Thursday 28 April 2016

Royal Weddings: guests at William and Kate's marriage


It was hats rather than tiaras and knee length rather than full length but while the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton, on April 29th 2011, didn't have the formal dress effect of other regal marriages, it had plenty of glitz and glamour. All eyes might have been on the bride but there were still plenty of other outfits to wow and please on this famous day. Here's a look back at what the guests wore as William and Kate said 'I do'.






Crown Princess Victoria went well outside her comfort zone with a clingy shift dress with ruching, a low cut neck and a pair of platform heels that must have made the walk down the aisle of Westminster Abbey hard work.


It all looked rather glamourous while the orange was a perfect colour choice, working well against the slightly grey skies. And the hat was very Victoria, filled with confidence and rather regal. Top marks all round with an extra thrown in for Daniel's brilliant co-ordinating tie.






Less colour co-ordination from the man in the Spanish car but then Felipe of Spain had mum and wife to match with and chose to take his own path which was probably the best idea all round.




Letizia went for a spring like peach as well and her lace effect dress is rather pretty while the hat, with its big turned back brim and twenties vibe, is rather chic. They just don't quite work together.


 
  
  The hat is the wrong shape for the dress - it needed something fuller to match - although the feathers are always a joy. The shoes are a take on Letizia's favourite platform heels and overall this is a head turner of a look.


 
  
  Sofia went for regal purple and turned in another perfect royal wedding outfit. No one else could wear this but then why would they when Sofia does it so well? We've got a two piece suit in perfectly matched satin with a stand out embellishment running down the front. 





The fascinator is perfect for the occasion and the outfit while the shawl picks out the paler flowers on the front of the suit to perfection. Another wedding winner from this queen of marriage guests.



Maxima of the Netherlands kept it pale and interesting for the Royal Wedding with a lace dress that gets prettier with every look.



This rather chic two piece, with slightly scalloped shoulders and a neat little belt across the middle is delicate and delightful while the hat is a neat take on a Maxima favourite, hugging the head and keeping the silhouette sleek.

 
 
It's just a shame it was so pale - in the grey air of that April morning it started to look every so slightly washed out.
No such problems for Mathilde of the Belgians who did what only Mathilde can do and turned up to a royal wedding in a colour that would stop traffic at fifty paces.
In case you hadn't noticed, Mathilde wore green for the wedding. It's so bright that it almost takes away from the glare from the shiny satin but not quite. There is no way anyone is missing this outfit.

Just in case there was any chance of this one winning fans, we got a ruched waist, some kind of pleating going on at the hem of the skirt and a pair of ankle strap shoes. The hat worked and luckily Beatrice wore a pretzel otherwise this one might well have featured more in the what were they thinking pages of Royal Wedding fashion.
When you're a regular at Royal Weddings, sometimes you just need to get out the go to look. Queen Margrethe of Denmark did just that, showing us a favourite blue design that has seen her through many events since.
The colour and shape of this suit Margrethe to perfection and the little perching hat lets everyone see her while adding a touch of elegance to the whole outfit. Like Sofia, no one else would wear this but again, why would they? This is Margrethe's look and done to perfection.

If you're going to be patriotic and wear your country's colours to a wedding then do it in style. Queen Sonja of Norway appeared at the doors of Westminster Abbey in an off white coat and hat but as she walked we got a hint of a red dress beneath. Very clever. 
The coat itself is very simple and chic and one of the best looks of the whole day while the hat has a bit of an eighties vibe going on but suits the whole look to perfection. A winner from the Queen of Norway.
The Grand Duchess of Luxembourg chose a rather pretty shade of palest cornflower blue for the wedding of William and Kate and matched everything to it with an eye for detail that takes some beating.

It's just a shame about the tie effect in the middle which dominates the whole look. A sleeker jacket and Maria Teresa would have been at the very top of the style stakes here.


She wasn't quite a royal at this point but Charlene of Monaco was still leading the regal fashion pack with just months to go before her own wedding. Her pale dove grey coat with cream accessories is a total dream.


The cut, the colour, the shape and the flow of his are all rather lovely. Add in an updo and discreet jewellery and you have a perfect royal wedding guest outfit. A day to remember.

Photo credit: Defence Images via Flickr.

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