Royal Wedding Gowns Through the Ages: See the Photos

As Meghan Markle became the latest royal bride during her wedding to Prince Harry, the "Suits" actress stunned in a custom Givenchy Couture gown, designed by Brit Clare Waight Keller, the first female artistic director of the French fashion house. The minimalist but modern dress featured a boat neck neckline that showed off her shoulders and three-quarter length sleeves. The design clearly pleased her groom Prince Harry, who was seen whispering, "You look amazing," to the bride just moments before exchanging vows.

Markle's silk tulle veil, also designed by Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy, measured a stunning 16-feet long and featured hand-embroidered flowers from each of the 53 Commonwealth countries.

"Every single one of those countries also journeyed up the aisle with her," Waight Keller said of the veil, according to Kensington Palace. "It was a really poetic moment.”

Holding up Markle's cathedral-length veil on her big day was the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau tiara, loaned to the royal bride on her big day by Queen Elizabeth II herself, according to Kensington Palace. The diamond- and opal-crusted tiara was commissioned for George V's wife in 1925 and features a broach dating back to 1893. To top off the look, she also wore diamond stud earrings by Cartier's "Galantrie de Cartier," matching a diamond bracelet also by the French jeweler.

For the private reception that followed the Windsor Castle ceremony, Markle changed into a second gown by Stella McCartney, a likely choice considering she's the daughter of British musician Paul McCartney and an animal cruelty-free designer. 

While the world was shocked by Princess Diana's 25-foot-long wedding gown train, many forget that her veil was made to be even longer than the train itself, a design detail made by dress creators David and Elizabeth Emanuel.

The intricate ivory taffeta gown also featured 10,000 pearls and a square of lace that was rumored to have dated back to Queen Mary, who was married to King George V in 1893.

In addition to her "something new, something borrowed and something blue," Lady Diana also had a matching umbrella custom-made ahead of her big day, just in case of rain.

During their controversial wedding in a civil ceremony — chosen due to the fact both Camilla and Prince Charles were divorcees — the bride wore a cream, silk chiffon dress with a matching oyster silk basket-weave coat.

Kate Middleton's iconic white lace gown during her wedding to Prince William featured a bodice reminiscent of Victorian corsetry - both a hallmark of the dress' designer Sarah Burton, the creative director of British fashion house Alexander McQueen, and an ode to the wedding tradition, "something old." 

The long, full skirt that ended with a 10-feet-long train was designed to look like an opening flower, with soft pleats modeled after petals hitting the floor.

Pippa Middleton wore a Giles Deacon-designed dress with a cap sleeve, high neckline, corseted bodice and hand-appliquéd silk cotton lace. While her sister Kate Middleton accompanied her on her big day, Pippa did not have any official bridesmaids at her wedding.

Her Royal Highness Queen Elizabeth II was just a 21-year-old princess when she married Lt. Philip Mountbatten.

The future monarch's dress was made by Norman Hartnell, a favorite of the royals, but its materials had to be purchased with ration coupons since Britain's economy was still destroyed by World War II. The dress' 13-feet-long train, decorated with stars, was said to have been symbolic of rebirth and regrowth.

After reportedly refusing two previous proposals by George VI - then known as Prince Albert - Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon finally agreed to go to the altar in what was considered a daring gown at the time.

Veering away from tradition, the future queen wore a trendy dress emulating the '20s flapper girl trends of the time. The dress also featured a drop-waist, inspired by Coco Chanel's designs, and plenty of pearls and silver embroidery.

Princess Margaret, the sister of Queen Elizabeth II, wore a wedding dress that was lauded at the time for its simplicity. Designed by Norman Hartnell, the silk organza gown had delicate crystal embellishments and beading tailored to Margaret's petite frame.

Sarah Ferguson, then 27, wore a custom dress by designer Lindka Cierach during her 1986 wedding to former husband Prince Andrew, Duke of York.

The ivory duchesse satin gown featured heavy beading with symbols that represented Prince Andrew's sailing background as well as Ferguson's own family crest.

The dress, boasting a 17-foot-long train, was said to have been inspired by Lady Diana's iconic wedding gown.

During Princess Anne's wedding to her first husband, Mark Phillips, was designed by British dressmaker Maureen Baker, who was also behind many of the Princess' outfits over the years. The gown, featuring a 7-foot train, was made of pure silk and had pearl accents throughout.

She topped off the bridal outfit with Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara, an iconic diamond piece passed through the royal family over the years.

Like in her first wedding, Princess Anne chose to wore a high-neck dress during her second wedding to Commander Tim Laurence at Crathie Church in Scotland on December 12, 1992. Instead of a full gown, she instead chose to wear a knee-length dress paired with a white jacket. 

During Autumn Kelly's wedding to Queen Elizabeth II's grandson, Peter Phillips, the Canadian bride wore a silk gown with hand-beaded lace designed by Sassi Holford. The look was topped off with a tiara borrowed from her mother-in-law, Princess Anne.

Those closest to Katharine Worsley worried her gown, designed by John Cavanagh, would be too heavy. The dress was made of 237 yards of French-made silk, and the double train measured at 15-feet long.

Ahead of the wedding, Katharine practiced walking, kneeling and standing in the gown to ensure her big day would run smoothly.

The American socialite married Edward VIII, formerly King Edward VIII, just six months after his abdication in a chateau loaned to them by a French millionaire. The powder blue hue on her dress, created by American designer Mainbocher, was later dubbed "Wallis Blue." 

Danish-born Birgitte Eva Henriksen married Prince Richard of Gloucester in a dress also designed by the royal favorite Norman Hartnell. Her gown was styled after trends of the time, with a high collar, short train and long sleeves. Unlike many royal brides, Birgitte's wedding look did not include a tiara. 

Lady Davina Windsor, the eldest daughter of Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester (pictured), married New Zealander Gary Lewis in a historical union that made his groom the first of Maori descent to marry into the royal family. 

The younger daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Lady Rose Windsor, wore a couture gown to her wedding to George Gilman. She also wore the Queen Mary's Fringe Tiara, the same one previously worn by Princess Anne during her wedding.

Unfortunately, all eyes were on one particular wedding guest that day — Kate Middleton, who stirred controversy when she did not attend with her then-boyfriend Prince William.

Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne and Capt. Mark Phillips, wore a silk dress designed by Stewart Parvin during her wedding in Edinburgh to rugby player Mike Tindall.

The silk gown was not only beautiful but also practical with a modest train, since she didn't have much help entering and exiting the church, and had concealed pockets. 

The daughter of Queen Mary, also known as Mary of Teck, married Viscount Lascelles at Westminster Abbey. It was the first time a child of a monarch married at the venue in nearly 600 years.

Lady Alice was married to Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester, in an intimate wedding and became the only royal to wear a blush-hued dress.

Her gown was designed by Norman Hartnell, the same designer who would create her sister Queen Elizabeth II's dress.

Instead of a tiara, Lady Alice wore a crystal headdress.

During Princess Alexandra's wedding to the Hon. Angus James Bruce Ogilvy at Westminster Abbey, she made a special request to designer John Cavanagh, a favorite among the royals, for a simple dress made of Valenciennes lace. However, the request proved difficult since the specific lace could only be found in France. 

Princess Eugenie of York tied the knot with Jack Brooksbank in a beautiful ceremony at St. George's Chapel, the same venue where Meghan Markle and Prince Harry wed earlier in the year.

The princess donned a gorgeous open-backed gown with a full skirt and a folded neckline. It was designed by Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos. 

Eugenie had just one request: that the low back show off her scar from surgery to correct her scoliosis, which she underwent at the tender age of 12.