From Honiton lace to Orange Blossom, Royal wedding gowns over time have actually encompassed tradition, whilst still embracing changing fashions.
With the aid of The Royal Collection Trust, take a good look at our gallery to see a few of the dresses used by Royal Brides over time.
For more information on each gown, click the menu regarding the hand that is left, or you’re for a mobile, make use of the fall down menu.
Queen Victoria, who shares with Queen Mary I, the difference to be a Queen regnant whom married after her accession, dressed exclusively for her wedding to Prince Albert on 10 April 1840, in the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace.
Her gown ended up being of white satin by having a flounce that is deep of lace. Pinned to your off-the-shoulder neckline had been a brooch that Prince Albert had offered her as a marriage present: a sizable sapphire in the middle of diamonds. Her earrings and necklace had been additionally made from diamonds. On her behalf mind, as opposed to the anticipated coronet of diadem she wore only a wreath of orange blossom and a lace ukrainian brides veil.
Honiton lace is an element in amount of Royal designer wedding dresses; it’s a sort of bobbin lace made in Honiton, Devon.
The oldest daughter of Queen Victoria married Prince Frederick of Prussia, later Frederick III, German Emperor and King of Prussia on 25 January 1858 at the Chapel Royal, St James’s Palace.
Princess Victoria’s gown had been manufactured from white Moire Antique, a material with a wavy (watered) appearance, that was embellished with three flounces of Honiton lace. A flounce is just a ruffle that is wide onto a dress or sleeve. The lace ended up being embellished with flowers, shamrocks and thistles – the emblems of England, Ireland and Scotland.
The dress regarding the gown ended up being adorned with wreaths of orange and myrtle blossom, the latter being the bridal flower of Germany (the house nation of her fiance), embellished the gown. A big bouquet for the exact exact same plants had been added to the centre associated with bodice.
Princess Alice’s wedding to Prince Louis of Hesse were held within the living area of Osborne home on 1 July 1862. The marriage happened simply seven months considering that the loss of Prince Albert and also the Royal Family ended up being nevertheless in deep mourning. On 21 April 1862, Queen Victoria composed inside her log “Oh! My heart sinks whenever I think of being forced to proceed through all of it alone! “.
The Royal that is muted occasion mirrored when you look at the gown, that was noted to be a ‘half-high gown by having a deep flounce of Honiton lace, a veil of the identical and a wreath of orange blossom and myrtle. It had been a style that is simple maybe maybe maybe not adorned having a court train’.
For Princess Helena’s wedding to Prince Christian of Schlewsig-Holstein at Windsor Castle on 5 July 1866, the satin that is white showcased similar touches to her mom’s and sibling’s dresses.
Honiton lace ended up being found in the flounces and veil, and roses that are featured ivy and myrtle. Myrtle has received a long relationship with weddings such as the language of plants it symbolises love. Helena’s headpiece ended up being consists of orange myrtle and blossom.
Queen Victoria had written inside her log that “Lenchen’s Helena’s, wedding dress ended up being of white satin, trimmed with one superb flounce of Honiton lace, initially selected for me personally, by dearest Albert & aerosols of orange flowers & myrtles, & an extremely train that is long trimmed with the exact same lace & plants”.
Princess Alexandra married Prince Albert, The Prince of Wales at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle in the 10 March 1863, the few would later be Queen Alexandra and King Edward VII – with this specific is in brain, the marriage gown had been created for the next Queen.
The white silk gown ended up being garlanded with orange blossom and trimmed with Honiton lace in a patriotic pattern of flowers, shamrocks and thistles. A looped pearl and diamond necklace and earrings with pendant drops as a wedding present, Prince Albert gave Alexandra.
The sixth child of Queen Victoria, married the Marquis of Lorne (heir of to the Dukedom of Argyll) at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on 21 March 1871 Princess Louise.
