Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Royal wedding was surely one of the celeb highlights in both United Kingdom and the world, where only 600 guests got the exclusive invitation to St. George’s Chapel in May 2018. Many of the guests turned heads as they arrived at the venue, with both royals and renowned socialites joining the happy couple for their special day. How do they compare to themselves with the guests of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding seven years ago? Who sported the best hairstyle? Did they even go to a styling specialist to prepare? Who stole the show? Let’s go through the most famous guests we’ve seen and see what they opted for!
Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle – The Regal Wave To The Well-Wishers
There was always a slight query in the atmosphere about this regal wave of newly-married royal couples. What is the intention behind it? According to the protocol, it is a sign of gratitude, a silent “thank you” to the people who’ve attended the ceremony outside the gates. Kate Middleton followed the protocol and waved standing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Meghan didn’t get her royal wave on the renowned balcony, but greeted the people around Windsor through a long carriage ride, with a smile as bright and white as her dress.
Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle – The Walk Down The Aisle
A girl’s dream is to wear a wedding gown, holding her bouquet as she walks down the aisle to meet her groom. For Kate Middleton, that dream became reality, as her father, Michael Middleton, escorted her to meet Prince William. For Meghan Markle, however, things turned out different, for her father was unable to attend the ceremony due to his poor health, but luckily, there was a hero there to save the day. Meghan walked a part of St. George’s Chapel’s aisle alone and met half-way by Prince Charles, her would-be father-in-law then.
For both of his daughters-in-law, it was Prince Charles who organized an evening reception after the ceremonies, showing how much he loves his two sons. Both Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle looked absolutely breathtaking in their outfits, stealing during their special day. The Duchess of Cambridge wore an Alexander McQueen white satin dress, while the Duchess of Sussex opted for a long dress designed by Stella McCartney, for which the Royals reportedly paid $157K. The lavish reception was held at Frogmore House, and it was as opulent as everybody expected.
As her father couldn’t attend the wedding due to his reported heart condition, it was Prince Charles who walked Meghan Markle down the aisle to her groom. For his son Prince William’s big day, Prince Charles wore the Royal uniform and their badges, while for Prince Harry’s ceremony, he wore a grey morning suit. On the other hand, his wife Camilla wore similar gowns on both occasions. In 2011, she was seen wearing a peach outfit and in 2018, she went for a pastel pink gown with a matching hat.
The moment millions of people were waiting for – the very first kiss of Prince William and Kate Middleton and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as a married couple. While the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge shared this moment on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle shared their first kiss the moment they went out of the St. George’s Chapel. Needless to say, the whole world celebrated with them and you could hear cheering from the crowd. People in social media had never been as busy as during royal events.
The parents of the Duchess of Cambridge, Carol, and Michael Middleton, looked amazing on their daughter’s big day in 2011. In 2018, they got an invitation for Prince Harry’s big day and this time, they looked just as dashing. While the father wore a black blazer and striped grey trousers, the mother wore light blue outfits on both times in combination with a discrete jewelry. The Middletons sure have a good taste when it comes to clothing, which couldn’t have come cheap either. As you all know, they might not be Royals, but they’re definitely wealthy.
As real-life princesses, both Duchesses wore tiaras on their wedding day. It was their ‘something borrowed’ and Kate Middleton’s tiara was the Cartier tiara Queen Elizabeth received as a present for her 18th birthday. Meanwhile, Meghan Markle’s tiara was borrowed from the Queen and an inheritance from Queen Mary. Both are from the family collection but Markle’s is now estimated at over $650K. The Duchess of Cambridge wore a Robinson Pelham jewelry while the Duchess of Sussex opted for a pair of earrings by the iconic Cartier, both showing how stylish they are.
Prince Harry was the best man on his brother’s wedding in 2011 and in 2018, the world got to watch him as a charming groom. On his big day, he specifically wore the military uniform of Blues and Royals and his brother wore the same, though this time, Prince William was the one who wore all badges of the Royals. We don’t know the cost of the men’s uniforms from tailors Dege & Skinner, but apparently, it took 65K stitches and more than 100 meters of lace. Royal outfits never come cheap.
