Who can resist a royal wedding? They’re surrounded by pomp and tradition, and they include real live princesses! With all of the spectacle and history around a royal nuptial, the wedding gowns become icons. Enjoy a browse through ten lovely royal wedding gowns (and the jewels are too shabby either).
10. Princess Letizia of Spain.
Journalist and news anchor Letizia wed Prince Felipe in the Almudena Cathedral in May 2004. She wore a dress by Manuel Pertegaz to the ceremony in Madrid that was consecrated by Pope John Paul II.
9. Queen Soraya of Iran.
Soraya married the Shah of Iran in February 1951. She wore a couture Christian Dior made of 6,000 diamond fragments, several dozen yards of pearl-studded silver lame, and weighed 44 pounds. Since she doesn’t look like she could possibly weigh much more than that, I think we can forgive her for sitting during photos.
8. Princess Maria Theresia of Thurn and Taxis (Germany).
She wore a Vivienne Westwood gown of painted golden and blush roses to her wedding in September 2014. Apparently, this royal family is known for being a little eccentric. For fun, you should check out the gown the bride’s mother wore for the wedding.
7. Princess Anne of Great Britain.
This is actually the photo the royal family used to announce the official engagement of Princess Anne to Captain Mark Phillips. Maureen Baker designed both this dress and the one she wore on her wedding day in 1973.
6. Princess Mette-Marit of Norway.
In a Cinderella-esque story, Mette-Marit went from waitress to princess in a matter of a few years after meeting Crown Prince Haakon. She wore a silk crepe gown with a 20 ft train to their wedding in August 2001.
5. Princess Diana of Great Britain.
This dress is so iconic that it has its own Wikipedia page. Seriously. The puffy sleeves and ruffled collar of her dress, designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, are perfect examples of the 80’s wedding dress trends.
4. Princess Stephanie of Luxembourg.
Belgian Countess Stephanie married Prince Guillaume in an Elie Saab dress with a 13 ft train that is so involved that it could only have worked for a royal wedding. Belgium lace and silver filigree galore!
3. Princess Grace of Monaco.
Former actress Grace Kelly opted for a gown designed by a costumer at MGM instead of a couture dress. Helen Rose created the timeless wedding dress for Grace and Prince Rainer’s 1956 nuptials.
2. Princess Victoria of Sweden.
Crown Princess Victoria married at Stockholm’s Royal Palace in June 2010. She wore a gown by Swedish designer, Pär Engsheden, her mother’s wedding veil, and the Cameo Tiara which is believed to have originally been a gift from Napoleon to Empress Josephine.
1. Kate, Duchess of Cambridge.
With so much ado before the wedding, Kate’s wedding dress had to be amazing. She wore an Alexander McQueen dress of satin and lace and a Cartier halo tiara commissioned by King George VI.
Need more royal wedding inspiration? Go check out our Pinterest Board dedicated to royal wedding dresses!
