Why Meghan Markle's Wedding Hair May Stray From British Royal Tradition

The Royal Wedding Secret That Hasn’t Changed in 100 Years

In less than one week, all eyes will be on Meghan Markle as she marries Prince Harry in a lavish ceremony at Buckingham Palace. And from her wedding gown to her bridal beauty, speculation about the future royal’s wedding day look continues to mount. It’s anyone's guess, of course, but on the hair front, history may just be telling.

When Queen Elizabeth II married Prince Philip in 1947, her brunette lengths were pinned back in polished curls and topped off with a diamond fringe tiara that was passed down from Queen Mary and based on the traditional Russian "kokoshnik" headdress. Then, for her historic nuptials to Prince Charles in 1981, Princess Diana's sandy blonde crop, with its coiffed '80s fringe, was adorned with the sparkling Spencer Tiara, a family diadem with ornate star and floral detail. And most recently in 2011, Kate Middleton's dark brown mane was blown smooth and bedecked with the 1936 Cartier Halo tiara, on loan from Queen Elizabeth, as she said "I do" to Prince William. The common denominators? Hair worn down—equal parts polished and glamorous—then decorated with an impossibly exquisite crown.

While a veiled tiara, whether her own or borrowed from the archives, seems like a shoo-in choice for Markle, she may just stray from the British's royals time-tested above the neck equation by wearing her glossy raven waves up. After all, her tousled and low slung California-girl knots, with their nonchalant, face-framing pieces, suit her beautifully and have made quite the splash on the British social scene. Not to mention, throughout her courtship with Prince Harry, Markle has proved unafraid to stray ever so slightly, gracefully and respectfully, from royal protocol and tradition, whether she's getting political, rewriting the rules on PDA, or making unprecedented, bare-legged fashion choices.

However Markle elects to style her hair on the couple's big day, there's no question: The soon-to-be-princess's look will be talked about for years to come.