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20 best royal wedding dresses of all time: from Kate Middleton in Alexander McQueen and Princess Charlene of Monaco in Armani, to Queen Maxima of the Netherlands in Valentino

Kate Middleton, Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan, Princess Ariana Makonnen of Ethiopia and Princess Ayako of Japan show off different royal wedding looks, from white lacy gowns to bright colourful garments. Photos: EPA, AFP, @TheMochaAngel/Twitter, AP

Royal weddings are usually lavish affairs, sometimes lasting several days. White wedding dresses are traditional in some countries, but other royals have worn bright colours. Regardless of the style, though, you’ll bet these queens, princesses and duchesses heaped on the luxury for their big days.

Scroll on to see 20 dazzling royal wedding looks from across the globe.

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Princess Beatrice

Britain’s Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. Photo: Twitter

Princess Beatrice wore a Norman Hartnell gown that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth for her small, intimate wedding in 2020.

The queen wore the peau de soie taffeta and ivory duchess satin gown to the London film premiere of Lawrence of Arabia in 1962 and the State Opening of Parliament in 1967.

Princess Beatrice wore the dress to marry Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. They postponed their wedding due to the coronavirus.

Lady Gabriella Windsor

Lady Gabriella Windsor’s wedding at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor, in 2019. Photo: @windsor.royal.family/Instagram

Lady Gabriella Windsor married Thomas Kingston in a dress designed by Luisa Beccaria.

Lady Gabriella Windsor is the queen’s first cousin once removed. She and Kingston married at St. George’s Chapel in 2019.

Queen Suthida of Thailand

King Maha Vajiralongkorn and his consort, Queen Suthida, attend their wedding ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand, in May 2019. Photo: Thai TV

Thailand’s Queen Suthida wore an iridescent pink jacket and skirt for her surprise wedding to King Maha Vajiralongkorn.

In 2019, the king of Thailand married Suthida Tidjai in a lavish surprise ceremony where he poured sacred water on her head at Ampornsan Throne Hall in Bangkok. The event took people by surprise because the royal palace never acknowledged the pair’s relationship.

Suthida was a commoner before marrying into royalty, working as a flight attendant on Thai Airways and later a general in Thailand’s army before joining Vajiralongkorn’s security detail.

Princess Ayako of Japan

Princess Ayako, dressed in a traditional ceremonial robe, and groom Kei Moriya speak to the reporters after their wedding ceremony at Meiji Shrine in Tokyo, in October 2018. Photo: Kyodo News via AP

Ayako Moriya of Japan wore a red kouchiki – a cloak with long, wide sleeves – and a brown naga-bakama – a “divided skirt” – when she married shipping firm employee Kei Moriya.

Moriya, born Princess Ayako of Takamado, gave up her royal status to marry a commoner in 2018.

Princess Eugenie

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank at their wedding. Photo: @princesseugenie/Instagram

Princess Eugenie’s 2018 wedding dress was designed by Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos and featured a neckline that folded around the shoulders, a low back and a long, flowing train.

Instead of a veil, Princess Eugenie opted for the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara with diamonds and emeralds for her wedding to Jack Brooksbank.

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Meghan Markle

Britain’s Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex walk down the west steps of St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor, after their wedding ceremony, in May 2018. Photo: AFP
Meghan Markle wore a Givenchy dress designed by Clare Waight Keller when she wed Prince Harry in 2018. They got married in St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018.

Princess Ariana Makonnen of Ethiopia

Princess Ariana Austin Makonnen and Prince Joel Makonnen of Ethiopia. Photo: @TheMochaAngel/Twitter
Princess Ariana Makonnen married Prince Joel Makonnen of Ethiopia in a Lazaro dress customised by Cheryl Lofton, who has tailored outfits for Michelle Obama. They celebrated their wedding day in Washington DC, in 2017.

Dayangku Raabi’atul Adawiyyah Pengiran Haji Bolkiah of Brunei

Prince Abdul Malik of Brunei and his wife Dayangku Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah Pengiran Haji Bolkiah during their wedding ceremony in the Nurul Iman Royal Palace in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, in April 2015. Photo: EPA/Information Department of Brunei

Dayangku Raabi’atul ‘Adawiyyah Pengiran Haji Bolkiah of Brunei was dripping in precious stones, including a bouquet of gems, on her wedding day. They got married in the Istana Nurul Iman in Bandar Seri Begawan in 2015.

Princess Charlene of Monaco

Princess Charlene, on her father Mike Wittstock’s arm, walks along a red carpet from the Carabineers Barracks to the altar for the wedding ceremony in the Main Courtyard of the Prince’s Palace in Monaco, in July 2011. Photo: EPA/AP/Reuters

Princess Charlene of Monaco’s simple Armani gown was embellished with subtle embroidery. She married Prince Albert II of Monaco at the Prince’s Palace in 2011.

