Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip Wedding Facts

How World War II Affected Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip's Wedding

25 April, 2018 by Quinn Keaney

Photo 2 of 4

ADVERTISEMENT ()

← Use Arrow Keys →

The Queen's wedding gown was inspired by a painting. In Botticelli's "Primavera," the central figure wears a silky, draped ivory dress affixed with rose blossoms. This is the inspiration designer Sir Norman Hartnell took for Elizabeth's elaborate confection. The gown had a 15-foot train, and 10,000 pearls sourced from the United States.
Queen Elizabeth II saved ration cards to afford the fabric. Despite the gown's over-the-top inspiration, Elizabeth had to horde her ration cards in order to purchase the material needed for her wedding dress like any other woman at that time. The fabric she ended up with was created at Winterthur Silks Limited, using silk from Lullingstone Castle's Chinese silkworms.
All of her jewelry held sentimental value. The tiara she wore was one of her mother's, the diamond-encrusted Queen Mary Fringe, which was actually made for Queen Mary in 1919 from a diamond necklace given to her by Queen Victoria.
Flowers were used sparingly as decorations. The tables at the reception were decorated with simple pink and white carnations donated by the British Carnation Society, since purse strings were tight after the war. Posies of myrtle and white heather from Balmoral were also given out as wedding favors.

Previous Next