100 years of royal wedding dress trends

 Royal weddings have been captivating the public for years, but the most talked-about part of them always happens to be the bride’s dress.

While royals are known to opt for classic and timeless tailoring, even they are not immune to the influence of trends.

So, here’s a look back at 100 years of royal wedding dress trends starting in the 1920s…

Lord and Lady Mountbatten, 1922

In the Twenties, wedding dress trends had shifted from corseted waists and full skirts (a trend started by Queen Victoria in her 1840 wedding to Prince Albert) to looser, dropped waists and shorter hemlines.

The decade marked a shift toward modernity and liberation post the First World War, and the spirit of the Jazz Age favoured looser, shorter dresses that allowed more freedom of movement.

Edwina Mountbatten, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, married Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma and Prince Philip’s uncle, in July 1922.

Lady Mountbatten wore a signature style of the decade, in a round-necked, ankle-length silver satin gown with beaded detailing and a four-foot lace veil.

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, 1947

The then Princess Elizabeth and Lieutenant Philip Mountbatten married in Westminster Abbey on 20 November, 1947.

Trends of the decade were heavily influenced by the Second World War and simplicity and modesty were key motifs.

Designed by Norman Hartnell, whose signature was said to be embroidery, the dress was made of Chinese silk, with a high heart-shaped neckline, long sleeves, tailored bodice and a 13-foot train.

The crystal and pearl embellished train, symbolic of rebirth and growth after the war, was stated to be inspired by Botticelli’s Renaissance painting Primavera, with scattered flowers beginning to bloom.

On account of the austerity measures following the war, Princess Elizabeth had to use clothing ration coupons to show her entitlement to the dress.

The government allowed her 200 extra ration coupons, but she was also given hundreds of clothing coupons by brides-to-be from all parts of the country to help her acquire the dress. However, she returned the coupons to the brides and declined to use them.

Princess Margaret and Lord Snowdon, 1960

By the 1960s, minimalism and monochrome pervaded fashion.

So when Princess Margaret married British photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones at Westminster Abbey in May 1960; she wore an unfussy, fit-and-flare gown by Norman Hartnell, the same designer as her sister’s.

The dress was refreshingly modern and featured no embroidery or motifs on the gown or veil.

Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips, 1973

Princess Anne married British equestrian Mark Phillips at Westminster Abbey in November 1973.

Designed by Maureen Baker, Princess Anne wore a Tudor-inspired gown with a high collar and trumpet sleeves.

In contrast to earlier royal bridal gowns, it was considered “simplistic” and closely aligned with the contemporary wedding styles of the Seventies.

Prince Charles and Princess Diana, 1981

Diana, Princess of Wales’ 1981 wedding dress epitomised the opulence and romanticism of early Eighties bridal fashion.

Designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel, the gown featured exaggerated puffed sleeves, a full skirt, intricate lace detailing and a record-breaking 25-foot train – perfectly capturing the era’s love for drama and grandeur.

Made out of silk taffeta and antique Carrickmacross Irish lace, the gown famously wrinkled as she stepped out of the carriage at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Its fairy-tale silhouette sparked a wave of copycat styles, setting the tone for wedding fashion throughout the decade and cementing Diana as a (bridal) style icon.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, 1986

Prince Andrew married Sarah Ferguson at Westminster Abbey in 1986.

Ferguson’s dress was designed by Lindka Cierach in ivory duchess satin, it featured a fitted bodice, full skirt and intricate beadwork, including motifs like anchors and waves representing Prince Andrew’s sailing background and bumblebees and thistles, which were taken from Ferguson’s family heraldry.