Royal weddings are almost always a lavish affair. With the exception of Princess Beatrice’s recent secret wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, the British royal family often go all out when it comes to celebrating nuptials.
A case in point is the wedding of Princess Eugenie in 2018, which reportedly cost £2.7 million ($3.5 million). That seems to be no match though when compared to how much money went into celebrating the marriage of royals further up the line of succession.
Let’s take a look back at the lavish nuptials of Prince William and Prince Harry and see how theirs still pale in comparison to that of their parents’ nuptial celebrations four decades ago.
Prince William & Kate’s Nuptials
With Prince William and Kate Middleton being the future King and Queen of England, it comes as no surprise that their 2011 union was an extravagant affair. In total, the palace reportedly spent $34 million for the entire affair.
The expenses primarily went to security costs. Of course, there was the bride’s now-iconic Alexander McQueen wedding gown, which cost a reported $400,000.
The family also likely spent a ton to accommodate the couple’s 1,900 guests, who attended not one but two wedding receptions.
Prince Harry & Meghan’s Wedding
Meanwhile, Prince William’s younger brother Prince Harry racked up an even higher bill for his 2018 wedding to Meghan Markle. Anticipated by millions of people all over the world, the nuptials cost a total of over $43 million, according to CNBC.
Security expenses took a huge portion of the budget. The bride’s Givenchy gown had a price tag of $135,000, which is significantly less than that of her sister-in-law’s.
The couple also celebrated their nuptials in a couple of private parties following their wedding. While we weren’t able to take a peek of the festivities, it’s safe to assume that they only served the finest food and drinks.
Wedding of the Century
Still, it looks like his sons haven’t beat Prince Charles’ record when it comes to royal wedding expenditures. His nuptials with the late Princess Diana in 1981 cost $110 million in today’s dollars, making it more expensive than Prince William’s and Prince Harry’s weddings put together.
Among the most memorable parts of the historic event is the bride’s handmade wedding gown that came with a 25-foot train. Designed by David Emanuel, the dress cost £151,000 (adjusted for inflation).
Complete with horse-drawn carriages, the wedding was described as a ‘fairy tale wedding’.
