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Beyond White: Royal Gowns That Dared Differ
29 Mar
Summary
- Queen Victoria popularized white dresses, departing from colorful attire.
- Royal brides have worn gowns featuring short sleeves and upcycled designs.
- Princess Beatrice wore her grandmother's upcycled dress for her wedding.
Royal wedding dresses often carry significant tradition, yet several British royal brides have daringly deviated from norms. Queen Victoria famously popularized the white wedding dress in 1840, consciously moving away from the era's prevalent colorful gowns to symbolize submission and future wifely duty. Her choice, made from silk and Honiton lace, set a precedent for Western and royal weddings.
Later, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, embraced the flapper era's trends in 1923 with a drop-waist gown instead of a Victorian style. She also opted for a myrtle crown over a tiara, a flower that has since been a staple in royal weddings. Princess Margaret’s 1960 wedding featured a simple silk organza gown with long sleeves and a V-neck, designed by Norman Hartnell.
In more recent times, Zara Tindall wore a gown with sheer, short sleeves in 2011, a departure from the tradition of long sleeves. Princess Eugenie's 2018 wedding dress incorporated motifs representing her family's heritage, and she wore her grandmother's tiara. Princess Beatrice made a notable statement in 2020 by wearing Queen Elizabeth's upcycled dress, altered with shorter sleeves and a new hemline, emphasizing sustainability.
