How Meghan And Harry's Wedding Compared To Wills And Kate
Two *very* different royal weddings
- by
Jessica Bosco
The dress: Kate Middleton
When Kate married Prince William back in 2011 she opted for a now-iconic gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The gown featured a plunging v-neckline over a fitted sweetheart bodice and lace sleeves and dramatic nine-foot train.
The dress: Meghan Markle
Meghan went for a more minimalist look with her open bateau, white Givenchy gown designed by Claire Waight Keller.
The Veil: Kate Middleton
Kate opted for a shorter vail to accompany her dresses dramatic train, it was hand embroidered with lace flowers.
The veil: Meghan Markle
Meghan’s veil was much more dramatic at 5 metres long and embroidered with the flora of all 53 countries of the commonwealth as well as Wintersweet (Chimonanthus praecox), which grows in the grounds of Kensington Palace in front of Nottingham Cottage, and the California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) the State flower from Ms. Markle’s place of birth, California.
The party dress: Kate v
What’s better than one royal wedding dress? Two! Both royal brides opted for a second dress for their respective evening receptions. Kate kept with the traditional theme, opting again for Alexander McQueen complete with sweetheart neckline, crystal belt detailing and a cashmere cardigan.
The party dress: Meghan Markle
Meghan went sleek and sexy for her second dress, opting for Stella McCartney, she wore a halter-style gown which although we are yet to see it from the back, is believed to have an open back.
The jewels: Kate Middleton
Kate wore the Cartier Halo tiara lent to her by the queen, which she was gifted on her 18th birthday. Kate also wore a pair of diamond drop earrings commissioned by her parents especially for the big day.
The jewels: Meghan Markle
Meghan opted for Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara lent to her by the Queen. Meghan paired the look with earrings and a bracelet both by Cartier.
The bouquet: Kate Middleton
Kate and Meghan’s flowers were rather similar in their simplicity, but while Kate carried lily of the valley, lemon myrtle as well as Sweet Williams and hyacinths.
The bouquet: Meghan Markle
Meghan’s flowers were handpicked by Prince Harry himself from the Kensington Palace garden the day before the wedding. The bouquet featured Forget-Me-Nots which were Diana, Princess of Wales’ favourite flower as wells as sweet peas, lily of the valley, astilbe, jasmine and astrantia – and sprigs of lemon myrtle.
The ring: Kate Middleton
Both ladies opted for gold wedding bands to accompany their very different engagement rings. Kate’s Diamond and sapphire engagement ring that once belonged to Princess Diana.
The ring: Meghan Markle
Harry designed Meghan’s ring with two diamond’s from his mother’s personal collection as well as a centre stone from Botswana. Her wedding band was also made from Welsh gold.
The kiss: Kate Middleton
When Kate and Wills married the kiss was one of the most highly-anticipated moments of the day, as it was to take place on the historic Buckingham Palace balcony, in following with royal tradition - it ended up being upstaged however by a cute (but grumpy) bridesmaid!
The kiss: Meghan Markle
Meghan and Harry’s kiss however took place right outside St George’s Church as they emerged after the ceremony.
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The bridal party: Kate Middleton
Kate opted for her sister, Pippa Middleton, to serve as Maid of Honour on her big day (despite stealing the show in that dress. She also had four bridesmaids and two page boysincluding Tom Petiffer, Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Grace Van Cutsem, Lady Louise Windsor, Eliza Lopes, and William Lowther-Pinkerton.
The bridal party: Meghan Markle
Meghan famously went without a Maid of Honour, instead opting for a larger bridal party, with 10 bridesmaids and page boys including her new nephews Prince George and Princess Charlotte as well as Zalie Warren, Florence Van Cutsem, Jasper George Galloway Dyer, Remi and Rylan Litt, Ivy Mulroney, and her twin brothers Brian and John Mulroney.
