Expensive royal wedding dresses
When you think of extravagant royal wedding gowns, chances are Princess Diana and Kate Middleton come to mind. And for good reason! Both the princesses sparked global buzz and inspired thousands of bridal looks. But surprisingly, neither of them are even close to bagging the title of – most expensive royal wedding dress in history.The British Royal family is always under the spotlight for their dresses, jewels and bags. It goes without saying that their weddings garner the same amount of buzz too. Wondering which Royal member wore a wedding gown so expensive that it even rivals the likes of Princess Diana and Kate Middleton?
British Royal Family’s Most Expensive Wedding Dress
Well, it was the late queen, of course! Queen Elizabeth II is the only Royal member to date who has worn a gown so expensive, it costs millions in today’s date and time.
Back in 1947 when Queen Elizabeth was still a princess, she married Prince Philip in a dress that quietly redefined bridal fashion. Apart from being absolutely regal and elegant, it was way ahead of its time and cost a pretty penny too. Designed by Norman Hartnell, the gown was made from rich duchess satin and covered in intricate floral appliqués. And the train? A dramatic 13 feet long.
Queen Elizabeth’s wedding dress
What’s interesting is that Britain was still under post-war rationing during her royal nuptials. So yes, the queen had to use ration coupons to pay for her wedding dress, much like everyone else at the time. While the dress cost about $42,000 then, when adjusted for inflation, that figure shoots up to more than $1.6 million today. That’s some serious couture right there!
Princess Diana and Kate Middleton’s wedding diaries
On the other hand, the second member of the royal family to have worn the most expensive gown is Princess Diana. Her 1981 David and Elizabeth Emanuel wedding gown was a true showstopper and boasted 10,000 pearls, lace, and sequins. Made of silk and taffeta, the dress also featured an astonishing 25-foot train, the longest in royal wedding history. The gown reportedly cost $115,000, which, even by today’s standards, is extravagant.
Fast forward to 2011, at Kate Middleton’s wedding to Prince William, the Princess wore a gown designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. Her dress came complete with long lace sleeves, a structured bodice, and a flowing skirt that led into a nearly nine-foot train.
The gown reportedly cost $434,000, landing it third on the list of most expensive royal wedding dresses.