Queen Camilla's wedding dress ignored tradition but another royal's outfit broke 'unwritten rule'
Camilla broke tradition with her wedding dressKing Charles and Queen Camilla’s wedding was 20 years ago, however, the dress she chose for the big day actually broke tradition – but not as much as the late Queen Elizabeth II deciding to wear white.
The couple celebrated their nuptials 35 years after they first met and two divorces. Their relationship was made public in 1999, and six years later, they said ‘I do’ in front of their nearest and dearest in Windsor.
We take a look back at Camilla’s wedding gown, and the drama that has surrounded royal wedding dresses in the past.
Who designed Camilla’s wedding dress?
Queen Camilla‘s wedding dress was designed by Anna Valentine, a favourite designer of the royal. She was worn pieces by the designer several times, including a white bridal style dress at the D-Day 80th anniversary event in the summer of 2024.
She also rewore the outfit with a different hat and shoes for the opening of the National Assembly for Wales two years after her wedding to Charles.
The wife of King Charles has opted for the designer brand many times, including when she hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace in February 2023. For the ocassion, she wore a deep forest green ankle-length dress that had swirled embellishments.
Did Camilla have two wedding dresses?
The future Queen had two dresses for her wedding and marriage blessing to King Charles, with Camilla opting for a “crisp clean look with subtle detailing” for the main outfit.
For her civil ceremony with Charles at Windsor Guidhall, Camilla’s wedding dress was a cream silk chiffon gown hemmed with vertical rows of woven disks. She matched the dress with a silk basket weave coat, beige suede shoes, cream straw hat covered with French lace and feathers.
Work on Camilla’s wedding dress began in February 2005, shortly after she and the then Prince of Wales announced their engagement. The final fitting was completed days before they said ‘I do’, on April 5.
For her second ensemble, during the blessing, she wore a floor-length embroidered pale blue and gold coat over a chiffon dress. She also featured golden feathers in her hair, similar to the feathers on the hat for her wedding outfit. The feathers were designed by Philip Treacy.
Both pieces were designed by Antonia Robinson and Anna Valentine, London-based designers. Initially working under the name Robinson Valentine, it is now referred to as Anne Valentine.
Why did the Queen wear white to Camilla’s wedding?
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s wedding took place on April 9, 2005 – after it had to be postponed by a day following the death of Pop John Paul II. But it wasn’t the delay that caught attention, more that the late Queen Elizabeth II wore white to Camilla’s wedding when the bride didn’t.
The late monarch wore a white overcoat, matching white hat and black gloves at her son’s nuptials to Camilla Parker Bowles.
It’s believed she opted for this decision – which some have said is a wedding guest ‘sin’ – as Camilla wasn’t wearing the traditional white gown for her big day.
Hello! reports the queen was told of Camilla’s plans and then chose her own outfit after, so there wouldn’t be a clash.
Another theory is that as the former monarch did not attend Charles and Camilla’s wedding itself, the rules around etiquette didn’t apply.
Did Camilla wear white to Princess Diana’s wedding?
Camilla did not actually wear white to Princess Diana’s wedding to Prince Charles, but a pale grey dress instead. Although, the photos from the big day often appear to look like the future Queen Consort was wearing white, she was not.
Charles and Diana tied the knot in 1981, with Camilla being invited to the special ceremony.
Known as Camilla Parker Bowles at the time after marrying her military husband Andrew, many assumed she had worn a white dress to Diana’s wedding.
While it has become an unwritten rule to never wear white to someone else’s wedding, some have suspected it was a ‘message’ from Camilla due to the colours being similar.
Wedding expert, Zoe Burke, told The Daily Express it could have been a taste of what she was feeling, watching the love of her life marry someone else.
She said: “Camilla may not have been familiar with wedding guest etiquette of course (it can be a bit of a minefield).
“But if the love of your life who you were not permitted to marry invited you to their wedding to someone else, you may well be tempted to stage a quiet rebellion.”
Diana herself did not think Camilla wore white, telling Andrew Morton in 1991 she saw her in “pale grey, veiled pillbox hat”.
Read more: Queen Camilla’s son reveals one thing she rarely does for King Charles in their relationship
Why did the king and queen have a civil ceremony?
The couple chose a civil ceremony over a wedding after the Archbishop of Cantebury refused permission for them to marry in church. This was due to the church’s opposition to the marriage as they were both divorced.
Therefore, the pair married in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, two months after announcing their engagement. The small civil ceremony meant it was not a religious celebration. However, his mother did organise a religious blessing afterward at St George’s Chapel.
How did the king propose?
Although they have an unconventional love story, it still features the same fairy tale ending.
King Charles’ proposal to Camilla is mostly private between the couple, but the Queen did dish details on how he did it.
At the time of the engagement, she confirmed to The Telegraph the future monarch did get on one knee to pop the question. He presented her with a platinum engagement ring, fitted with a five-carat emerald-cut diamond with baguettes along the side.
Camilla replied: “Of course. What else?”
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