Like mothers, like daughters! Showing they have an impeccable sense of style, the mother of Kate Middleton and the mother of Meghan Markle both attended the ceremony looking absolutely stunning. We didn’t expect anything less though, as few things make people more delighted than seeing their children getting married. In 2011, Carole Middleton wore a Catherine Walker light blue dress and in 2018 she was seen in a similar ensemble, also designed by Catherine Walker. Doria Ragland, the beautiful mother of the Duchess of Sussex, opted for a green Oscar de la Renta dress.
David Beckham and wife Victoria looked nothing but stunning at the Royal wedding of Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The former footballer wore a grey morning suit while his fashion designer wife turned heads in a beautiful navy dress, with a matching fascinator and red shoes. Her hair was fixed into an elegant loose ponytail. Humanitarians as they are, the couple is now selling their outfits to support a great cause, giving a reported $5K retail value for donors to win to help people affected by the 2017 Manchester attack.
The wedding cake is something that belongs to the Royal family tradition and it is known to be prepared in secrecy until the very day of the wedding. Prince William and Kate Middleton’s cake was an eight-tier one and it was made by Fiona Cairns. Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s cake was made by Claire Ptak who created a lemon and elderflower delicious treat that they served at the reception. Markle’s cake is beyond belief and reportedly cost £50K! We would certainly love to get a taste of them, but they are not meant for “common mortals” like us!
Kate Middleton’s sister, Pippa Middleton, was the maid of honor for the Duchess of Cambridge on her wedding day so Pippa was the one who carried Middleton’s long train down the aisle. On the other hand, former actress Meghan Markle decided not to have a maid of honor so page boys were in charge of carrying her veil into the church. The Duchess of Sussex never revealed the reason why she decided not to follow that tradition, but in any case, her long train turned every head at the ceremony, while it was widely talked about on social media.
When it comes to their bouquets, both Duchesses honored the tradition of the Royal family, including all kinds of flowers. Kate Middleton’s bouquet had sweet William and hyacinth of the valley. Meghan Markle’s bouquet was designed by Philippa Craddock and it included handpicked flowers by Prince Harry in honor of his mother – like lilies, jasmine, and sweet peas, and forget-me-nots which were his late mother’s favorite flower. The floral trimmings reportedly cost over $150K, and that’s just how Royals do it. On such occasions, they’re known for their opulence and will to steal the spotlight.
It is a royal tradition for the wedding ceremony to showcase young bridesmaids, usually the young daughters of important royal friends. Diana’s ceremony included the traditional young girls, as did Meghan’s. Meghan’s included six girls and four page boys, including Kate Middleton’s children. While we are used to Meghan being the modern one, she seems to keep tradition – as Kate is the one who broke away from the tradition and had her sister, Pippa Middleton, as her maid of honor. Contrary to Kate’s nuptials, Meghan’s ceremony included many bridesmaids and pageboys from her favorite friends’ families.
In 2011, after a couple of years of dating, Prince William and Kate Middleton said ‘Yes’ to each other in a beautiful ceremony at Westminster Abbey. The Duchess wore an Alexander McQueen trousseau while Prince William wore red Irish Guards. In 2018, the best man was seen in a military uniform while Kate Middleton opted for a white coat gown for the big day of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The couple looked adorable although Middleton’s £250K wedding dress was hard to surpass. In both instances though, Kate’s style was simple yet enhanced her lovely features.
The sister of Kate Middleton, Pippa Middleton, got an invitation for both Royal weddings. In 2011, she wore a white lavish gown to fit her role of the maid of honor. In 2018, Pippa appeared for the big day of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with her husband and this time, she wore a light green gown with flower pattern, designed by The Fold. She sure made heads turn both times even with an estimated price of £495 this time around. Getting invited at both nuptials means that the Royal family probably likes her a lot!
Prince William & Kate Middleton, Prince Harry & Meghan Markle – The Evening Receptions
Every wedding is followed by the reception, where the guests who attended the ceremony dine with the married couple and celebrate the married life that’s ahead. When it comes to royal wedding receptions though, choosing the venue of the feast is crucial, not because of the money involved, but mostly because of the tradition and historical significance. Prince William and Kate Middleton chose to return to Buckingham Palace to cheer their well-wishers; Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, on the other hand, preferred St. George’s Hall in Windsor Castle to continue the celebrations.