Louise’s white silk wedding gown had been decorated with nationwide and royal symbols, with deep flounces of flower-strewn Honiton lace, and a brief wedding veil of Honiton lace that she designed herself and happened set up by two diamond daisy hair pins presented by her siblings, Princes Arthur, Prince Leopold and Princess Beatrice.
At Princess Louise Margaret’s wedding to Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught on 13 March 1879, her dress reflected her European ancestry. Though it had been manufactured from the typical white satin and embellished with conventional myrtle leaves, it had been built in Silesia. The lace for the train (that was four metres very very very long) and veil had been from point d’Alencon lace (as opposed to Honiton), even though the orange that is usual and myrtle ended up being still represented.
Aim d’Alencon is needle lace that originated from Alencon, France into the sixteenth century.
Princess Helena married the son that is youngest of Queen Victoria, Prince Leopold on 27 April 1882 at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. Helena’s gown had been sewn in Paris, and had been made from white satin, embellished with conventional orange blossom and myrtle and trimmed with fleur-de-lis. The gown ended up being once more topped with point d’Alencon lace. The long tulle veil was held in position by way of a diamond headdress and a wreath of orange flowers and myrtle.
The tradition of orange blossom had been founded following a wedding of Queen Victoria to Prince Albert. Between 1839 and 1846 Prince Albert provided Queen Victoria with a quantity of pieces from the orange that is beautiful parure (matching pair of jewelry) to mark significant moments within their everyday lives – read more here.
Princess Beatrice, the child that is youngest of Queen Victoria, hitched Prince Henry of Battenberg at St Mildred’s Church at Whippingham near Osborne, on 23 July 1885.
Beatrice’s white satin gown and lace overskirt ended up being trimmed with orange blossom and heather that is white. Beatrice had been a enthusiast of lace – one her most treasured possessions was a tunic of point d’Alencon lace which had belonged to Catherine of Aragon. Queen Victoria permitted Beatrice to wear the Honiton lace and veil that she wore on her very own wedding – the only person her daughters which had the opportunity to use it.
For Princess Mary of Teck (later on Queen Mary), bride into the future King George V in July 1893, the option had been an easy, elegant white and dress that is silver. Her train, woven in silver and brocade that is white ended up being embroidered with flowers, thistles and shamrocks, and her tiny lace veil fastened by having a diamond flower of York.
The gown had been created by Arthur Silver, associated with the Silver Studio, who was simply recognized for his Art Nouveau designs and ended up being impacted by Japanese art. Mary continued the orange blossom tradition, with tiny wreaths being positioned on the bust associated with the dress plus in her locks. The dress additionally showcased Honiton lace, which was in fact utilized by Mary’s mom, The Duchess of Teck’s very very very own wedding.
White flowers of York showed up on either part associated with orange-blossom wreath keeping in position the veil of Flanders lace worn by Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon on her behalf wedding towards the Duke of York (later on King George VI) in 1923.
Her medieval-looking, waistless gown had been of ivory silk crepe, with strips of silver lame embroidered with seed pearls and two trains, one fastened during the sides, one other drifting through the arms.
The rose of York, hand-embroidered in over 10,000 pearls and crystals, ended up being a feature that is prominent of The Queen’s (then Princess Elizabeth) bridal dress in November 1947. The gown had been created by Sir Norman Hartnell, whom cited Boticelli’s Painting Primavera, which symbolises the coming of springtime, as their motivation for the style.
The spreading skirt of ivory Duchesse satin, below a fitted bodice with heart-shaped neckline and long tight sleeves, ended up being embroidered with garlands of roses in raised pearls entwined with ears of wheat in crystals and pearls. Across the complete hem a edge of orange blossom ended up being appliqued with transparent tulle outlined in seed pearls and crystal.
Regarding the tulle that is white rested a pearl and diamond tiara. The fan-shaped train, 14 foot very long, in clear ivory silk tulle, ended in a deep edge of embroidered flowers and wheat motifs.