Prince William’s cousin has challenged the late Queen’s opinion on Meghan Markle’s wedding gown being “too white” for a divorcée. For her big day on May 19, 2018, Meghan chose an ivory gown for her wedding nuptials, designed by Givenchy creative director, Clare Waight Keller.
According to royal biographer Ingrid Seward, the late Queen Elizabeth II thought that Meghan’s wedding dress was improper. The book My Mother and I, which was released in October 2023, claimed that the late Queen only revealed her opinion to her closest confidantes. She reportedly claimed the monarch thought that Meghan’s dress was improper, considering she had been married prior to Prince Harry.
William’s cousin, Maddison May Brudenell, whose great-grandfather was King Charles’s great-uncle, Earl Mountbatten of Burma, explained why she, too, wore an ivory gown for her second wedding.
The model, 31, told the MailOnline: “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 reveals that she had to overcome the opposition of her mother, Edwina Hicks, as she exchanged vows with Canadian welder Bret Kapetanov last November. Maddison, like Meghan Markle, chose the colour white and opted for a bespoke white dress by Laura Green, of Modern Bride, for her wedding to Kapetanov.
The newlywed further added: “I was sad to think about the painful past during what I wanted to be a joyful, future-focused time of my life. But I understood the notion. My mum was speaking out of love. I didn’t let my feelings overcome me – we talked about it.”
Ultimately, Maddison explained how her mother “respected” her wedding style.
Meghan was previously married to Hollywood producer Trevor Engleson, but they divorced four years before she married Harry in 2018.
The wedding gown worn featured a boatneck neckline and a five-meter-long veil, which was embroidered with flora from all 53 countries in the Commonwealth.
Two of Meghan’s favourite flowers were also added to the veil: the wintersweet flower, which grows in front of Nottingham Cottage, and the California poppy from her home state in America.
The diamond bandeau of Queen Mary’s tiara, held the duchess’ veil in place on the day. The designer also hid several intricate details within the dress, including “something blue” sewn into the hem on Meghan’s request.