The vintage gown worn by Princess Beatrice for her surprise marriage to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi this summer will go on show in the State Dining Room at Windsor Castle.
The dress, designed by Norman Hartnell, sits at the heart of a display about the couple’s wedding at the castle. The exhibition also includes Beatrice’s wedding shoes and a recreation of her bouquet, this time made from artificial flowers.
Beatrice and Edoardo married at the nearby Royal Chapel of All Saints on July 17th 2020 with news of their wedding only being shared once it was over. They had originally been set to tie the knot at the Chapel Royal at St. James’ Palace in London in May before the celebrations were called off because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The princess instead had a much smaller ceremony in Windsor and now her outfit will be on show at the castle until November.
The dress chosen for this unusual royal wedding was borrowed from Beatrice’s grandmother. The Queen wore the gown several times in the 1960s. It is made of ivory peau de soie taffeta and features Hartnell’s signature geometric embellisments. The gown was adapted for Beatrice by the Queen’s dresser, Angela Kelly, and one of her most trusted designers, Stewart Parvin. The shoes worn by Princess Beatrice for her marriage are by Valentino.
Souvenirs marking the wedding will also go on sale at Windsor as the exhibition opens.
The exhibition runs from September 24th until November 22nd 2020. Admission is included in the entry price to Windsor Castle.