Once the whole ceremony was over, this time, the brides walked down the aisle with their new husbands instead of their fathers. Prince William and Kate Middleton were followed by bridesmaids and page boys and then by family members and parents. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle walked down the aisle decorated with flowers designed by Philippa Craddock and were followed by their two page boys, little bridesmaids, as well as their siblings and parents. The attendees cheered as they witnessed history in the making, and the whole process was televised in most countries around the world!
Businesswoman Chelsy Davy was in an on-again-off-again relationship with Prince Harry for many years and so she earned herself an invitation for the big day of both brothers, Prince William and Prince Harry. The first time, Davy arrived at the ceremony in a cyan dress designed by Alberta Ferretti while for her ex’s wedding, she appeared in a navy mini dress with a matching fascinator. Everyone noticed that Davy seemed genuinely happy for Prince Harry and Meghan.
For the reception at Clarence House, Prince William drove his new bride in a blue Aston Martin luxury car that belongs to Prince Charles. The vehicle was decorated with balloons and streamers and it, of course, included the plate JUST WED. On the other hand, Prince Harry took Meghan Markle in a blue 1968 Jaguar E-Type Concept Zero ride to the evening reception at Frogmore House. The Royal family sure has good taste when it comes to rides, despite reports that they rented the vehicle with a sky-high price of $471K.
Both Duchesses had very different veils on their special day. Kate Middleton’s veil was created in secrecy by the Royal School of Needlework. She had a long train with a shorter veil which included all kinds of flowers at the end. Meghan Markle’s veil was 16.5 foot-long and was designed by the same designer who created her gown, Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy. The Duchess of Sussex had sewn the flora of all 53 Commonwealth countries on the edge of the veil. Its daintiness just complimented her light cosmetics.
The Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle sure couldn’t go by without the attendance of the one and only Elton John who was a great friend of the late Princess Diana. In fact, he and his husband David Furnish attended both ceremonies (William’s and Harry’s) wearing matching tuxedos and they looked amazing. The couple was thrilled to be a part of such a special occasion and reportedly spent around £3K each on their outfits, which is actually a negligible amount of money for the legendary musician.
While all three of these women are gorgeous, they each are very different in both their features and their style. Diana opted to wear her short hair in a simple, elegant light style, while Kate went for a feminine half-up, half-down ‘do. The modern Meghan wore a classy bun, not too perfect – just slightly messy – enough to say she isn’t a prude but she’s respectable nonetheless. Straight off the bat – we see these women are rather different!
Like true princes, Prince Harry and Prince William both looked dashing on their wedding day. Of course, they couldn’t compare with their brides but nonetheless, they turned heads around. Prince William wore a red Irish Guards uniform when he walked down the aisle while his younger brother Prince Harry wore a Blues and Royals uniform. Both of them honored their mother in their own way on their special day so Princess Diana was very much included in both ceremonies. Indeed, her greatest legacy is her two boys.
The granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth, Zara Tindall and her husband, former rugby player Mike Tindall, attended both royal ceremonies. While Zara Tindall wore a shiny grey dress for Prince William’s big day back in 2011, in 2018, she appeared in a blue frock coat with flower design and matching shoes. Although the outfit was perfect, she still couldn’t hide her pregnant belly and the couple shared a few sweet minutes when her husband Mike Tindall was cuddling her belly.
Queen Elizabeth wouldn’t miss her grandchildren’s big day. Funny thing is the Queen chose yellow combinations both times and it is for a good reason as Her Majesty is sending a message with these colors, showing she is a warm and open-hearted person. For Prince Harry’s wedding, the Queen wore a bright yellow outfit with a touch of purple and an undisclosed price, while for Prince William’s big day, she wore an all-yellow outfit. Of course, her hair just peeps underneath her hat.
