Princess Beatrice's wedding dress at Windsor Castle

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From Thursday, 24 September, a visit to Windsor Castle will include the special display of HRH Princess Beatrice of York’s wedding dress, first worn by Her Majesty The Queen in the 1960s and designed by the renowned British fashion designer Sir Norman Hartnell.  

The wedding dress is on display in the State Dining Room, one of the Semi-State Rooms, which open to the public each year between September and March. Originally created as private apartments for George IV, the Semi-State Rooms are among the most richly decorated interiors in the Castle and are used by The Queen for official entertaining.

Princess Beatrice chose to wear a vintage dress loaned by Her Majesty The Queen for her wedding to Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi on 17 July 2020. It is made of ivory peau de soie taffeta and hand embroidered on the bodice, waist and hips in crystals and diamantés, while the skirt is trimmed with a band of ivory duchess satin.  

The original design by Sir Norman Hartnell was altered for Her Royal Highness under the direction of Miss Angela Kelly, Personal Advisor, Dresser and Curator to The Queen, and the British fashion designer Mr Stewart Parvin. The full-skirted silhouette was softened to give a more contemporary, simplified shape and short sleeves of triple organza were added to the straps and embroidered with vintage diamantés to match the original design. Each alteration made to the dress is reversible.  

Sir Norman Hartnell designed many of the outfits worn by The Queen for official events and family occasions during the first half of her reign, including Her Majesty’s wedding dress in 1947 and Coronation dress in 1953. The Queen first wore the taffeta gown in Rome during a State Visit in 1961. Her Majesty wore it again to the London premiere of the film Lawrence of Arabia in 1962 and for the State Opening of Parliament in 1966. The design of the dress is in keeping with Her Majesty’s predominant style of State evening wear in the 1960s, and is an example of Hartnell’s signature crinoline silhouette and love of embellishment. 

The display at Windsor Castle also features Princess Beatrice’s wedding shoes, made by Valentino, and a replica of Her Royal Highness’s bouquet made from artificial flowers. The bouquet was designed by Patrice Van Helden, co-owner of RVH Floral Design, and contained trailing jasmine, pale pink and cream sweet peas, Royal Porcelina spray roses, pink O’Hara roses, pink ‘wax flower’ (Chamelaucium uncinatum), baby pink astilbe and sprigs of myrtle.

An official range of commemorative china and souvenir items to celebrate the wedding of Princess Beatrice and Mr Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi is available. The exclusive design shows the couple’s initials surmounted by the coronet of Princess Beatrice, surrounded by a bouquet of pink roses, peonies, lemon blossom and thistles, secured with the white rose of York.