23 photos that show what royal wedding dresses look like around the world
Talia Lakritz
- Royal weddings are usually lavish affairs, sometimes lasting several days.
- Wedding dresses range from simple white garments to vibrant and intricate designs.
- Not all royal brides have worn white.
A royal wedding isn't just a union between two people and their families. It's a national (and sometimes international) affair that attracts throngs of well-wishers, close media attention, and high-profile guests all hoping to catch a glimpse of the happy couple.
Simple white wedding dresses are traditional in some countries, perhaps with a bit of lace or beading to add to the design. Other royal brides celebrate with bright, festive colors, rich embroidery, and precious stones the size of eggs.
Here's what 23 royal brides wore on their wedding day.
Read the original article on InsiderLady Gabriella Windsor wore a custom gown by Luisa Beccaria, an Italian designer, to wed Thomas Kingston in 2019.
Windsor is the daughter of Queen Elizabeth's first cousin Prince Michael of Kent. The couple held their wedding at St. George's Chapel, where both Meghan Markle and Princess Eugenie tied the knot in 2018. Prince Harry, the Queen, and Pippa Middleton were among the glamorous guests.
Thailand's Queen Suthida wore an iridescent pink jacket and skirt for her surprise wedding to King Maha Vajiralongkorn.
On May 1, the king of Thailand married Suthida Tidjai in a lavish surprise ceremony where he poured sacred water on her head at Ampornsan Throne Hall in Bangkok. The event took people by surprise because the royal palace never acknowledged the pair's relationship.
Suthida was a commoner before marrying into royalty, working as a flight attendant on Thai Airways and later a general in Thailand's army before joining Vajiralongkorn's security detail.
Ayako Moriya of Japan wore a red kouchiki — a cloak with long, wide sleeves — and a brown naga-bakama — a "divided skirt" — when she married shipping-firm employee Kei Moriya.
Ayako Moriya, born Princess Ayako of Takamado, gave up her royal status to marry a commoner.
Princess Eugenie's wedding dress was designed by Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos and featured a neckline that folded around the shoulders, a low back, and a long, flowing train.
Instead of a veil, Princess Eugenie opted for the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara with diamonds and emeralds.
Meghan Markle wore a Givenchy dress designed by Clare Waight Keller when she wed Prince Harry and became the Duchess of Sussex.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle got married in St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018.
Princess Ariana Makonnen married Prince Joel Makonnen of Ethiopia in a Lazaro dress customized by Cheryl Lofton, who has tailored outfits for Michelle Obama.
Prince Joel Makonnen and Princess Ariana Makonnen of Ethiopia celebrated their wedding day in Washington, DC, in 2017.
Princess Claire of Luxembourg wore a wedding gown by designer Elie Saab.
Princess Claire of Luxembourg, a German bioethics researcher, married Prince Felix of Luxembourg in 2013.
Princess Sofia of Sweden chose a lacy dress by Swedish designer Ida Sjöstedt.
Prince Carl Philip of Sweden and Princess Sofia got married in 2015.
Princess Charlene of Monaco's simple Armani gown was embellished with subtle embroidery.
Princess Charlene of Monaco married Prince Albert II of Monaco at the Prince's Palace in 2011.
Dayangku Raabi'atul 'Adawiyyah Pengiran Haji Bolkiah of Brunei was dripping in precious stones, including a bouquet of gems, on her wedding day.
Prince Abdul Malik and Dayangku Raabi'atul 'Adawiyyah Pengiran Haji Bolkiah got married in the Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan in 2015.
Journalist Elisabetta Rosboch von Wolkenstein married the Prince of Belgium in Valentino.
Belgium's Prince Amedeo and his wife, Princess Elisabetta, had their wedding ceremony in Rome in 2014.
Two billion people tuned in to watch Kate Middleton marry Prince William in a now famous Alexander McQueen dress.
The couple married in 2011 and now share three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan was a commoner before marrying King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in a traditional Buddhist ceremony.
King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema got married at Punakha Dzong in Bhutan's ancient capital, Punakha, in 2011.
Princess Tatiana of Greece wore a dress by Venezuelan designer Ángel Sánchez.
Prince Nikolaos of Greece and Princess Tatiana got married at the Cathedral of Agios Nikolaos in 2010 in Spetses, Greece.
Princess Nathalie of Denmark's gown was created by Danish designer Henrik Hviid.
Princess Nathalie is the youngest daughter of Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Princess Benedikte of Denmark.
Viktória Cservenyák chose a dress by another Danish designer named Claes Iversen when she married Prince Jaime of the Netherlands.
Viktória Cservenyák, a former lawyer and writer, married Prince Jaime of the Netherlands on October 5, 2013 in Apeldoorn.
Princess Noor bint Asem of Jordan was radiant in a beaded wedding dress, though the couple divorced in 2009.
Prince Hamzah bin Hussein of Jordan and Princess Noor bint Asem got married in 2003 and divorced in 2009. Both have since remarried.
Morocco's Princess Lalla Salma, who worked as an engineer before taking the title, broke the tradition of keeping royal wives hidden when she married King Mohammed VI.
King Mohammed VI of Morocco married Princess Lalla Salma at the royal palace in Rabat, Morocco, in 2002.
Indonesia's Prince Notonegoro and Princess Hayu were friends when they were younger and dated for 10 years before marrying.
Indonesia's Prince Notonegoro and Princess Hayu's wedding lasted three days, from October 21 through 23, in 2013.
Karabo Motsoeneng married the King of Lesotho in a jewel-encrusted dress, necklace, and crown.
Karabo Motsoeneng, now Queen 'Masenate Mohato Seeiso, married King Letsie III of Lesotho in 2000.
Sayako Kuroda gave up her royal title as Princess Nori of Japan to marry Yoshiki Kuroda in a plain, A-line dress and white gloves.
Sayako Kuroda and Yoshiki Kurodagot married in Tokyo in 2005.
Queen Elizabeth's granddaughter Zara Phillips married English rugby player Mike Tindall in an ivory silk and Duchess satin gown designed by royal couturier Stewart Parvin.
Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall wed in 2011.
Lady Gabriella Windsor married Thomas Kingston in a dress designed by Luisa Beccaria.
Lady Gabriella Windsor is the Queen's first cousin once removed. She and Kingston married at St. George's Chapel in 2019.
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