Prince William and Kate Middleton included two page boys and four little bridesmaids on their special day. The page boys were Tom Petiffer and William Lowther-Pinkerton, while Grace Van Cutsem, Eliza Lopes, Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones, and Lady Louise Windsor were the bridesmaids. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s company was much bigger as it included even ten bridesmaids and page boys, among which you could find Prince George and Princess Charlotte, children of Prince William and Kate Middleton. Undoubtedly, the clothes of the entourage had cost a lot of money.
Kate Middleton arrived at her wedding back in 2011 in a black car from the Royal Mews, breaking the tradition of the bride arriving in a carriage. She was accompanied by her father Michael Middleton. Meghan Markle opted for a vintage Rolls-Royce vehicle for her arrival at St. George’s Chapel and instead of her father, who couldn’t attend the wedding due to health issues, she was in the company of her mother, Doria Ragland.
After announcing their engagement, Prince Harry and Meghan left the media to speculate on where the Royal wedding would take place. The couple decided to tie the knot in St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, a place special for the Royal family as Prince Harry was christened there. While Westminster Abbey can take up to 1.9K people, St. George’s Chapel can take up to only 800 people. As a result, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had a relatively intimate ceremony.
While they couldn’t attend the ceremony in the church, many fans were waiting outside for the newlyweds to present themselves as husband and wife. When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge left Westminster Abbey in 2011, they were cheered by thousands of fans while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex had a somewhat smaller crowd, where you could still hear cheering and greetings from the loving and excited fans. Both wedding ceremonies were definitely true fairytales!
The moment their engagements became official, both Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle knew they had to make formal appearances in front of the media with their partners, just like the late Princess Diana made hers with Prince Charles. The Duchess of Cambridge wore a long-sleeved blue dress while the Duchess of Sussex wore a white coat dress for the first photo with her then-groom-to-be, Prince Harry. As expected, both ladies looked absolutely breathtaking!
Of course, many wanted to compare the wedding dress Kate Middleton wore for her big day with Meghan Markle’s gown. Both brides looked absolutely radiant and gorgeous and while the Duchess of Cambridge went with a Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen dress with the legendary V-neck, former actress Meghan Markle turned heads around in a sleek dress by Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy. Has Markle actually done it and surpassed Middleton in a £387K wedding gown? Maybe, maybe not. Interestingly as well, Meghan wore only the barest trace of foundation for a fresher look.
These days, Princess Eugene is planning her big day, but let’s not forget how amazing she looked at the ceremony of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Just like her sister, Princess Eugene is known for her bold fashion moves but this time, she went for something much more traditional. She was wearing a blue retro dress, clutching a grey bag, and discreet jewelry. The combination was much more different than the one she wore at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s big day in 2011 and the dress alone cost over £550.
The niece of the late Princess Diana, Lady Kitty Spencer, wore a beige dress for the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton back in 2011 and in 2018, she looked just as stunning for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s big day as she was seen in a green ensemble with a pattern of flowers, created by one of the most notable names in the fashion industry, Dolce & Gabbana, topped with a Philip Treacy headpiece. Her whole look reportedly cost just over $1.5K.
Prince William & Prince Harry – May The Best Man Win
They say brothers make the best of friends, and the best men apparently, considering that Prince William and Prince Harry chose each other to accompany them to their wedding ceremony. The royal brothers’ clothing was extremely elegant and chic in both instances, and some of us would end up wondering who is the designer of those striking uniforms. This navy blue frockcoat uniform of the Blues and Royals that the brothers wore made them look impressively imposing and dashing, to say the least!
After the bride, the next person who gets scrutinized on every detail is the mother of the bride! Diana’s mother, Frances Shand Kydd, opted for an outfit with a lilac hue, complimenting Diana’s blue sapphire engagement ring – not a coincidence, in case you were wondering! Kate Middleton’s mother, Carol, looked elegant in a dress and jacket ensemble in powder blue. She wore a stylish hat to match and a subtle contrast of silver-blue shoes. Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, was a rock star – she wore a diamond nose ring for the ceremony! Her pistachio green outfit toned it down, though.
