Seven Priciest Royal Wedding Dresses In Order Of Cost: From Princess Eugenie To Princess Diana

Jun 26, 2020

When it comes to fashion, it is no secret that the royal family has opulent tastes. This pension for excess is perhaps most on display during royal weddings. When there is a bride-to-be at a royal wedding, you can be sure that the dress will be nothing short of spectacular.

While most brides devote roughly 10 percent of their entire wedding budget to the gown, the total expense of a royal wedding often dwarfs the cost of a "normal" wedding by a factor of one hundred or more. Yet, even in the space of royal weddings, there is a degree of competition for the most elaborate wedding gown. From Princess Eugenie to Lady Diana, these are seven of the most expensive royal wedding dresses ever worn.

Although she was later known for her more conservative and reserved fashion, Queen Elizabeth II was no stranger to the finer things in life. The queen married Prince Philip in 1947. Given that England was still recovering from a war, it was determined that the dress should be relatively humble. Yet this didn't stop this masterpiece from netting an impressive £30,000 (or about $37,237.95) price tag, according to Harper's Bazaar.

Made using Chinese silk, the Norman Hartnell creation was a conservative silhouette sporting a tailored bodice, high neckline, and a dramatic 13-foot train. For added elegance, the entire affair was adorned with pearl and diamond-encrusted embellishments including roses, jasmine blossoms and starflowers.

Rather than the silk of the Queen, Sarah Ferguson opted for an ivory satin gown to mark the 1986 occasion of her wedding to Prince Andrew. This comparatively simple dress was the vision of Lindka Cierach.

Despite its simple appearance, it sported extremely intricate beadwork depicted nautical themes as a tribute to Prince Andrew's history as a sailor. Despite its relatively simple design, the dress reportedly cost around $45,000, according to People.

Princess Diana's gown may not be the most intricately decorated dress to ever grace a royal wedding, but it is one of the largest. For her 1981 wedding to Prince Charles, Princess Diana commissioned David Emanuel to design this stunning arrangement from ivory silk.

Further, the entirety of the dress was bedecked with sequins, lace, pearls, and numerous other adornments. The scale was nothing short of impressive, with its 25-foot train being the longest ever featured in a royal wedding. The pricetag? A whopping $115,000, according to CNBC.

Meghan Markle has been a fashion icon as long as she has been in the public eye, so it is not surprising that her dress was a masterpiece. This Claire Waight Keller design was executed by the Parisian fashion house Givenchy and reportedly took over 3,900 hours to complete.

The 16-foot veil was intricately emblazoned with the national flowers of 53 countries, a nod to her international aspirations. In total, this dress cost £110,000 (or around $135,000), according to CNBC.

Never one to be outdone, Princess Eugenie made sure that her wedding gown would be the height of elegance and design. In her 2018 marriage to Jack Brooksbank, her gown was a joint design venture by Christopher de Vos and Peter Pilotto.

The dress featured numerous nods to her heritage, including a shamrock for Ireland, a thistle for Scotland, and a York rose. The total for this high-backed tribute to elegance? A stunning $135,000 at minimum, according to Harper's Bazaar.

The award for the second most expensive royal wedding dress goes to the ever-beautiful Kate Middleton. Although she is stunning in any outfit, she made sure that her attire for her 2011 marriage to Prince William would be an unforgettable affair.

Made in collaboration with Sarah Burton, this classically shaped gown featured a Victorian bodice, rouleau hoops, handmade lace, and a comparatively reserved 9-foot train. This beautiful gown set her parents back $434,000, according to CNBC.

Alas, the highest spot for expensive gowns does not fall within the British empire. For her 2004 wedding to King Felipe, Queen Letizia of Spain wore a gown penned by royal couturier Manuel Pertegaz.

Between its authentic golden thread, hand-stitched embroidery, and diamond tiara, this outfit alone cost $8 million, according to Harper's Bazaar.

Which is your favorite royal wedding dress? Let us know in the comments and be sure to pass this along to your loved ones to see what they think.