It’s the other outfit that everyone wants to see at a royal wedding, the one chosen by the Queen. While anticipation was huge seven decades ago for the bridal gown worn by the future Elizabeth II for her own marriage to Prince Philip, in the intervening years her style picks for the nuptial celebrations of her grandchildren have become just as talked about. From bold bronze to pretty pastels, the six outfits the Queen has worn to see her grandsons and granddaughters marry have more than made their mark. Royal Central takes a look at the Queen at her grandchildren’s weddings.
Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly, May 2008
Embed from Getty ImagesThe Queen turned to her most trusted dress designer for the first wedding of one of her grandchildren. When Peter Phillips married Autumn Kelly in May 2018, Her Majesty wore a coat by Angela Kelly.
And what a coat it was. This brocade creation, in lavender and bronze, is also the only time the Queen has gone full length for a grandchild’s wedding. Instead of a hat, this outfit was complemented by a feather headdress.
Prince William and Catherine Middleton, April 2011
Embed from Getty ImagesPerhaps the best known of all the outfits the Queen has worn to one of her grandchildren’s marriages, this yellow creation is another design by Angela Kelly.
The matching primrose dress and coat was chosen to match the spring weather and to make sure the Queen was visible to the huge crowds who lined London for the celebrations.
Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall, July 2011
Embed from Getty ImagesZara was the first of the Queen’s four granddaughters to get married and there was more than a hint of pink for a girl in the monarchical pick for this celebration. While the coat and hat chosen by Her Majesty for the wedding in Edinburgh has been described as apricot, its rosy hues could easily pass for pink.
The coat and matching dress were designed by Stewart Parvin who was also responsible for the bride’s gown at this royal wedding. The matching hat is by Rachel Trevor-Morgan.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, May 2018
Embed from Getty ImagesAnother big wedding, another colourful outfit. For the marriage of Prince Harry to Meghan Markle in May 2018, the Queen chose perhaps her brightest look yet at a grandchild’s wedding. Her Majesty went for stand out lime green for this particular celebration.
The coat, in silk tweed, covered a silk dress in lime, purple and lemon, both by Stewart Parvin. The Queen’s hat was in the same shade with a deep blue feather trim, all designed by Angela Kelly. And while this outfit ticked the ‘can you see the Queen’ box, it also fitted with the bride’s theme for her celebrations as Meghan had opted for green to complement the creams of her wedding party.
Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, October 2018
Embed from Getty ImagesThere was more keeping with the theme for the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank at St. George’s Chapel in October 2018. The bride had chosen blue and green as the main colours of the bridal party and the Queen matched the pale hues of the thistles included in the bouquet and button holes with her outfit.
For this celebration, Her Majesty was in a light blue coat and dress designed by Angela Kelly. The coat featured gilt edged buttons and that colour match continued into her hat in palest blue with light gold feather trim.
Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi
The royal wedding of Princess Beatrice to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, on July 17th 2020, came as a surprise to everyone apart from her guests including the Queen who clearly got enough advance notice to match her outfit to her granddaughter’s flowers.
For this royal wedding like no other, the Queen chose a mint green coat over a pink and green print dress, keeping with Beatrice’s burst of colour in her bridal bouquet. The pretty pink blooms carried by the princess were reflected in the flowers decorating her granny’s hat.
