The Story Behind Meghan Markle’s Stunning Givenchy Wedding Dress
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12 hours ago
When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot in 2018, all eyes were on the future Duchess of Sussex (and her wedding dress)
There’s something about a royal wedding that really brings the nation together. And while it’s been seven years since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said ‘I do’, we can all collectively remember how stunning the bride looked in her wedding dress. Below, we revisit the royal wedding – and the dress that launched a thousand bridal trends.
Looking Back At Meghan Markle’s Wedding Dress
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s wedding day was nothing short of a nationwide celebration. The couple exchanged vows in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on 19 May 2018 – almost two years after they first met.
Pulling up to the chapel in a sleek Rolls Royce with her mother, Doria Ragland, in the seat beside her, the modest-sized crowd waiting outside collectively held their breath. And once Markle had stepped fully out of the vehicle and up a few steps, turning to throw a quick smile and wave behind her, the crowd cheered in joy.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on their wedding day (c) Jane Barlow/PA Images Alamy
Marking seven years since the last royal wedding – that of her brother- and sister-in-law, Prince William and Kate Middleton – the public were keen to witness another royal romance unfold in front of them. A slightly unconventional first meeting, Harry and Meghan crossed paths on a blind date in London back in 2016. Set up by a mutual friend, British socialite Violet von Westenholz, the date set sparks alight for the couple – who went on another date before Harry invited Meghan to Botswana for an impromptu camping trip.
The prince officially popped the question a year later, in November 2017, when the couple were enjoying a chicken dinner in Kensington Palace’s north garden. Prince Harry proposed with a 3-carat cushion-cut diamond set on a yellow gold band; the central diamond came from Botswana, while the two diamonds flanking it came from Princess Diana’s collection. (You can read the full Meghan Markle engagement ring history here.)
It was a quick turnaround from engagement to wedding day – just five months and 22 days, in fact – and during this time Meghan Markle’s wedding dress was kept a closely guarded secret. Only a small team were aware of all the details, with designer Clare Waight Keller’s family not even knowing of the design until the day itself.
But that just made the reveal all the sweeter. Seven years on from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding day, the Duchess of Sussex’s gown still serves as chic bridal inspiration.
Who Designed Meghan Markle’s Wedding Dress?
Meghan Markle’s wedding dress was designed by Clare Waight Keller, the then-creative director of French luxury house Givenchy. It was something of an unexpected choice, as while the designer herself was British, royal brides traditionally had also previously gone with British brands for their wedding day.
It’s said that Markle chose Waight Keller, who became Givenchy’s first female artistic director in 2017, as part of her commitment to empowering women via her global platform. In a statement from Kensington Palace, it was highlighted that Markle ‘chose to work with her for her timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanour… [But that she] also wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent who has now served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses – Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and now Givenchy.’
The two worked closely together on the design, meeting for the first time in early 2018, and Markle reportedly went for eight fittings in the lead up to her wedding day. ‘It is truly an honour to have been given the opportunity to closely collaborate with Meghan Markle on such a remarkable occasion,’ Waight Keller said at the time. ‘We wanted to create a timeless piece that would emphasise the iconic codes of Givenchy throughout its history, as well as convey modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts.
‘In contrast, the delicate floral beauty of the veil was a vision Meghan and I shared,’ she added, ‘a special gesture embracing the commonwealth flora, ascending the circumference of the silk tulle.’
What Did The Dress Look Like?
Meghan Markle’s wedding dress embraced minimal chic, with a simple bateau neckline and three-quarter sleeves. It also featured a sculpted waistline, as well as a train created from soft round folds cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza.
Notably, Markle chose not to decorate her gown with lace – a typical tradition with royal wedding dresses – instead, she opted for double-bonded silk cady that was crafted into a seamless, embellishment-free expanse of fabric.
How Long Was The Veil?
As far as royal bridal veils go, Meghan Markle’s is one of the most impressive in royal history: the Duchess of Sussex wore a 16-foot-long silk tulle veil, again designed by Waight Keller. It reportedly took longer to finish the veil than the dress itself, with a team of embroiderers taking over 500 hours to complete it.
Held in place by a tiara, her veil featured sentimental illustrations embroidered into the fabric (apparently it took 500 hours for embroiderers to create all the details) – with 53 individual flowers depicting all 53 countries of Commonwealth, alongside California poppies to symbolise her home state and wintersweet in reference to the blooms that grow outside Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace (where the royal couple once lived).
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What Was Her ‘Something Blue’?
Staying true to tradition, Meghan Markle wore several blue wedding accessories on her big day. They included an aquamarine cocktail ring from Princess Diana, a pair of Aquazzura shoes with the soles painted baby blue (both worn for her second bridal look) and a piece of the blue dress she wore for her first date with Prince Harry, which was stitched into her gown.
Her ‘Something Borrowed’?
The Duchess of Sussex also wore more than one ‘something borrowed’ accessory. Alongside Princess Diana’s aquamarine cocktail ring, she also wore a diamond and platinum bandeau tiara that once belonged to Queen Mary. Made for the royal in 1932 – with a centre brooch dating back to 1893 – it was loaned to Markle on the day by Queen Elizabeth II.
And Her ‘Something Old’?
The aforementioned tiara could also count as Duchess of Sussex’s ‘something old’, but the royal had a few other options in place as back up. It’s said that she had a piece of fabric from Princess Diana’s wedding dress sewn into her own gown, as well as sprigs of myrtle in her bouquet that came from the same plant used to create Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding bouquet.
How Much Did Her Dress Cost? (& Who Paid For It?)
As was the case with her sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, the cost of Meghan Markle’s wedding dress was never disclosed. However, it was estimated by British dressmaker Kirsty Couture that it would have been somewhere between £110,000 and £387,000.
As for who paid for it, that would be Meghan Markle herself. The Duchess of Sussex covered the cost of her dress for her wedding to Prince Harry.
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Did Meghan Markle Have A Second Wedding Dress?
As seems to be the modern tradition for brides, Meghan Markle wore a second wedding dress by British designer Stella McCartney – which she changed into for the evening reception at Frogmore House.
‘The Bride’s evening dress is designed by Stella McCartney and is a bespoke lily white high neck gown made of silk crepe,’ said Kensington Palace in an official statement. ‘The Bride is wearing shoes from Aquazurra made in silky satin, with nude mesh, with soles painted in baby blue.’
The silk crepe grown, a bespoke creation by McCartney, was a halterneck design with an open back, as well as chic fluted skirt.
‘I am so proud and honoured to have been chosen by the Duchess of Sussex to make her evening gown and represent British design,’ the designer commented on the day. ‘It has truly been one of the most humbling moments of my career and I am so proud of all the team on this stunning sunny royal day.’
Can You Still Watch The Royal Wedding?
Yes, you can still watch the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in full on YouTube. The video posted by the royal family’s official account includes guest arrivals, the ceremony itself and the carriage procession through Windsor. For the Duchess of Sussex’s arrival at the chapel, you can watch the clip below:
