When Meghan Markle walked down the aisle in a classic simple Givenchy gown designed by Clare Waight Keller, talk turned to Kate Middleton’s wedding dress – the Alexander McQueen gown she wore to tie the knot with Prince William in 2011.
Like Meghan’s dress it also had long sleeves but was far more embellished with a lace overlay and sculpted corset – and was rumoured to have cost around £250,000. According to royal expert Katie Nicholl, that was paid for by her parent. “It was her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, who paid for that bill.” she told Entertainment Tonight. Kate’s dress was composed of French Chantilly lace and English Cluny lace throughout the bodice, skirt and underskirt.
As yet we don’t know how much Meghan’s dress cost – but Nicholl told the show before the big day that it would have been far less expensive. “There have been reports that [Meghan’s] considering spending hundreds of thousands of pounds on a wedding dress. I think that’s incredibly unlikely,” she says.
“I think it is very unlikely that Meghan would spend more than that and in doing so try and upstage a future queen.”
Whatever the cost – it was beautiful, and featured an open bateau neckline and sculpted waist. The train flowed in soft round folds cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza, and the delicate veil, made from silk tulle, featured a now well-discussed trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza.
As for accessories – it’s all about the tiara of course. Kate borrowed Queen Elizabeth II’s Cartier Halo Scroll tiara on her big day – which featured nearly 1,000 diamonds and was originally purchased by King George VI as an anniversary gift to his wife. Meghan wore Queen Mary’s diamond filigree tiara. The diamond bandeau is English and was made in 1932, with the entre brooch dating from 1893.