Many things broke from tradition in the royal nuptials, but one standard symbol remained unchanged – the royal greeting. Yes, the royal wave is iconic, and all three brides delivered it in textbook-perfect style complete with a smile. Who knows – perhaps it’s the first thing they teach them at their royal preparatory training! Experts are happy with the delivery of all three waves, so Diana, Kate, and Meghan all get an A+ for greeting well-wishers with their fingers kept together and the gentle side-to-side motion.
All three couples exited the church together but ever so slightly differently. Kate and William, like Meghan and Harry, exited hand in hand; but Charles and Diana exited looking away from each other, which some have analyzed to serve as an omen of sorts for the trouble that was to come. Who knows whether the analysis was accurate or whether it was coincidence, but it’s too soon to tell with Meghan and Harry! Though Meghan and Harry do seem a touch more intimate in that they are gazing into each other’s eyes! What a romantic affair!
The first thing that you might notice is the plainness of all three sets of nails. There’s a simple explanation as to why the ladies don’t sport fashionable manicures – and that’s because it’s royal tradition to have naturally colored nails. Anyway, back to the rings – Diana’s was a white gold band with a 12-carat oval blue Ceylon sapphire and 14 solitaire diamonds. Two of these diamonds featured on Meghan’s Welsh gold custom-made ring with a stone from Botswana (where she and Harry fell in love), while the sapphire went to Kate on a white Welsh gold band.
Diana’s Clive Shilton shoes were a six-month project, complete with intricate pearl and sequin detailing and low heels. She wanted the initials “C + D” to be painted on the underside of the heels. Kate’s Alexander McQueen almond-toe stilettos were made of a fine hand-embroidered ivory satin and the lace of her gown and veil. Meghan, modern and sleek as usual, opted for a comfortable, heeled and very plain shoe, which actually suited her very well.
Prince William and Prince Harry’s Grandfather, Prince Philip, is all of 97 years old. He attended both Kate Middleton’s wedding to Prince William and also Meghan Markle’s wedding to Prince Harry. He wore a formal, regal blue tie and looked smart in a black tailored suit coat. For Kate’s, he wore a red Grenadier Guards Uniform, pinned with his several medals. His recent hip surgery may explain his simpler ensemble for Harry’s wedding.
Prince Andrew is Queen Elizabeth II’s second son, who also attended both Kate Middleton’s and Meghan Markle’s wedding. For Kate’s, he wore a military uniform as Rear Admiral in the Royal Navy. For Kate’s wedding, his ex-wife had not been invited. For Markle’s wedding, he wore a smart morning suit paired with a brown vest. His ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, must have been pleased to have been invited this time around.
As the main members of the Royal family are scrutinized for their outfits, hairstyle, and overall appearance, so too are the guests! Here we have Princess Anne, who wore a cheerful green and purple ensemble with a matching hat for Kate Middleton’s wedding but opted for a very unique style for Meghan’s. Poor Princess Anne suffered some jesting comments about her wardrobe choice for the event. Many suggested she’d attended dressed in her nightgown! She was even likened to ‘LEGO Batman!’
Peter Philips is the oldest grandchild of Queen Elizabeth II and he was the first of her grandchildren to wed. He married Autumn Kelly, a Canadian management consultant. Here we see Autumn Philips wearing a flared skirt on both occasions, which is rather flattering on her. She wore a regal purple ensemble for Kate’s wedding, emulating her mother. For Meghan’s, she opted for a cheerful turquoise dress, which we think was a good choice as it was bright yet suitably muted.
Now we have Diana and Charles, Kate and William, and Meghan and Harry at the altar on their big day. The bride’s headpiece is a traditional accessory and we see all three women rocking the veil over their faces as they reach the altar. While it isn’t mandatory, it is certainly pageantry and adds an element of drams, which is why it’s found its place in the tradition. The Queen also wore a veil for her walk down the aisle to the altar. Underneath the veil, of course, all the ladies had flawless makeup.
In Kate Middleton and Prince William’s portrait, there was a structure to the portrait where Prince William’s family members stood on his side of the portrait, and Kate Middleton’s family members stood beside her on the other side. However, for the family portrait of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, Doria Ragland stood beside William, Kate and Will’s niece and nephew. This is likely because Meghan’s mother was the only blood relative of Meghan’s in attendance. Her father couldn’t make it allegedly because of surgery following a heart attack.
