Prince William and Prince Harry's cousin defends Meghan Markle's 'inappropriate' wedding dress
Queen Elizabeth II reportedly wasn't happy about Meghan's dress
Reports claim that Meghan Markle’s wedding dress didn’t go down well with every member of the royal family. Most notably, Queen Elizabeth II was said to be disapproving of Meghan’s Givenchy gown.
The flowing white number boasted an elegant silhouette and was complimented with a jaw-dropping silk tulle veil.
The sleek ensemble definitely divided the public. Consequently, one member of William and Harry’s family has a strong defence for Meghan’s choice, which has been dubbed as “inappropriate”.
Wedding dress worn by Meghan Markle defended by William and Harry’s cousin
Apparently, Queen Elizabeth II deemed the wedding dress Meghan Markle wore “too white” for a divorcee. Evidently, Meghan didn’t heed the late queen’s thoughts as she wore a second white bridal dress just hours later.
But while the then monarch’s eyebrows were raised, one relative of the royals, William and Harry’s cousin, Maddison May Brudenell, was wowed by Meghan’s display.
Speaking to the Daily Mail‘s Richard Eden, Maddison, the granddaughter of Lady Pamela Hicks, the late queen’s lady-in-waiting, discussed why she thought Meghan’s unforgettable ensemble was the perfect choice.
She explained: “In the monarch’s view, it was not appropriate for a divorcee getting remarried in church to look quite so flamboyantly virginal. My mother, our late Queen’s goddaughter, had said exactly the same to me, and that other family members would agree.”
Maddison, who wed Canadian welder Bret Kapetanov in October 2024, had her own second dress.
Obviously, she stood up for herself when it came to criticism about her second dress.
She said: “My mum was speaking out of love. I didn’t let my feelings overcome me – we talked about it. However, as I told my mother, we may as well splash muddy water, drip some blood, sweat, and tears on it for good measure.
William and Harry’s cousin had unique wedding dresses
“As it happens, my dress did have a lot of unique components, but these were because of what I chose and not in any way what I felt I must choose. My mother listened to my wisdom and respected my style.”
The former model and mother-of-four married her fiancé, Bret, in October 2024.
They celebrated their nuptials at St Mary the Virgin Church, where she was christened.
Maddison defied expectations with two show-stopping bridal dresses. One of which was an eye-catching green hue.
During the church ceremony, Maddison wore a bespoke wedding dress by Laura Green of Modern Bride.
Maddison May Brudenell’s wedding dress
It featured a sheer organza illusion neckline and an ankle-length, A-line skirt, complimented by white platform Christian Louboutin heels.
For the reception, where Maddison was photographed by Hello, the bride rocked a deep green gown by Forever New, with a glamorous velvet bodice.
On her big day, Meghan Markle also wore two dresses.
Meghan Markle’s second wedding dress
For the ceremony, Meghan wore an “effortless” all white dress which featured three-quarter-length sleeves and an elegant bateau neckline.
The designer, Clare Waight Keller, described it as: “Not overly feminine, but not really minimal either.”
Clare explained: “We wanted to create a timeless piece that would emphasise the iconic codes of Givenchy throughout its history. As well as convey modernity through sleek lines and sharp cuts.”
For her evening reception, Meghan changed into a glamorous, white halter-neck dress by Stella McCartney, with a chic open back.
Meghan had previously been married to film producer Trevor Engelson between 2011 and 2014, before marrying Prince Harry in 2018.
Royal protocol traditionally suggests that a bride who has been previously married should opt for a gown in a colour other than pure white.
