Banteng Kabar: Princess Eugenie's royal wedding: a fashion FAQ

The news is generally stressful and depressing right now, but today there’s a royal wedding happening: Princess Eugenie, Prince William and Prince Harry’s 28-year-old cousin and the ninth in line to the British throne, just married Jack Brooksbank at Windsor Castle’s St. George’s Chapel. Royal weddings are certainly not free of complicated politics, but they’re also fun to ogle. In typical fashion, today’s wedding featured a detailed and very large gown, some jaw-dropping diamonds, and a ton of British celebrities wearing over-the-top hats.

Who was there? What did they wear? Let’s dive in!

The couple hold hands and walk down the chapel’s stairs. — Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie leave St. George’s Chapel.

Peter Pilotto and Christopher de Vos, the designers behind the British brand Peter Pilotto. Though the label is known for its vivid prints, Princess Eugenie went for a traditional white gown with a full skirt, long sleeves, and a neckline that folded over the shoulders to create a low back.

Classic as the dress is, there are some interesting design details here. The first is that revealing back, which, with Princess Eugenie’s updo, highlighted the long scar running down her spine. That was intentional, according to the Kensington Palace website: “The low back feature on the dress was at the specific request of Princess Eugenie who had surgery aged 12 to correct scoliosis.”

Though they were working in white, Pilotto and de Vos still put their talent for prints to use. Woven into the dress’s fabric are a variety of symbolic plant motifs. There’s thistle for Balmoral Castle in Scotland, one of the royal family’s homes; a shamrock for the Ferguson family’s Irish roots; the York rose; and ivy, “representing the couple’s home.”

This feature recalls Meghan Markle’s wedding look. When Markle married Prince Harry in May 2018, the design of her veil featured flora from all 53 Commonwealth countries, along with wintersweet for Kensington Palace and California poppies for her home state.

A detail shot of the back of Princess Eugenie’s dress. — Princess Eugenie’s dress, which features a low back, has symbolic flowers and plants stitched onto it.

Like Markle, Princess Eugenie styled her wedding dress with a blingy heirloom on loan from the queen: the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara, which was crafted in 1919. We’re talking diamond pavé set in platinum, plus six emeralds, all constructed in the style of the Russian Imperial Court.

Princess Eugenie stands on the steps of the chapel. — Princess Eugenie wore a diamond and emerald tiara, on loan from the queen.

As expected, the Duchesses of Cambridge and Sussex did not overshadow the bride. Kate Middleton wore a raspberry-hued Alexander McQueen dress to Princess Eugenie’s wedding, and Meghan Markle wore a streamlined navy Givenchy coat dress.

Each woman has come to be associated with the brand she wore: Middleton chose McQueen for her own wedding in 2011 and wore a (repeat) McQueen outfit for Markle’s nuptials. Meanwhile, Markle selected custom Givenchy for her wedding ceremony in May and has made multiple public appearances in the French brand, currently helmed by the British designer Clare Waight Keller.

Middleton stands with Prince William and the Queen. — Kate Middleton, wearing a brightly colored Alexander McQueen dress, attends Princess Eugenie’s wedding.

Meghan Markle emerges from a black car. — Meghan Markle, dressed in Givenchy, arrives at the wedding.

In addition to the usual royal suspects, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s wedding brought out a swarm of celebrities. From the entertainment world, there were faces like Liv Tyler, who, according to Australia’s Nine Network celebrity site, “may run in similar circles as the royals”; Demi Moore, “a longtime friend of Eugenie’s parents,” according to Us; James Blunt, who served in the army with Prince Harry; and Ellie Goulding, who performed at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding.

Liv Tyler wears a navy skirt suit and black pumps. — Liv Tyler wore Stella McCartney to the wedding.

Demi Moore wears a burgundy dress. — Demi Moore also wore Stella McCartney.

Ellie Goulding wears a pale blue dress. — Singer Ellie Goulding was one of many wearing pale blue at the wedding.

James Blunt arrives wearing a navy and gray suit and a yellow tie. — James Blunt braved the breeze.

The British fashion contingent was out in full force, too. Naomi Campbell wore a sculptural fascinator, black leather gloves, and a feathered Ralph & Russo dress, while Kate Moss and her daughter Lila (newly a model herself) wore matching veils.

Naomi Campbell smiles to someone at her side. — Naomi Campbell wore Ralph & Russo to Princess Eugenie’s wedding.

Lila Moss wears a long pink dress, and Kate Moss wears a polka dotted skirt suit. — Kate Moss and her daughter Lila attended together.

Two of Prince Harry’s exes turned up to the event, too. Here’s Chelsy Davy, at left, with a friend dressed in a most adventurous pale blue outfit.

Chelsy Davy wears a navy dress. — Chelsy Davy, at left, attended the royal wedding.

Cressida Bonas, one of Prince Harry’s other exes, showed up to the wedding wearing a dark blue dress and a matching headband. It seems that friends like to coordinate in shades of blue and paler blue.

Cressida Bonas walks arm in arm with a friend. — Cressida Bonas, at left.

Perhaps the best-dressed person of the day, however, was the British model and actress Cara Delevingne, who wore an impeccably tailored Armani tuxedo and a Chanel top hat. She also accessorized with a toothpick dangling from her mouth.

Delevingne wears a top hat, a tuxedo, and high heels. — Cara Delevingne rolled in with her crew.

Cara Delevingne waves to someone, toothpick in hand. — There it is.

A tough call. Either Poppy Delevingne, who wore a tall, fluffy fascinator that made her look a bit like a high-fashion peacock, or the mother of the bride, Sarah Ferguson, whose razor-sharp hat looked like it could take out an eye.