While William and Kate’s portrait featured the non-traditional addition of Pippa Middleton, theirs also had fewer members. That is mostly because, for Harry and Meghan’s portrait, Kate and William’s children posed too, with the exception of the newest member of the family at the time, who was too young. Meghan opted not to have a maid of honor, so her portrait is with Harry’s niece and nephew and the bridesmaid and page boys, with everyone else on the other side of the bride.
The photos are quite revealing of the difference in personalities (and perhaps roles) between these couples. For example, Kate and William adopt a formal pose because of William’s status as next in line to the throne. For much the same reason, Diana and Charles’ affairs were very formal, as we can see here. And of course, we have the new Royal couple who seems more relaxed in the photo. Good thing all of them had that perfect smile!
Both Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle went for simple jewelry, but very different nonetheless. Kate wore Robinson Pelham diamond teardrop earrings, custom-made with a $20K price tag! Meghan decided on a classic Cartier pair and though she seems to have a preference for gold, the silver complemented her look. She purposefully opted for the minimalist earrings and lack of necklace to make the 1932 Queen Mary Tiara a focal point, which she had very successfully achieved!
Meghan’s wedding dress was a Givenchy, designed by Clare Waight Keller. It is a ‘60s style A-line with a boat-neck and minimalist look, complete with double-bonded silk to give a“round sculptured look” and a “soft matt luster.” The ‘clean’ design of the dress made it difficult to achieve as there are no details, lace or buttons to cover up any mistakes. Kate’s dress was very different from Meghan’s, made completely from French Chantilly lace and English Cluny lace through the entire skirt, bodice, and even the underskirt.
While it is true that fewer people attended Harry and Meghan’s wedding compared to Kate and William’s, the difference may come down to the venue. Harry and Meghan could not invite as many people as their venue didn’t allow for it. Even so, William and Kate’s wedding was also the first royal wedding in a global spotlight since that of Princess Diana to Prince Charles. Diana and Charles’ wedding remains the most public function in history.
An estimated 750-million viewers around the world tuned in to watch Charles and Diana on 29th July 1981, on the balcony. While Kate and William’s balcony moment could not ever have achieved such a volume of public attention as Diana’s, they had another funny twist – a displeased flower girl who happened to photobomb their balcony kiss! It’s adorable though, so we forgive her – and she’s been cropped out of the picture. Here we see Kate and Diana’s pictures, the brides looking radiant in the glory.
Will & Kate, Harry & Meghan – Wedding Invitations
Before making preparations like the dress, makeup, and the like, invitations have to be printed and sent out to the guests. Royal wedding invitations differ in some ways from the others, and the reason is that they include more details about the attendants’ dress code and requests about the wedding gifts. Both Kate and Meghan’s invitation looked alike, yet Meghan was referred to as “Ms. Meghan Markle” as she has had a previous marriage.
Princess Diana, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle – The Wedding Dresses’ Styles
Royal weddings have demanding spectators, and what they demand the most, is to see a jaw-dropping, lavish gown of the bride-to-be. Lady Diana Spencer’s antique wedding dress gained incredible fame back in 1981, and certainly not only for the £151K it had cost. Sarah Burton, director of the luxury fashion industry of Alexander McQueen, is said to have designed Kate’s bridal dress, in a simpler and more minimalistic style. Finally, Givenchy gave Meghan Markle an even more plain and chic look for her big day, along with a quite special, flowery veil.
Princess Diana, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle – Put The Ring On It
We can observe a timeless similarity between the three royal couples while watching the photographs of their post-engagement appearances. Take a closer look…can you see it? This cobalt blue color of the suit or the dress makes the ensemble look as classy and luxurious as it should be. With a combination of the fiancée’s hand that is showing the diamond ring, these are some photos that could only make girls teary-eyed!
