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#RoyalWedding - the dress!

───   13:09 Sat, 19 May 2018

#RoyalWedding - the dress!  | News Article
Prince Charles walks Meghan Markle down the isle.

As soon as American actress Meghan Markle stepped out of the bride’s vehicle to start her journey down the aisle to future hubby, Prince Harry of Wales, details about her highly anticipated wedding gown were revealed online.


In a statement, the Royal Family revealed that Markle’s wedding dress was designed by the acclaimed British designer, Clare Waight Keller.

Waight Keller last year became the first female Artistic Director at the historic French fashion house Givenchy.

After meeting Waight Keller in early 2018, Markle chose to work with her for her timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanour.

Markle also wanted to highlight the success of a leading British talent who has now served as the creative head of three globally influential fashion houses – Pringle of Scotland, Chloé, and now Givenchy.

Markle and Ms. Waight Keller worked closely together on the design. The dress epitomises a timeless minimal elegance referencing the codes of the iconic House of Givenchy and showcasing the expert craftsmanship of its world-renowned Parisian couture atelier founded in 1952.

Following extensive research by Waight Keller in fabric mills throughout Europe, an exclusive double bonded silk cady was developed. Perfect for the round sculptural look required, the silk cady has a soft matt lustre whilst the bonding process and pure white colour chosen by Markle and Waight Keller bring a fresh modernity to the dress.

Markle expressed the wish of having all 53 countries of the Commonwealth with her on her journey through the ceremony. Waight Keller designed a veil representing the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country united in one spectacular floral composition.

Significant time was spent researching the flora of each Commonwealth country and much care was taken by Waight Keller to ensure that every flower is unique.

The veil is five meters long and made from silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza.

Each flower was worked flat, in three dimensions to create a unique and delicate design. The workers spent hundreds of hours meticulously sewing and washing their hands every thirty minutes to keep the tulle and threads pristine.


Harry and Meghan share their first kiss as a married couple.


The veil is held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, lent to Ms Markle by The Queen. The diamond bandeau is English and was made in 1932, with the centre brooch dating from 1893.

The bandeau, which is made of diamonds and platinum, is formed as a flexible band of eleven sections, pierced with interlaced ovals and pavé set with large and small brilliant diamonds.  The centre is set with a detachable brooch of ten brilliant diamonds.

The diamond bandeau was made for Queen Mary and specifically designed to accommodate the centre brooch. This brooch was given as a present to the then Princess Mary in 1893 by the County of Lincoln on her marriage to Prince George, Duke of York.  The bandeau and the brooch were bequeathed by Queen Mary to The Queen in 1953.

The Bride is wearing earrings and bracelet made by Cartier.

The wedding shoes are based on a Givenchy refined pointed couture design made of a silk duchess satin.

A bespoke bouquet by florist Philippa Craddock was personalised by several flowers handpicked by Prince Harry on Friday from his private garden at Kensington Palace.

Then hours after walking down the aisle the Givenchy gown, Markle changed into her second bridal gown for the wedding reception - stunning white silk sleeveless high-neck silhouette gown designed by Stella McCartney. She accessorized the elegant ensemble with satin Aquazzura pumps featuring baby blue soles for a little "something blue."

As a wedding gift Prince Harry gave his bride an emerald-cut aquamarine ring which had belonged to his late mother - Diana, Princess of Wales.


Markle's reception gown was designed by Stella McCartney.

Thousands of people lined the streets to see the couple on their big day, with many more watching the ceremony on television around the globe.

The wedding celebrations ended with a black-tie dinner and fireworks display at Frogmore House, near Windsor Castle.

Two hundred of Meghan and Harry's closest friends and family attended the event held by Prince Charles.

The couple are not expected to leave for their honeymoon immediately, choosing instead to remain in the UK before taking a break.

Statement supplied with additional reporting by BBC, AFP, Reuters, Good Housekeeping

See more: Channel24

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