When it comes to fairytale romances, few unions capture the public imagination quite like royal weddings. From the boost to national morale provided by the late Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh’s wedding amid the austerity of post-war Britain; to the Hollywood glamour of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III of Monaco’s marriage (broadcast by MGM Studios to an audience of over 30 million people), few events boast such grandeur and majesty.
Fifteen years ago this year came arguably the greatest royal wedding in recent memory: that of Prince William to Kate Middleton, now the Prince and Princess of Wales. The couple sent the nation—and the world—into a love-filled fantasy, complete with an heirloom tiara, lace bridal gown and royal carriage procession. Now, those bright-eyed newlyweds are proud parents of three beautiful children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven.
In Europe, the 2000s brought a golden era of royal weddings, including Prince Felipe of Spain and Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano (now King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia). The loved-up couple looked impossibly chic on their wedding day, setting the sartorial tone for their enviably stylish reign.
Of course, royal weddings are also prime territory for forging bridal fashion trends: Queen Rania of Jordan’s custom Bruce Oldfield gown—a gold-embellished confection with a bold collar and belted waist—helped consolidate her status as a global style star; while Princess Angela of Liechtenstein’s striking bateau-neck dress (her own design) was a precursor to the Duchess of Sussex’s wedding gown, created by Givenchy’s Clare Waight Keller for her wedding to Prince Harry some 18 years later.
So, as the world celebrates love this weekend, there is surely no greater time to celebrate the 11 most iconic and romantic royal weddings of all time.