Kate Middleton

Prince William and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge as they emerge from Westminster Abbey after their wedding ceremony in London, Britain, in April 2011. Photo: EPA/PA

Two billion people tuned in to watch Kate Middleton marry Prince William in a now-famous Alexander McQueen dress.

The couple married in 2011 and now share three children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

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Zara Phillips

Britain’s Zara Phillips, the eldest granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth, and her husband England rugby captain Mike Tindall, leave the church after their marriage at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland, in July 2011. Photo: Reuters
In 2011, Queen Elizabeth’s granddaughter Zara Phillips married English rugby player Mike Tindall in an ivory silk and duchess satin gown designed by royal couturier Stewart Parvin. The couple had a son together earlier this year.

Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan

King of Bhutan, Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuk and Queen of Bhutan, Jetsun Pema pose for the media after their marriage ceremony at the Dzong monastery in Punakha, Bhutan, in October 2011. Photo: AFP Photo

Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan was a commoner before marrying King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck in a traditional Buddhist ceremony. They got married at Punakha Dzong in Bhutan’s ancient capital, Punakha, in 2011.

Sayako Kuroda

Sayako and Yoshiyuki Kuroda attend a news conference following their wedding ceremony at a Tokyo hotel, in November 2005. Photo: Reuters

Sayako Kuroda gave up her royal title as Princess Nori of Japan to marry Yoshiki Kuroda in a plain, A-line dress and white gloves. They married in Tokyo in 2005.

Queen Letizia of Spain

Then Princess Letizia and the then Spanish Crown Prince Felipe walk under the raised swords of a military guard of honour as they leave Almudena Cathedral at the end of their wedding ceremony in Madrid, in May 2004. Photo: Reuters
Queen Letizia of Spain chose a Manuel Pertegaz wedding dress for her 2004 marriage to King Felipe – then Prince Felipe – that featured a statement collar. The collar was embroidered with fleur de lys and wheat – symbols from a Spanish royal crest, according to Hello! magazine.

Princess Maxima of the Netherlands

Princess Maxima smiles broadly at Dutch Crown Prince Willem-Alexander during their wedding ceremony in the Nieuwe Kerk, or New Church, in Amsterdam, in February 2002. Photo: Reuters

Princess Maxima of the Netherlands married Prince Willem-Alexander in a Valentino dress. Maxima’s dress, made of ivory mikado silk, featured three-quarter-length sleeves and lace panels on the sides of the skirt, according to Hello! magazine.

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Princess Martha Louise of Norway

Norwegian Princess Martha Louise and her husband Ari Behn wave to well wishers on the balcony of Trondheim’s Stiftsgarden royal residence after their wedding ceremony in May 2002. Photo: Reuters

Princess Martha Louise married Ari Behn in a collared coat wedding dress by Norwegian designer Wenche Lyche in 2002, according to Vogue.

Infanta Cristina of Spain

Spain’s Queen Sofia, King Juan Carlos, Princess Cristina, Iñaki Urdangarin, Claire Liebaert Courtin and Juan Maria Urdangarin, the mother and father of Urdangarin, pose for a wedding photograph, in October 1997. Photo: Reuters

Infanta Cristina of Spain wore a custom silk off-the-shoulder Lorenzo Caprile gown in 1997 for her wedding to Iñaki Urdangarin.

Princess Marie Chantal of Greece

Duty Free Shops owner Robert Miller with his daughter Marie-Chantal Miller leaving Claridges in London before her wedding with Prince of Denmark, in July 1995. Photo: Uppa Photo
In 1995, Princess Marie Chantal of Greece’s wedding dress featured textured embellishments and appliqués. The Valentino dress consisted of a lace bodice and ivory silk skirt, Hello! magazine reported.

Princess Anne

Princess Anne and Captain Marc Philips. Photo: Instagram

Princess Anne’s cowl-necked wedding dress from 1973 was designed by Maureen Baker of Susan Small. The gown featured a high neck, trumpet sleeves and a two-metre-long (seven-foot-long) train, according to Vogue.

Princess Margaret

Princess Margaret and photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones leave after their wedding ceremony at Westminster Abbey in May 1960. Photo: AP Photo/PA

In 1960, Princess Margaret wed Antony Armstrong-Jones in a silk organza Norman Hartnell gown. The long-sleeved gown also featured a V-neckline, which Brides writes was risqué at the time.

This article originally appeared on Insider
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Weddings
  • Meghan Markle wore a dazzling Givenchy piece for her wedding to Prince Harry, while Princess Beatrice wore a vintage dress that once belonged to Queen Elizabeth
  • Sayako Kuroda gave up her title of Princess Nori of Japan to marry a commoner, as did Ayako Moriya, formerly Princess Ayako of Takamado