If one thing is for sure, it's that the royal family- amid their scandals, political affairs, and complex history- knows how to present themselves. And with shows like Bridgerton, Queen Charlotte, and The Crown currently trending, society has become more involved in the often romanticized glamour than ever. From breathtaking ceremonies, extravagant parades and galas, and gowns and uniforms that redefine regality, there is no mistaking the royals' touch. Take a look at some of the most iconic:
Princess Diana's Revenge Dress
There's no better way to begin this list than with the late Princess Diana of Wales' scandalous Revenge Dress, debuted at the Serpentine Gallery in 1994.
Diana made a proud appearance in the ensemble after her former husband, Charles III, confirmed the rumors of his affair with his now-wife Camilla Parker Bowles. Instead of hiding away and perhaps waiting for the storm of resulting publicity to pass, Diana mingled with the British society that evening, looking "like a million bucks."
Tim Graham
To nobody's surprise, the dress broke royal protocol, earning it multiple headlines. The only question left is what it was initially intended for.
The designer, Christina Stambolian, revealed that the dress had actually been made for Diana three years prior. Diana had reportedly been too nervous at the time to wear it because it was "too daring." Little did she know it would go down in history as one of the bravest and most respected moves she would make as a royal.
Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation Ensemble
Designed by Norman Hartnell (hand-selected by Her Majesty to do the honors), the late Queen Elizabeth's coronation gown alone took eight months of workmanship to complete. Made from duchesse satin and embroiled with pastel silks, pearls (10,000 of them, at that), and dewdrop crystals, the dress weighed an impressive 30 pounds- an unforgettable centerpiece to her coronation in June 1953.
Historia/Shutterstock
Though it wasn't the dress itself that made history, but rather the statement it made. The Queen was more than just her title. In fact, she was the first female British royal to serve as an active-duty military member. The details of the dress were highly symbolic of this past, featuring emblems and patterns dedicated to a wide array of related and ally countries during WWII. Moreover, French shoemaker Roger Vivier was commissioned to create a pair of gold pumps featuring a jewel-encrusted heel and fleurs-de-lis pattern that matched the motif on both St Edward's Crown and the Imperial State Crown, a tribute to the monarchy and this major shift it was taking.
The finished coronation gown featured a sweetheart neckline and a delicate lattice design. It was paired with the Robe of Estate, the Imperial State Crown, and Coronation Jewels. Oh, and in case you're wondering, The Queen was an avid outfit repeater, and went on to wear her Coronation gown a further six times. So, yes, if Lizzie can do it, so can you.
Kate Middleton's Wedding Gown
Ringing in at a humble $434,000, Kate Middleton's wedding gown, designed by Alexander McQueen's Sarah Burton, is one of the most expensive- and most copied- wedding looks of all time.
She and Prince William's fairytale romance bloomed when they were just students, though they first met at nine years old. The public quickly became infatuated with the lovebirds after they were confirmed to be dating after university. It was only fitting that their royal wedding in 2011 sparked the same interest- or rather obsession (and we don't blame anyone).
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Kate's dress featured an elegant plunging neckline, long lace sleeves, and a nine-foot train. Not to mention her delicate veil and Cartier Halo Tiara, borrowed from Queen Elizabeth. Today, her entire look has inspired countless brides, sparking a massive rise in the popularity of similar gowns. However, whether one will ever come close is the question of the decade.
Grace Kelly's Engagement Announcement
Despite what the media knows now, Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle weren't the first society women to marry into royalty. And while it wasn't actress Grace Kelly either, her story is undoubtedly one of the most iconic. By her early twenties, Grace was already a Hollywood star with millions of fans across the globe. In 1955, she met her very own Prince Charming, Rainier III of Monaco, and her life became a movie of its own.
Kelly was in Cannes for the April film festival to promote The Country Girl, for which she had won the Oscar for best actress. While in the South of France, she was invited to the Palace of Monaco for a photoshoot, where she met the prince, and their relationship began. He traveled to Kelly's family home in Philadelphia that Christmas to propose.
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When the engagement was first made public, it wasn't just the lovebirds that the press was talking about, but Kelly's iconic style- and, more importantly, her accessories. The bag she was carrying at the time was then known as the Hermès Sac à Dépêches. However, due to the circumstances and a massive increase in demand for the bag since it was spotted with Grace, it would be renamed the Kelly in the to-be princess' honor in 1977.
Not to mention her two engagement rings, hand-selected and presented by the prince himself. Kelly's initial engagement ring was an eternity band of rubies and diamonds, while the second dwarfed it by comparison. That same month, the bride-to-be started filming High Society, her final movie, before she got married and had to give up her acting career. To celebrate, Rainier presented her with the second ring, clocking in at 10.48 carats and widely reported to have been made by Cartier. The incredible ring cost $4,060,000 in 1956. Today, the piece had been estimated to cost nearly $39,000,000.
"We have pictures of them peering in at the windows of the Cartier store on the Rue de la Paix [in Paris]," says Pierre Rainero, Cartier's director of image, heritage, and style. "I don't know if they were already married or engaged, but perhaps they were choosing this ring."
By: Mackenzie Ostrowski
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