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Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle both wore wedding veils when they married into the royal family. But when it came to its length, they went in completely different directions. Middleton married Prince William at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011. 

Seven years later, Markle married Prince Harry at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, on May 19, 2018. Middleton’s wedding veil was much shorter than Markle’s five-meter-long design. Markle wore a classic bateau-neckline wedding gown designed by Clare Waight Keller, Givenchy’s artistic director at the time. 

Her silk tulle veil measured five meters. Markle wanted the Commonwealth to be a part of her big day. So, it featured flowers representing all 53 Commonwealth countries. The embroidery took hundreds of hours to finish. Workers also washed their hands every 30 minutes to keep the delicate fabric clean. 

Markle added two flowers with a personal touch, too. Wintersweet grows near Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace. The California poppy, meanwhile, represented her home state. She also had a small piece of blue fabric from the dress she wore on her first date with Harry sewn into her wedding gown. According to the BBC, that was her “something blue.” 

In the 2018 documentary Queen of the World, Markle shared Harry’s reaction to the design. She said he “was really over the moon to find out that I would make this choice for our day together.” Her custom Givenchy gown featured a bateau neckline, structured three-quarter sleeves, and a fitted waist. 

The train measured nine feet and was made from triple silk organza. She finished the look with Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara. Markle’s father, Thomas Markle, wasn’t there on the day. Prince Charles walked her down the aisle, and Harry lifted her veil before they exchanged vows. 

She also carried a bouquet designed by florist Philippa Craddock. Harry picked flowers from their private garden at Kensington Palace to add to it. Meanwhile, Middleton went for a much shorter veil when she married William. Sarah Burton designed her Alexander McQueen gown, while the Royal School of Needlework handled the embroidery. 

Middleton’s veil was made from ivory silk tulle. It featured four flowers from across the U.K. There was a rose for England, a thistle for Scotland, a daffodil for Wales, and a shamrock for Northern Ireland. Workers hand-sewed each flower onto the veil using traditional techniques. 

Middleton wore it beneath the Cartier Halo tiara. The veil fell just below her hips and worked neatly with the back of her gown. Fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld also shared his thoughts on Middleton’s look during a France 2 Television interview. 

Comparing it with Queen Elizabeth II’s wedding style, he said, “I like the veil a lot.” Middleton also covered her face with the veil as she walked down the aisle. Her father, Michael Middleton, lifted it at the altar before giving her hand to William. Markle’s long veil also caught the eye of the other brides. 

Her friend Priyanka Chopra went all out with a huge 75-foot veil. She paired it with a custom Ralph Lauren wedding dress. Hailey Bieber also went for a cathedral-length veil. The late Off-White designer Virgil Abloh designed hers. It had the words “TILL DEATH DO US PART” across it.

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