Fit for a Royal! Meghan Markle Wears Stunning Givenchy Gown on Wedding Day
Meghan Markle beamed as she arrived for her big day wearing an elegant, full-length Givenchy gown on Saturday.
The dress was designed by acclaimed British designer, Clare Waight Keller, the first female artistic director at the French fashion house, Kensington Palace revealed early Saturday.
Meghan chose Waight Keller to design the dress after meeting her earlier this year, and they worked together on the design, the palace said. She loved Waight Keller's "timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring and relaxed demeanor."
She paired the gown, which has three-quarter length sleeves, with a 16-foot, silk tulle veil with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers.
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After leaving a car on the steps of St. George's Chapel, Meghan gave a small wave to her crowd.
Inside the church, her mother, Doria Ragland, looked on as Prince Charles walked her down the aisle toward Prince Harry.
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Her groom had arrived shortly before, wearing his royal guard uniform and with his beard apparently trimmed. Prince William grinned as he joined his younger brother on the walk to the chapel.
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Markle's dress is the newest entry in a remarkable line of wedding gowns fitted for princesses and queens. Perhaps the most beautiful, and most sensuous, belonged to Kate Middleton in 2011.
She wore a white dress with a fitted bodice overlaid with antique lace. The gown featured a full skirt and a plunging neckline. So gorgeous was his bride, Prince William leaned toward his intended at the altar and said, "You look stunning, babe."
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In 2005, at the civil ceremony uniting Prince Charles and his longtime paramour, Camilla Parker Bowles, the bride chose a silk chiffon dress with a long damask coat embroidered at the hem and neck. It was the second marriage for both, and because they were divorcees, the wedding was a subdued affair.
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The same could not be said, of course, for the extravaganza that constituted the union of Diana Spencer and Prince Charles. Her voluminous gown featured a 25-foot-long train and mounds of ivory taffeta. The dress also carried sewed-on pearls and a square of lace that was said to date back to Queen Mary, who married King George V in 1893.
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Queen Elizabeth II was only 21 when she married Lt. Philip Mountbatten. Sir Norman Hartnell designed a gown of ivory silk decorated with crystals 10,000 seed pearls. It carried a 15-foot-long train featuring stars. She collected clothing coupons to pay for her dress because Britain was still subject to strict rationing from World War II at the time of her 1947 wedding.
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In 1923, after twice turning down Prince Albert, Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon said yes. Her dress was considered daring at the time and featured a dropped waist, as was the fashion in the 1920s. It was said to be influenced by the designs of Coco Chanel was embellished with pearls and silver embroidery. The newly married couple became Queen Elizabeth and King George VI.
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Princess Margaret, the sister of Queen Elizabeth II, and a bit of a loose cannon by royal standards, walked down the aisle in 1960 in a Norman Hartnell silk organza gown that was praised for its simple and elegant lines. The dress also carried crystals and beading. Margaret was walked down the aisle by her brother-in-law Prince Philip because her father had died eight years before.
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In 1986, Sarah Ferguson, a bit of a troublemaker herself, wore a gown that was said to be inspired by her friend Princess Diana's billowing dress. The Duchess of York's cream-colored satin affair was heavily beaded with symbols featuring her husband's sailing background and her family crest.
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During Princess Anne's wedding to her first husband, Mark Phillips, her dress was designed by British dressmaker Maureen Baker, who was also behind many of the princess' outfits over the years. The gown, featuring a 7-foot-long train, was made of pure silk and had pearl accents throughout. She topped off the bridal outfit with Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara, an iconic diamond piece passed through the royal family over the years.
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As she did in her first wedding, Princess Anne chose a high-neck dress for her marriage to Cmdr. Tim Laurence at Crathie Church in Scotland on December 12, 1992. Instead of a full gown, she instead chose a knee-length dress complemented by a white jacket.
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During Autumn Kelly's wedding to Queen Elizabeth II's grandson, Peter Phillips, the Canadian bride wore a silk gown with hand-beaded lace designed by Sassi Holford. The look was topped off with a tiara borrowed from her mother-in-law, Princess Anne.
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