfect touch on the dark-haired princess, who glowed when spotting her groom at the end of the aisle.

FAQ of the moment:

The “R” after the Elizabeth’s signature stands for Regina (Reh-JINE-ah), the Latin word for queen.

India became a part of the British Empire during the reign of Queen Victoria. As the Empress of India, Queen Victoria signed her name Victoria R-I, or Victoria Regina-Imperiatrix.  Her predecessors, all kings, signed their names with a male version: Rex-Imperator.

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