How Meghan Markle’s Hair & Makeup Compares to the Bridal Looks of Kate Middleton and Princess Diana

As much as I love a good fairytale, I can't imagine ever having nuptials like that of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry. Every single component of a royal wedding is planned to a T: the food, seating, decor, guestlist — everything. And then there's what you'll be wearing, plus the hair and makeup you'll be accompanying it with. Perhaps this is because I work at Allure, but to me, all of that should be the most fun aspect of getting married (besides the whole "lifelong partnership"/"I'm marrying my best friend" thing, I guess), which one reason I'm so impressed by Markle and the rest of the royal brides below. You think you have a demanding parent (or parent-in-law)? Imagine having an official protocol for your manicure that is literally dictated by the Queen of England.

In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find wedding makeup, gown, or hairstyle that have been as speculated on (and sometimes scrutinized) as those worn by high-profile royals, particularly Kate Middleton in 2011, Princess Diana in 1981, and Markle herself. Why don't we take a look at each of the three, shall we?

Before I start, let me assure you — this won't be one of those stories where I tell you which bride looks "better." The fact of the matter is that trends come and go, and popular wedding aesthetics for a bride's hair, makeup, and outfit are often reflected in those fleeting aesthetic obsessions. TL;DR, I am not about to mock several women for the looks they wore on their damn wedding days.

Meghan Markle, aka the Duchess of Sussex (2018)

For her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry, American actress Meghan Markle paired her stunning Givenchy bridal gown with simple, radiant makeup, the details of which we explored in our full rundown of her beauty look. After reports surfaced that Markle wouldn't be hiring a professional MUA for her wedding day and would instead of a friend step in to help, people raised their eyebrows both in the U.S. and across the pond. (That said, she wouldn't be the first to take a non-pro approach to her makeup by any means, so everyone needs to just calm down about the DIY approach — more on that in a moment, though.) On May 19, however, the world learned that her striking-yet-simple look was actually achieved by Daniel Martin, who is both a friend of the bride and a professional makeup artist.

Martin brought out the bride's eyes using subtle brown shades that complemented — and never overwhelmed or concealed — her gorgeous facial features. Thankfully, Markle's delicate freckles weren't covered up by her foundation (which may or may not have been Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk, a favorite of Markle's and many an Allure editor), and her lips only held a hint of soft, pink color.

The mind behind Markle's bridal hair was none other than French-born master stylist Serge Normant, who gave the Duchess of Sussex a full bun that sat securely beneath a super-long veil, save for a few stray tendrils that peeked out from around her face. (And, as Sophia Panych, the eagle-eyed deputy beauty director of Allure, speculated in her detailed synopsis of the look, it would come as no surprise if Normant had utilized his own editor-loved product line to achieve the subtly glamorous look.) The center-parted style was topped off with the most royal-appropriate accessory: a tiara. More specifically, it's the Filigree Tiara, which was loaned to Markle from Queen Elizabeth for the occasion.

All in all, Markle's wedding-day look was a jaw-dropping masterpiece — one that somehow made what was undoubtedly a lot of effort look as if it had been accomplished with shocking ease.

Kate Middleton, aka Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (2011)

Next up: Kate Middleton's look for her April 29, 2011 wedding in Westminster Abbey to Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge. Remember how I mentioned Markle wouldn't have been the only royal bride to have skipped going with a professional makeup artist? That's because in 2011, her new sister-in-law Kate Middleton actually did her own makeup for the big day. (As someone who worked extra shifts at the mall in order to get a pro hairstylist for my junior prom, I truly cannot relate to these royals in a way I never expected.) According to wedding planner Mark Niemierko's interview with People, Middleton simply booked a few lessons from London-based makeup artist Arabella Preston in order to prepare. Did I mention the royal family spent $80,000 on cakes for the reception?

All that said, Preston must have been a solid teacher: On that fine April morning in 2011, Kate walked down the aisle looking utterly gorgeous. She wore black liner on her lids and lower lashline, a splash of pink blush on her cheeks, and a few coats of black mascara on her top and bottom lashes. Middleton followed the aforementioned royal protocol on her nail color, choosing a pale, subtle pink polish by Essie for the big day.

Wearing her hair in a half-up-half-down hairstyle — which, like Markle's, was accessorized with a tiara borrowed from the Queen — the then-29-year-old bride managed to pull off her makeup look in a way that fit her personal taste. This fun, more glammed-up outcome fit well with speculation made by Niemierko in the same interview with People that attributed Middleton's desire for DIY bridal beauty to her "informal character." Whatever her reasoning was, it's pretty bold to do your own makeup on a day when everyone is looking at you, and it's a challenge that Middleton passed with flying colors.

Diana Frances Spencer, aka Diana, Princess of Wales (1981)

Obviously, social media wasn't around when Diana (née Spencer) married Charles, Prince of Wales. But there's not a doubt in my mind that had Instagram existed on July 29, 1981, that wedding would've been just as written-about and meme-ified as that of her son Harry — and just as influential, too.

While Diana's taffeta wedding gown, a creation of British-born fashion designer David Emanuel, reflected the voluminous silhouettes of the '80s, her makeup and hair were far and away from the over-the-top aesthetic often associated with the decade nowadays. Diana's thick bangs were a bold move, sure, but the combination of her glowing skin, her touchably feathered hair, and that pearly white smile all added up to effortless glamour.

Elizabeth Alexandra Mary, aka Elizabeth II, the Queen of England (1947)

Oh, what the hell: Let's talk about the Queen of England's wedding day, while we're at it.

On November 20, 1947, 21-year-old Queen Elizabeth II (then simply known as Princess Elizabeth) married Philip Mountbatten in Westminster Abbey. There are far fewer easily accessible details regarding the minutia of the day's events — if only the Royals had documented their favorite skin-care products in the 1940s — but according to Kensington Palace, the Queen wore two pearl necklaces that were both given to her by her father, King George VI.

It's difficult to see what makeup she wore on her wedding day (I'll just have to assume she used a combination of Urban Decay's Naked3 and Beauty Bakerie's Do It For the Graham Palette), but it's probably safe to say that she erred on the side of subtle, given the beauty trends of that decade. Atop her full curls, Elizabeth wore a diamond fringe tiara lent to her for the event, which gracefully complemented her ornate, crystal- and pearl-covered silk gown.

Regardless of which wedding-day hair and makeup you're most into, it's safe to say that being in a high-profile wedding seems like a whole lot of stress. From the location to the decor to all the official announcements regarding everything from the engagement itself to which tailor the groom goes to for his frockcoat, it's...a lot, no matter how great you look (and, hopefully, feel). The intentions behind all the frantic emphasis on organized planning are a mixture of respect for traditions and a desire for all to go smoothly, but all of the above paired with the pressure to look "perfect" and you've got yourself a doozy of a wedding day.

Here's hoping that once this royal affair is totally done after this weekend, Markle and Middleton both get to pull on some sweatpants and play around with one another's makeup. After all, they both seem to enjoy getting hands-on with their looks. And who knows — maybe someday, we'll all find out that Kate's doing a top-secret makeup apprenticeship. BRB, daring to dream.

Be sure to follow along with all our royal wedding coverage for more details of this historic day.

Read more details of the royal wedding:

• Meghan Markle's Bridal Makeup and Hair Are Refreshingly Simple

• Prince Harry Didn't Shave His Beard for the Royal Wedding

• Meghan Markle Debuts Second Dress for the Royal Reception

Now, learn 100 years of eyeliner history:

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