Meghan Markle v Kate Middleton wedding dress: Style, fabric and designer compared

Meghan Markle, 36, married Prince Harry, 33, at St George’s Chapel in Windsor today.

Anticipation for Meghan’s dress was high, with bets being placed on who would design it weeks in advance.

Harry and Meghan’s wedding is the biggest royal nuptials since Kate Middleton, 36, wed Prince William, 35, in 2011.

Speculation over Kate’s dress was also rife at the time, with many British designers names put forward to create her gown.

So how do the two dresses compare? From the materials, to the designers, Express.co.uk looks at Meghan and Kate’s wedding dresses.

Designers

Meghan chose Clare Waight Keller for Givenchy to create her simple, elegant dress.

Kensington Palace revealed Meghan didn’t choose Keller until earlier this year, meaning the dress was made in record time.

Kate, meanwhile, also went to a British woman to make her dress, choosing Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.

It was revealed Burton was designing the dress when she was spotted entering The Goring Hotel, where Kate was staying, on the day of the Royal Wedding.

Style

Meghan opted for a simple silhouette. The main design twist of the dress was the open bateau neckline, a classic 50s style.

Describing the design, the Palace wrote: “The dress epitomises a timeless minimal elegance referencing the codes of the iconic House of Givenchy and showcasing the expert craftsmanship of its world-renowned Parisian couture atelier founded in 1952.

“True to the heritage of the house, the pure lines of the dress are achieved using six meticulously placed seams. The focus of the dress is the graphic open bateau neckline that gracefully frames the shoulders and emphasises the slender sculpted waist.

“The lines of the dress extend towards the back where the train flows in soft round folds cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza. The slim three-quarter sleeves add a note of refined modernity.”

Kate wore a fitted white V-neck gown with a sheer lace overlay.

The design was reminiscent of Grace Kelly’s dress for her wedding to Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956.

Fabric

Meghan’s dress was bade of “an exclusive double bonded silk cady”.

This was chosen to give a “round sculptural look”. The finished fabric was described as having a “soft matt lustre” by Kensington Palace.

Kate’s dress was made from French Chantilly lacy and English Cluny lace throughout the bodice, skirt and underskirt.

The skirt, made of ivory and white satin gazar, was designed to emulate an opening flower: padded at the hips, it flowed out to the floor. The back of the dress was finished with 58 gazar and organza covered buttons fastened by Rouleau loops.