Before Meghan Markle stepped out of her car into St. George’s chapel on her wedding day, the whole world was waiting to find out which wedding dress designer she had ultimately picked and which royal tiara she would wear. In a new exhibition on the royal wedding, we learn, from Meghan’s own words, how and why she ended up choosing the Queen Mary’s tiara from Queen Elizabeth’s private jewelry collection.
In the new exhibit, A Royal Wedding: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Meghan’s custom Givenchy wedding dress, veil, and Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara are all on display to the public for the very first time; as is Prince Harry’s frockcoat uniform. In a special recording to help guide viewers through the exhibit inside Windsor Castle, Meghan shares some details behind the day when she tried on several tiaras in front of the Queen. “When it came to the tiara on the day, I was very fortunate to be able to choose this gorgeous Art Deco style bandeau tiara,” she says. “Harry and I had gone to Buckingham Palace to meet with her Majesty the Queen to select one of the options that were there, which was an incredibly surreal day, as you can imagine.”
As for how she decided on the Queen Mary’s bandeau tiara, Meghan explains that it was the one that paired best with her minimalist, long-sleeved Givenchy gown. “I think it was just perfect because it was so clean and simple, and also to that point, an extension of what Clare and I had been trying to do with the dress, which was have something that could be so incredibly timeless but still feel modern,” she says. The platinum and diamond tiara dates back to 1932, when Queen Mary had it made to showcase a centerpiece brooch that was originally gifted to Mary of Teck in 1893.
At one point, even Harry jumps in to talk about that day. “Funnily enough, it was the one that suited the best, the one that looked the best on you without question,” he says. “I shouldn’t have really been there, but an incredible loan by my grandmother. Very sweet.”
A Royal Wedding: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex exhibition will be on view until January 6, 2019.
