LONDON: Will it be white? Satin or lace? British or foreign made? The tightly-guarded secret of Meghan Markle’s wedding dress will finally be revealed when she walks down the aisle to marry Prince Harry on Saturday.
Anticipation has reached levels not seen since the 2011 wedding of Harry’s brother Prince William and Catherine Middleton, who in the end wore a white and ivory satin gown designed by Sarah Burton from the Alexander McQueen fashion house, a 100 percent British creation.
US actress Meghan may also opt for a dress from her adopted country to curry favour with the public and to boost Britain’s valuable fashion industry.There is also some speculation, although far less, about what ex-army man Harry will wear on his big day — a civilian suit or a full dress uniform?
London has been buzzing for weeks with rumours about who will design Markle’s dress, with Burberry, Ralph & Russo, who had made Markle’s engagement dress, Stella McCartney, Erdem, Alexander McQueen, Antonio Berardi and Roland Mouret all being mentioned. Mouret told AFP in February that he wouldn’t reveal if he was the chosen man, saying: “She’s a friend and the great gift I can give my friends is to keep their lives private.” Fashionista Markle told Glamour magazine in 2016 that her ideal outfit would be “very pared down and relaxed.”
“I personally prefer wedding dresses that are whimsical or subtly romantic,” she said. But by marrying into the royal family, Meghan is also joining an institution whose traditions will impose their own restrictions.