Royal fans can rejoice – as the dress goes on display at Windsor Castle today, September 24. The Princess was finally able to tie the knot with her fiancé Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in July following months of banned nuptials thanks to the coronavirus crisis.
Like brides-to-be up and down the country, Princess Beatrice was struck a significant blow when she was forced into cancelling her 150 guest wedding in May due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Speculation began as to when the princess would be able to walk down the aisle – but the couple kept it secret from the public and finally married in a low key private ceremony.
Princess Beatrice, 32, and ‘Edo’, 37, kept the plans quiet in comparison to other recent royal weddings, and the ceremony had only 20 guests, in line with Government coronavirus regulations at the time.
The long-awaited wedding took place at the Chapel of All Saints, which is on the Duke and Duchess of York’s Windsor estate, the Royal Lodge.
As is par for the course with royal weddings, fans were keen to see the dress she had chosen for her special day – and it didn’t disappoint.
Designed by royal favourite Norman Hartnell, the beautiful dress was made of ivory peau de soie taffeta and features hand embroiled details along the bodice and skirt with an ivory satin trim.
The Queen’s head dresser Angela Kelly helped adjust the gown for Beatrice with support from designer Stuart Parvin.
The Royal Collection Trust described the altered dress: “The full-skirted silhouette was softened to give a more contemporary, simplified shape, and the underskirt and petticoats were recreated and bound with silk tulle.
Princess Beatrice has already paid the dress a visit ahead of the opening to the public.
The ninth-in-line to the British throne was reunited with her dress at the castle on Wednesday for a photocall to publicise the upcoming display.
Her full outfit is now on display, including the Valentino heels, also lent by the Queen.
Photos from the exhibit also show a replica of the princess’s bridal bouquet, which featured O’Hara roses, wax flowers, and railing jasmine.
The only part of the outfit which will not go on display is the Queen Mary diamond fringe tiara.
Commissioned by Mary in 1919, it was originally a fringe necklace that was a wedding day gift from Queen Victoria, which she wore in her hair.
The kokoshnik tiara style was popular in the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly with the Romanov Imperial family.
Today, her majesty owns several other tiaras in a similar style, one which was owned by the Grand Duchess Vladimir, and the Greville Emerald Tiara, which she lent to Princess Eugenie on her wedding day in 2018.
Obviously still in use, the Queen wore the spectacular tiara for her own wedding to Prince Philip back in 1947.
Curator Caroline de Guitar said: “This royal wedding dress is particularly unique because I think it’s the first time in royal history and certainly in modern royal history, say from the 18th or 19th century onwards, that an existing dress has been reworn and turned into a wedding dress.
“So it’s a very special, very unique piece.”
The dress will be on display from September 24 to November 22, 2020.
