The public’s fascination with royal weddings runs deep, as the pomp and circumstance involved in these ceremonies are unparalleled.
It is lovely to watch Kings and Queens and Princes and Princesses marry in these grand, lavish affairs. From the imagined fairytale love story to the design of the bride’s wedding dress, royal weddings are always the subject of enormous public interest.
The Queen Mary And Princess Elizabeth’s Royal Weddings
Prince Albert, Duke of York (who became the future King George VI), married Elizabeth Bowes Lyon on April 26, 1923. The wedding took place at Westminster Abbey on a gorgeous sunny spring day, lightly peppered with the usual April showers.
Lady Elizabeth enthralled the crowds as she entered the streets after the nuptials. Later, she became Queen Elizabeth and became known as Queen Mary after her husband died in 1952.
A medieval gown inspired the wedding dress. It featured a drop-waist silhouette and a subtle train. It was embroidered with pearls and included a lace insert, which was a family heirloom. She wore the Strathmore tiara for her bridal pictures. It features a diamond bandeau with five roses and is adorned with small diamonds.
Queen Elizabeth welcomed two daughters, one of which was Princess Elizabeth, who later became Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Margaret.
Princess Elizabeth married Prince Phillip at Westminster Abbey on November 20, 1947. Her beautiful gown was made of ivory silk and embellished with star lilies and orange blossoms. It had a 13-foot-long train.
On her wedding day, Elizabeth’s tiara broke. Unaware that it doubled as a necklace, she accidentally touched the clasp. Luckily, the court jeweler rushed to fix it.
It was the Queen Mary’s Fringe tiara. It featured forty-seven diamonds with forty-six narrow spikes, which could be removed to make a necklace.
Prince Charles And Princess Diana’s “Wedding Of The Century”
What royal weddings list would be complete without Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer’s wedding at St. Paul’s Cathedral on July 29, 1981?
It was hailed as “the wedding of the century” and seen by a global television audience of 750 million in over 70 countries. Diana was already one of the most beloved figures of that era.
Their wedding was a symbol of hope in uncertain times. Diana’s gown was made of ivory silk taffeta and antique lace. It had oversized sleeves and a dramatic 25-foot-long train. Diana wore the Spencer family tiara, embellished with diamonds and a breathtaking sapphire centerpiece.
The Bach Choir and several Orchestras performed for the bride and groom that day. As Prince Charles was heir to the British throne, the wedding was deemed a “state occasion,” and the guest list was over 3,000 people, including many foreign heads of state. It was an elaborate and lavish affair.
Prince William And Catherine Middleton’s Storybook Wedding
Prince William and Catherine Middleton were wed on April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony was another global television event that captured the attention of American audiences.
Princess Kate wore a whimsical Alexander McQueen gown made of ivory and satin, which looked like it came straight out of a storybook. Sarah Burton specially sourced the UK fabrics. The long, flowing skirt was meant to mimic the opening of a flower.
The train was demure and classy, much like the bride. It was just under three meters in length. The bodice was designed in 19th-century lace.
Kate wore the Cartier Halo Tiara, made from platinum and featuring 739 boldly sparkling diamonds. It was created in 1936 as an anniversary gift from King George VI to Elizabeth (Queen Mary). Her choice of tiara signified that her royal role would be a reflection of the Queen Mother.
The wedding of William and Kate was very important because William was next in line to be King. Kate is the future Queen of England, and their son, Prince George, is the next heir.
Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’s Nuptials
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were wed on May 19, 2018, at St. George’s Chapel. Their ceremony was another major televised event. The couple’s modern-day fairytale romance spellbound the audience.
Meghan wore a simple and understated Givenchy silk gown designed by Clare Waight Keller. The dress had three-quarter sleeves and a bateau neckline. The train was made of silk organza, and her veil was 25 feet long with 53 embroidered flowers, symbolically representing the Commonwealth’s 53 countries.
No lace or embroidered details were used, as royal tradition encourages. Meghan wore the Queen Mary Bandeau tiara, which was designed in 1932. The brooch in the middle was crafted in 1893. The tiara belonged to Queen Mary.
The Duchess of Sussex’s wedding bouquet symbolically contained forget-me-nots, Princess Diana’s favorite flower. Meghan reportedly wanted to wear the Grand Duchess Vladimir’s Emerald tiara, but the Queen steered her toward Queen Mary’s tiara.
Royal weddings project fairytale imagery and are crucial to the institution of the monarchy. They can uplift us, reflect the change in our times, and serve as a welcome distraction, but most of all, they instill the hope and belief of eternal love.
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