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The Queen at her grandchildren’s weddings

It’s the hat that everyone wants to see and we’ll get another go in 2020. Princess Beatrice is set to marry Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in 2020 which means plenty of speculation about the bride’s dress, the wedding tiara and her granny’s hat. Yes, one of the style moments of all recent royal nuptials has been the Queen’s choice of outfit. As a new royal wedding countdown begins, Royal Central takes a look at the Queen at her grandchildren’s weddings.

Peter Phillips and Autumn Kelly, May 2008

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The 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

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Perhaps 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

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Zara 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

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Another 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

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There 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.

With just months to go until she is grandmother of the bride again, which colour do you think the Queen will pick for Princess Beatrice’s marriage?

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.