Shannen Findlay
Art

Windsor Castle announces new exhibition featuring Princess Eugenie’s wedding dress

Princess Eugenie's stunning wedding dress that is on display for a new Windsor Castle exhibition shows outfits worn at the royal's October wedding, and has resulted in many letters of support for the royal.

The bridal gown by Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos was specially created to showcase Eugenie’s long scar from a procedure to correct scoliosis – curvature of the spine – when she was 12.

The low-back design was altered as the Princess’s request, who says she chose to highlight her scar to break down “taboo” around scars.

“I had always wanted a low back, part of it was showing my scar and I believe scars tell a story about your past and your future and it's a way of getting rid of a taboo,” she said in audio commentary for the new exhibition.

“For me it's a way of communicating with people who are going through either similar situations with scoliosis, or having a scar of their own, that they are trying to deal with.

“We started getting a lot of letters from people who were happy that I had stood up and showed my scar, and people with scoliosis, letters from girls that are going through the same thing, and I definitely was very touched by everyone's support.”

The Queen’s granddaughter – and Prince Andrew and Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson's daughter – married Jack Brooksbank at St George’s Chapel on October 12, 2018.

The fabric of her gown included symbols that were significant to the Princess, including the White Rose of York being intertwined with ivy. This special sign represented the couple’s marriage and their future together.

The black-tie evening event at the York family home in Windsor Great Park also featured the Princess wearing a blush-coloured silk chiffon gown with a cape. The dress was designed by American designer, Zac Posen.

Eugenie said: “I wanted something reminiscent of Grace Kelly in To Catch A Thief so I showed that for reference and Zac came up with this silk that he had found from Manchester. 

“Every single draping effect, every single detail, every button is all painstakingly done by him and his team.”

Princess Eugenie admitted that although she is a royal, her wedding day was the first time she had worn a tiara – the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik tiara lent to her by the Queen – which was completed with diamond and emerald drop earrings.

“It was the most incredible thing to wear such a piece of history that my grandmother had lent me, very proud moment and the beautiful earrings were a gift from my husband,” she said.

The exhibition will feature Eugenie’s wedding gown with a folding neckline around the shoulders to a low back. The low-back feature drapes into a flowing full-length train.

Also included in the royal wedding exhibition is the tiara, evening gown, Jack Brooksbank’s morning suit, and Princess Beatrice’s maid-of-honour outfit.

Outfits of the wedding bridesmaids, Theodora who is the daughter of Robbie Williams, Louis de Givenchy, who was one of the page boys and one of the flower girl dresses which were worn by Princess Charlotte, Savannah and Isla Philips, Mia Tindall, Maud Windsor and Theodora Williams.

Prince George was also a page boy for the special day alongside Louis and both outfits were designed by Amaia Kids.

The Zac Posen blush pink dress worn by Princess Eugenie for her wedding reception is also on display.

Scroll through the gallery above to see all the outfits featured on Princess Eugenie’s special wedding day. 

Tags:
Princess Eugenie, royal family, royal wedding, wedding, family