Princess Diana, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle – The First Kiss as Newlyweds
Ah, the anxiety and anticipation of the first kiss. Probably the most romantic moment of a wedding ceremony. Although it is well known that both three couples were already affectionate before their marriage, the lip-locking moment bears a special significance for these royal lovebirds. The balcony of Buckingham Palace was the spot where Diana and Kate kissed the man of their dreams. In Meghan and Harry’s wedding, though, there were lots of peck moments here and there, but the official first kiss was given on St George Chapel’s steps.
Diana, Kate, Meghan – The Wedding Bouquet & The Tradition Behind It
If you are the florist delivery for the next royal wedding, please pay great attention to the following: the Royals are sticklers for tradition, which derives from their protocol and their detailed persistence. As a result, they show great respect to the bride’s bouquet’s appearance, and add a sprig of myrtle and many other white flowers, as symbols of love and unity. The size of the bouquets varies and Diana, Kate, and Meghan sure held some wonderful white posies.
Diana, Kate, Meghan – The Wedding Cake
Although the bouquets had similarities, each one the brides opted for a different kind of wedding cake. Some “stuck to the plan” of royal tradition, others allowed their creativity to bring an original and tasty idea to the wedding table. Lady Diana’s wedding cake, for instance, was a conventional cream cheese fruit cake; Kate decided to increase the tiers’ height and add sugar flowers to beautify it. Meghan’s lemon elderflower cake contrasted the other two as to taste, height, and is estimated to have cost about $4.2K!
Prince Charles & Diana, Prince William & Kate, Prince Harry & Meghan – Three Post-Wedding Dreamy Processions
Nowadays, there are many easy ways to date someone; certainly, some of the numerous online dating sites can shed light on something unexpectedly special. How easy is it to fall for someone who will take you for a horse-drawn carriage ride though, right after you’ve just married him? That’s a prince’s job, and our three “charmings,” Charles, William, and Harry, kept their promise and made their first appearance as a married couple in an open-air carriage, waving happily to the crowd and holding their wives’ hand. Feeling a little jealous, huh?
Diana, Kate, Meghan – The Proof You’re A Princess
What makes the royal wedding ceremonies different from each one, is, without a doubt, the tiaras. Let’s admit it, there’s no better scenario for exchanging vows, than wearing a tiara decorated with precious jewels and stones, that might actually be a royal family’s heirloom! Or, in the Duchess’ of Sussex case, it’s a huge honor to be given your wedding tiara from Queen Elizabeth II herself. It’s amazing to wear a band in your finger, but having a diamond center-stone tiara in your hair like Meghan – it’s incomparable!
Diana, Kate, Meghan – The Father-Daughter Church Walk
Each woman meets two important men in her life; her father, and the man she’ll marry. As a bride, with her veil on, allows her father to give her hand to the man before him, down the aisle. Earl Spencer, Diana’s father, accompanied his daughter in St. Paul’s Cathedral in 1981, before placing her hand into Prince Charle’s. Princess Katherine walked the red-carpet of Westminster Abbey, too, holding her father’s forearm. Meghan was escorted by Prince Charles, yet that didn’t seem to bother anyone, due to her radiance underneath that subtle makeup.
Diana, Kate, Meghan – The Royal Family Portraits
Feeling awkward being captured by a camera? Imagine posing for a royal family portraiture! However, Princesses Diana, Kate, and Meghan were ready in the Throne Room. We can detect extreme joy in their eyes, standing among the members of the royal family in Buckingham Palace, and that’s wonderful. The body posture might differ somehow, and some photos might be less crowded than the others, but the expression is the same, and it reveals the dawn of an era of blessing, and most importantly, love.
Diana, Kate, Meghan – The Bride’s Veil
Wedding ring – check. Gorgeous gown – check. Fancy shoes – check. But a royal bride goes absolutely nowhere without her veil. Along with her dress, Elisabeth Emanuel designed Princess Diana’s veil, a long and light fabric perfect for a wedding like hers. The length of Kate’s veil was a statement of unambiguous respect for Queen Elizabeth II, from whom she borrowed her tiara for the ceremony. Meghan Markle’s silk gown was accompanied by an even longer veil, to complete her chic look.
