The Royal wedding dress train
So, Wills and Kate are engaged! Having spent as long as I did in the UK, you can’t help but become attached to the Royals. I read the the paper like everyone else and watched the make up break up relationship of Kate Middleton and Prince William evolve over time. And now finally, a Royal Wedding to get excited for!
Growing up I absolutely loved Princess Diana (didn’t we all?) and fantasized about a wedding dress just like hers. That long train that stretched on for at least 8 metres!! Prince Williams engagement to Kate Middelton has triggered all our memories of that momentous wedding day, but while Kate wears Princess Diana’s old engagement ring, I doubt whether her dress will mimic that of the late Princess.
Having a look at some Royal wedding dresses, I noticed the train that went on and on didn’t start with Lady Diana Spencer. Below the photos of Her Majesty the Queen on her wedding day to Prince Philip, and her daughter Princess Anne to Captain Mark Phillips show both dresses with extensive trains.
The elaborate patterns on Princess Elizabeth‘s 15-foot train (attached at the shoulder) were embroidered in pearl, crystal and appliqué duchesse satin. Princess Anne‘s dress was an embroidered Tudor-style wedding dress with a high collar and mediaeval sleeves. Pearls of silver thread picked out a design of flowers on the long, pure silk gauze train
Lady Diana Spencer married Prince Charles in 1981 in a silk taffeta wedding gownl. In true 1980s fashion the dress had huge puff sleeves and a frilly neckline, and was bedecked with 10,000 hand-stitched pearls. Most notable about the gown was the record-breaking 25-foot train.
The wedding I actually recall watching was that of Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson to Prince Andrew. She wore an ivory duchesse satin gown that had a 17-foot train embroidered with an “A” for Andrew, and featured an anchor to represent the groom’s experience in the navy.
While designs have improved over recent years, it looks like Kate Middleton will still have to endure the long train of the Royal wedding dresses.
Princess Letizia wore an off-white wedding dress when she wed Prince Felipe of Spain. The dress featuring a tight-fitting bodice with a turned-up collar and a sweeping skirt and long train (ofcourse) embroidered with symbols.
On 19 June 1999, Sophie Rhys-Jones married Prince Edward in a sleek panelled long dress-coat and an ivory silk train. he dress has a medieval feel and it is V-necked and corseted. The veil was also sewn with beads, and was longer than the train itself.
French-born Marie Chevallier married Danish Prince Joachim in this elegant full-skirted, off-white gown. The fairy tale gown was made of 19th century inspired lace and tulle and boasted a 3 metre train.
Finally, this is one of my favourite Royal wedding dresses, and it would appear the only one that doesn’t feature a ridiculously long train.
The romantic and classic cream-coloured gown worn by Canadian Autumn Kelly for her wedding to Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest grandchild, Peter Phillips. The classic gown featured a fitted bodice and lace shoulders, and an A-line skirt in Italian duchesse silk and French Chantilly lace. The regal front transitioned to a fun back with little lace bows, and her veil was hand-embroidered and beaded silk tulle.
