Royal houses carry an enormous amount of cultural baggage. Therefore, it is not surprising to see them paying tribute to previous generations or even centuries-old traditions through their clothing and accessories. Fortunately, they have the funds to support any of your fashion choices, so they need to be sported in style.
Bright Side researched the meaning behind some royal clothing and accessory options and wants to share it with you.
1. Duchess Kate dresses to introduce her babies
Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, or simply Kate, wore a simple blue polka dot dress when she introduced the world to the newborn Prince George in July 2013. In doing so, she paid a beautiful tribute to Princess Diana, her mother-in-law. This dress closely resembled the one Diana wore when she left the hospital with Prince William 30 years earlier.
This wasn't the only time Kate paid tribute to Diana after giving birth. In 2018, Kate left the hospital with Prince Louis, wearing a red dress and a white lace collar, which was a nod to the outfit Diana wore when, in 1984, she introduced Prince Harry to the world.
2. Meghan's wedding veil
Meghan Markle's wedding dress included a beautiful silk tulle veil (5 meters long!), Decorated with embroidery on the ends. Meghan wanted all 53 Commonwealth countries to be part of her "journey" during the wedding ceremony. So her veil was designed to present the specific flora of each Commonwealth country: for example, the blue water lily represented Sri Lanka and the daffodil, Wales.
3. Ruby tiara of Princess Mary of Denmark
Danish princess Maria often wears a ruby and diamond tiara when she attends large events. These jewels have a long and exciting history : they were first worn by Désirée Clary, a woman who, at some point, was engaged to Napoleon Bonaparte himself. The tiara traveled through various countries and belonged to various families, until it finally ended up in Denmark.
It is a symbol of a long tradition that unites several generations of European royalty.
4. Princess Eugenia's backless wedding dress
As a child, Princess Eugenie had to undergo difficult surgery for scoliosis , which left a long scar on her spine. The scar became an important part of her identity, so she decided not to hide it at her wedding. She purposely requested that her dress be open back to reveal her scar, showing that true beauty cannot be tarnished by these things.
5. Kate's tribute dress
Often times when royals travel the world, they pay homage to the country they visit by wearing something with national symbols or colors. In 2017, on her tour of Germany, Kate wore a dress adorned with eagles , which are the national birds of Germany. The dress was also created by a German designer.
6. Queen Elizabeth's wedding dress
Queen Elizabeth married in 1947, and her silk wedding dress had rich embroidery that featured spring flowers, along with pearls and crystals. It was designed to send a message of hope for a bright future. The dress was also inspired by Sandro Botticelli's painting Allegory of Spring from 1482, which was probably also created for a wedding.
7. Princess Diana's tiara
Princess Diana's family possessed an impressive jewelry collection of their own, as the Spencers came from an aristocratic lineage dating back to the Tudor period . This was illustrated by the fact that on her wedding day, in 1981, Diana wore a tiara that was an heirloom of her own family .
The tiara originally belonged to Diana's grandmother and was completed sometime in the 1930s. Diana's two sisters wore it to their weddings, so it is a tradition to wear this family heirloom on a big holiday. Diana even chose it over the lover's knot tiara, which the queen loaned her from her private vault.
8. Sarah Ferguson's wedding dress and flower crown
Fergie's silk dress was loaded with symbolism . The letter S, for “Sarah”, was embroidered on the chest, along with the print with bees and thistles, representing her coat of arms.
Before signing her marriage certificate, Sarah wore a flower crown as a headdress. But as soon as the formalities were completed, she took it off and revealed a gorgeous diadem, gifted by the Queen herself. The ceremonial removal of the flowers symbolized Sarah's official entry into the royal family.
9. Diana's choker used as a headband
Diana was famous for her rebellious character and her originality. On one occasion, she wore an emerald and diamond choker, loaned by the Queen, as a headband . It might not be what the queen had in mind, but it showed Diana's independence and individual sense of style.
10. Meghan's diamond pendant
During her visit to New Zealand in 2018, Meghan Markle wore an intriguing spiral pendant. The jewel was inspired by the traditional art of Ta Moko , an ancient form of tattoo practiced by the Maori people. It was a tribute to New Zealand's cultural heritage, created by a local jeweler.
Do you have any clothes that have a special meaning for you? Share your stories and your photos with us!