Diana, Kate, Meghan – Every Luxurious Dress Has Its Cost
We would recommend you to sit down for a while because we’ll be discussing prices – royal wedding dress prices, to be exact. Princess Diana’s detailed gown is estimated to have cost $115K, and that’d be fair enough. Rumor has it that there’s a gap between the other wedding dresses’ prices; Kate’s long-sleeved gown’s value reached £250K, but Megan’s Givenchy dress’ price is not confirmed by a valuable source. However, it is said to be even more expensive than Kate’s, like approximately, £387K! That’s like a mortgage cost!
Charles, William, Harry – The Princes & Their Marriage
We’ve analyzed every little detail about the royal brides, but let’s concern ourselves with the grooms now, right? They are the blue-blooded ones, after all. Heirs to the British Throne, both three of our Princes had the traditional wedding ceremony, in their grandiose military uniforms and imposing hats. Prince William made the difference with his red frock coat, while Prince Charles and his son Harry, years later, preferred the color of navy blue. Look at their smiles; someone’s ready to make the next step in life, don’t you think?
The brother of the late Princess Diana, Earl Spencer and his wife Karen Spencer, played it safe! He wore very similar outfits for the royal weddings of both Princes, yet we never found out how much he had to set aside for it. Spencer wore grey striped trousers while Karen Spencer wore a pale pink outfit for Prince William’s wedding and a purple outfit for Prince Harry’s. In 2011, she went with a big pink hat while this time, she opted for a matching purple fascinator. Her cosmetics were understated.
Queen Elizabeth II – Guest Of Royal Importance
Queen Elizabeth’s presence at royal weddings and events has stood the test of time for many years, as she has attended her son’s, Charles, and both her grandsons’ weddings. Her stylistic choices and her cute but elegant ensembles constantly give us the impression of an extreme makeover! Although Her Majesty seems a lover of merry occasions of that kind, it is rumored that she refused to attend Prince Charles’ 2005 wedding to Camilla Parker Bowles, and that, in the end, she never showed up.
Diana, Kate, Meghan – Luxurious Wedding Venues
Royal weddings differ extremely from common ones, and there are many reasons behind this. One of the most important is, undoubtedly, the church that will host the ceremony, which must be spacious and luxurious. Princess Diana showed obvious preference to St. Paul’s Cathedral rather than Westminster Abbey, for St. Paul’s offered a larger number of seats. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle selected St. George’s Chapel in Windsor, far from London – an opulent church that has previously hosted other royal weddings, too.
Diana, Kate, Meghan – Driving Towards The Church’s Steps
The bride’s transfer to the church is a procedure of great significance, for the image of the bride-to-be exiting a luxury car is something that will be surely remembered. Both Princess Diana, Kate Middleton, and Meghan Markle were seen and captured waving at the on-lookers, from the inside of a fancy car, as they were heading towards the church to meet with their significant other. Who can possibly forget the Mercedes-Benz V-class carrying Meghan to St. George’s Chapel? Anyone would die to buckle up and drive it!
One more Royal tradition that both couples honored was riding in a carriage after the wedding ceremony was over. Prince William and Kate Middleton arrived at the Buckingham Palace in the Imperial State Landau. It is a carriage built for King Edward II which makes it a century-old ride. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s choice was the Ascot Landau for a ride around Windsor. It is the same carriage used by Prince Edward and Sophie Rhys in 1999 but even more interestingly, the silver-plated trumpets cost £90K now!
Meghan and Harry, with yet another spin on their choices, had the official, professional photographer take a picture of them in black and white, and even a few of the engagement pictures. Kate and William had all their photographs taken in full color. Here we see Kate and William striking a formal pose side by side, while Meghan and Harry aptly chose a relaxed pose, with Meghan in between Harry’s legs, cozying up together, on the stairs. They also posed in different locations from one another.
The Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was an event of the century and we had an opportunity to see many celebrities attending their big day. Among them, Princess Beatrice made an appearance and this time, she surprised many when she appeared in the somewhat more traditional outfit than she usually wears! Princess was wearing a long turquoise dress and a lovely makeup to match. She sure looked different but still gorgeous. Reportedly, the Princess paid a whopping £12K for the dress.