Wpa Pool/Getty Images
The aura of a wedding day, and especially a bridal look, just feels royal. Jewel-encrusted tiaras and luxe fabrics, like lace and satin, certainly give off regal vibes. And then, of course, there’s the wedding gown; though there are many different silhouettes, the “princess dress” is a popular option for any bride looking to feel like, well, a princess.
But leave it to the ladies of the royal family to show us how to truly embody a fairytale. You won’t be seeing any experimental fashion (like some unconventional celebrity wedding dresses), as the feel of a royal wedding is markedly different. The British monarchy is steeped in tradition, with a rigid list of dos and don’ts, so brides who are royals (or are getting hitched to one) tend not to don dresses that veer too far off course.
Still, some royal wedding dresses are more timeless than others. Some brides pulled a little too much inspiration from the trends of the day or wore gowns that were already outdated. While other dresses, due to the classic details or simple silhouettes, really nailed that forever feeling.
8. The bell sleeves on Princess Anne’s wedding dress are distinctly ’70s
Bobby Lennox/Getty Images
It’s easy to clock the decade in which this wedding photo was snapped. When Princess Anne, the only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II, married Mark Phillips at Westminster Abbey on Nov. 14, 1973 she opted for a gown featuring long, dramatic bell sleeves. The dress was definitely on-trend for the time, but, for that reason, it’s not the most timeless. The silhouette, however, (aside from the sleeves) is a pretty classic one, which is why it made the list. If you did away with the sleeves and altered the neckline, it could totally work for today’s understated bride.
7. Queen Camilla’s non-traditional wedding dress could fit any occasion
Tim Graham/Getty Images
Closely related to timelessness is a dress’ ability to be adapted for different events. When Queen Camilla married King Charles III on April 9, 2005, it was the second time around for both of them. So, instead of bridal white, Camilla opted for a non-traditional wedding dress and coat in a frosty blue. The color and gold embroidery are definitely classic touches that could fit in any era, though they don’t exactly feel modern. Still, a mature bride could wear this to their wedding, and potentially repurpose it for other formal events, which solves the problem of what to do with your wedding dress after the big day.
6. A classic A-line, like Princess Beatrice’s wedding dress, is forever in style
Wpa Pool/Getty Images
Princess Beatrice married in a secret ceremony on July 17, 2020. Because of COVID, instead of the hundreds of guests at Buckingham Palace, Beatrice opted for a small private wedding in Windsor, England. Her dress was her something borrowed, worn multiple times in the ’60s by Beatrice’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. The dreamy cascade of jewels and flattering A-line fit is our idea of a classic wedding dress. However, the gown’s potential to be timeless is hampered by its puffy sleeves and satin panel at the hem, which both feel specific to the ’60s. Funnily, Elizabeth wore it without the sleeves, making her styling of the dress feel less era-specific than when Beatrice donned it decades later.
5. The extravagance of Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding dress is classic bride bait
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
When Queen Elizabeth II married Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey on Nov. 20, 1947, she wore a silk and Duchesse satin custom-made gown, corseted and pearl-encrusted, and featuring a 15-foot train. Created by British fashion designer, Norman Hartnell, who designed dresses for multiple royal weddings, the gown cost around $42,000 at the time, according to Brides, which would be $1.6 million today. Though quite dramatic, many brides aspire to look like royalty on their wedding day, and this dress checks multiple boxes. With just a couple appointments with a seamstress, perhaps to edit the sleeves and the neckline, Elizabeth’s famous wedding dress would be at home in any era.
4. The simple design of Meghan Markle’s wedding dress make it timeless and versatile
Wpa Pool/Getty Images
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry wed at Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018, and the Duchess of Sussex opted for a wedding dress that was the epitome of sweet and simple, giving it a truly ageless quality. Designed by Givenchy, Markle’s gown was lovely, though not exactly awe-inspiring. However, the dress’ clean lines and lack of embellishment keep it from getting stuck in any particular time period. While her 16-foot veil added some drama, Megan Markle went with a no makeup-makeup look on her wedding day, keeping with the simplicity of the dress.
3. The dainty details of Princess Margaret’s wedding dress could work today, or any day
Bettmann/Getty Images
When Princess Margaret, the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II, married Anthony Armstrong-Jones at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 1960 she wore a long-sleeved dress with a nipped waist and full skirt. The iconic silhouette, popularized by Christian Dior in the late ’40s, is a timeless look that isn’t limited to any era. While the crepe-y fabric of Elizabeth’s dress is one that evokes late ’50s and early ’60s fashion, we could see a midcentury-loving bride wearing this gown, just as it is, today, tomorrow, or whenever.
2. The ivory color and subtle lace details of Princess Eugenie’s wedding dress is chef’s-kiss classic
Wpa Pool/Getty Images
Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice’s sister, and another of Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughters, married Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle on Oct. 12, 2018. The open neck and low back were intentional, as Eugenie wanted the scar she got from a scoliosis surgery at age 12 to be visible. The neckline, ivory color, satin fabric, and subtle floral pattern are what give the wedding dress its timeless appeal and classic charm. It’s true that Eugenie was a modern bride, but we think the silhouette and quietly elegant details will stand the test of time.
1. Kate Middleton’s wedding dress is as timeless as it gets
Samir Hussein/Getty Images
If you were to imagine a wedding dress that could stand the test of time, you’d likely envision something similar to what Catherine, Princess of Wales, wore to marry Prince William at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011. The Alexander McQueen gown struck the perfect balance between tradition and modern glamor. Kate Middleton’s dress managed to meet royal wedding expectations, with a modest V-neck, sheer lace sleeves, and subtle A-line silhouette, without looking outdated. This wedding dress takes the top spot because it would fit right in on the runway of any Bridal Fashion Week, in any year.
How we chose to most timeless royal wedding dresses
Wpa Pool/Getty Images
To rank the most timeless royal wedding gowns, from least to most, we considered the public’s collective idea of traditional wedding dress design. With that in mind, we lent favor to dresses that featured more classic details and silhouettes while steering away from trendy styles that evoke specific eras. Dresses that could reasonably be worn today, and likely in the future, with few (if any) alterations, were ranked highest.