by Erin Lindsay
18th May 2018
18th May 2018
Royal Wedding mania has well and truly hit, and there’s one key question that’s on everyone’s lips – what will the guests wear? Obviously, the person we wonder most about is the bride, Meghan Markle, but the many guests at the ceremony will also be vying for our attention with their sartorial offerings. Over the years, royal wedding guest outfits have often become a reference point for key trends of the time; from the power suits of the 80s to the embellishments of the early 00s. Whatever your taste in wedding attire, you’ll be sure to get some inspiration from our pick of the best wedding outfits of years gone by.
Miriam Gonzáles – The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, 2011
Gonzáles, wife of former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, channelled vintage Evita at 2011’s royal wedding, wearing a tulle polka dot dress, elbow length gloves and a blooming floral turban.
Queen Elizabeth II – The wedding of James Ogilvy and Julia Rawlinson, 1988
Never one to shy away from bright colours, Queen Elizabeth turned heads at her godson’s wedding in 1988, wearing a spotted yellow print suit, paired with a monochrome houndstooth scarf.
Princess Elena of Spain – The wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling, 2010
Talk about making a statement. Princess Elena paired a stunning pink ballgown with a heavily beaded bolero jacket, clutch and pink flowers in her hair.
Queen Rania of Jordan – The wedding of Prince Felipe of Spain and Letiza Ortiz, 2004
Even Queens can be understated. Queen Rania looked stunning at the Spanish royal wedding in 2004, wearing a lilac maxi skirt overlayed with lace and a simple cream shirt.
Victoria Beckham -The wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, 2011
Apart from the Royals themselves, Victoria Beckham was one of the most eagerly anticipated guests at the last Royal wedding, and she didn’t disappoint. Heavily pregnant with Harper at the time, she wore sky high Louboutins, a navy shift dress and a sleek high ponytail paired with a Philip Treacy pillbox hat.
Princess Diana – The wedding of Lady Helen Windsor and Timothy Verner Taylor, 1992
Princess Diana loved a good power suit, and this green ensemble for a 1992 wedding was among the best. Seen here pictured with her son and tomorrow’s groom, Prince Harry.
Princess Elena of Spain – The wedding of Laura Ponte and Beltran Gomez Acebo, 2004
Not the first time Princess Elena has appeared on this list, she chose a pink houndstooth suit with pastel shoes and bag for a society wedding in 2004.
Princess Diana – The wedding of Nicholas Soames and Serena Smith, 1981
The fashion icon to end all fashion icons didn’t disappoint at this 1981 wedding, appearing in a red patterned, high-neck dress and matching statement hat just a month before her own nuptuals.
Princess Grace Kelly – Her own wedding to Prince Rainier III, 1956
Admittedly, this article is for guest outfits but we had to give a special mention to the iconic wedding dress worn by Princess Grace Kelly at her own fairy-tale wedding in 1956. The dress, designed by MGM costume designer Helen Rose, inspired countless wedding styles for years to come, including Kate Middleton’s dress almost 60 years later.