Royal Collection Trust/© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019
Visitors to the Palace of Holyroodhouse can now enjoy the special exhibition A Royal Wedding: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and view the couple’s wedding outfits, and the page and bridesmaids outfits of Prince George and Princess Charlotte.
In a recording made for visitors to the exhibition, the Duke and Duchess (known as the Earl and Countess of Dumbarton in Scotland) discuss their plans for the wedding, including the choice of outfits, music and flowers. In it, the Duchess says, “A great level of detail went into the planning of our wedding day. We knew how large the scale of the event would be, so in making choices that were really personal and meaningful, it could make the whole experience feel intimate.”
The Duchess of Sussex’s wedding dress with its boat-neckline bodice was created by British designer Clare Waight Keller, Artistic Director at the history French fashion house Givenchy. Made from an exclusive double-bonded silk cady, its graceful lines were achieved using six meticulously placed seams which extend toward the back of the dress. From where the train flows in soft round folds, cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza.
Royal Collection Trust/© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019
The Duchess’s five-metre-long veil is made from silk tulle and embroidered with the flora of the 53 countries of the Commonwealth, including a thistle to represent Scotland. The Duchess also added two of her favourite flowers: Wintersweet, which grows in the grounds of Kensington Palace, and the California Poppy, the State flower of her place of birth. Embroidered ears of wheat, symbolising love and charity, are symmetrically placed at the front of the veil which is edged with embroidered organza flowers.
The veil was held in place by a diamond and platinum bandeau tiara, lent to The Duchess by the Queen. On public display for the first time, the tiara is formed as a flexible band of 11 sections, pavé set with large and small brilliant diamonds in a geometric design. At the centre is a detachable brooch of ten brilliant diamonds. Both the bandeau and brooch were bequeathed to the Queen by her grandmother Queen Mary in 1953.
A replica of the bridal bouquet made from artificial flowers has also been created for the exhibition. Designed by florist Philippa Craddock it includes sprigs of myrtle from a shrub grown from a cutting brought from Germany by Prince Albert; sprigs from the bush have been in included in the bouquets of all royal brides since the 1850s.
Royal Collection Trust/© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019
The Duke of Sussex’s wedding outfit was the frockcoat uniform of the Household Cavalry, specially commissioned for the occasion and made by Savile Row tailors Dege & Skinner. The uniform’s single-breasted blue doeskin jacket has figured braiding of Regimental pattern on the stand-up collar and sleeves and large gold embroidered crowns on the epaulettes. The trousers, officially called ‘overalls’, are made from a blue and black barathea and fastened by a leather strap and buckle underneath the boot. An identical uniform has been loaned to the exhibiton.
In the recording for visitors, the Duke says, “I chose the frock coat as a uniform, with permission from my grandmother, because I think it’s one of the smartest Household Cavalry uniforms. It’s one of my favourites, and I was very fortunate to be able to wear that on the day.”
Royal Collection Trust/© Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 2019
As one of four pages, Prince George wore a miniature version of the frockcoat by Dege & Skinner, with his initials embroidered in gold threat on the shoulder straps. Princess Charlotte, one of six bridesmaids, wore a high-waisted ivory silk dress designed by Clare Waight Keller. Her white leather shoes, made by Aquazurra, are embroidered with her initials and the wedding date.
A Royal Wedding: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will run at the Palace of Holyroodhouse until 6 October 2019.
