From the moment we are old enough to dream, we hear stories about princesses in towers, read books about princes riding on a white horse, and watch movies with magical pumpkins and glass slippers. Hearing about the real royal families is a way to keep that childhood magic alive.

The royal family are the epitome of glamour and style, influencing fashion and setting beauty standards across the globe. Here we take a look back at some of the most iconic fashion moments in the royal family and explore the most iconic and expensive looks, for better or for worse.

Whether it’s glamorous wedding dresses or million-dollar diamond tiaras, chic streetwear or kitschy sweaters, the royals sure know how to make a fashion statement. Next up are all the swoon-worthy looks from the past century of British royal fashion.

1. Queen Elizabeth II with Jackie Kennedy, 1961

Event: Royal Visit in London
Notable Piece: Hartnell Blue and White Faille Gown
Cost: $7,500*

Fans of The Crown will recognize this meetup, where two fashion icons crossed paths: Jackie O and Queen Elizabeth. While there’s debate about what exactly was said (and to whom) at this encounter, there’s no denying that both women were dressed their best.

Queen Elizabeth II with Jackie Kennedy in 1961 ©Bettmann / GettyImages.com
Both women, whether intentionally or unintentionally, were somewhat matching. First Lady Jackie Kennedy wore a Chez Ninon gown, while Queen Elizabeth II wore a Hartnell Faille gown. While Chez Ninon was a high-end, very expensive little boutique nestled in Manhattan, Hartnell was the name of Sir Norman Hartnell. He was a leading British fashion designer, and he was the Royal Dressmaker for both Queen Elizabeth and The Queen Mother.

Whether the Netflix show, The Crown, was accurate or not is up for debate. The two women were definitely at a lot of events together, with Jackie as “Queen of Camelot” and the Queen as, well, the Queen of England. Jackie Kennedy and Queen Elizabeth shared a love of two-piece suits and column dresses, if nothing else.

2. Princess Diana, 1985

Event: White House State Dinner, 1985
Notable Piece: The “Travolta” Dress
Cost: $347,000*

The “Travolta Dress” was one of Princess Diana’s most iconic gowns. She wore it at a White House State Dinner in 1985, where she met John Travolta. The two danced together, and photos of her in the dress were widely-circulated in both the British and American media.

Princess Diana’s “Travolta Dress” ©Anwar Hussein/Alamy
Though it’s hard to tell from the photo, this dress was not black—it was midnight blue velvet. The stunning evening gown was designed by couturier Victor Edelstein, a London-born designer. The dress is now owned by Diana’s sons, who were given possession of those and her other belongings when they turned thirty.

Like with all the Royal Jewels, Princess Diana’s choker wasn’t exactly something you could buy at Macy’s. Her choker/headband was made of Cambridge emeralds, which dated back to the early 1800s. Princess Augusta, then the Duchess of Cambridge, entered a raffle in Frankfurt. She won forty cabochon emeralds of various sizes, and those would become the Cambridge Emeralds, which have been used in many pieces of Royal jewelry.

3. Grace Kelly, 1956

Megan Markle was not the first American actress to marry royalty. In 1956, Academy Award nominee Grace Kelly set out to marry Prince of Monaco, Rainier III after retiring from filmmaking at just 26. She made her mark on the fashion industry and is legendary for her blonde locks and glamorous looks.

Grace Kelly on her wedding day in 1956 @aclosetfullofdresses/Pinterest.com | ©Joseph McKeown/Getty Images

Her wedding gown was one of the most extravagant of the time, made by 30 dressmakers, it took almost two months to complete. It is said to have been the inspiration for the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton’s magnificent wedding gown.

Helen Rose, an MGM costume designer, was responsible for the dress, which has gone on to be one of the most iconic and extravagant wedding dresses of all time. It was made with 300 feet of silk and 75 feet of taffeta. Currently, her wedding dress is on display at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

4. Queen Elizabeth, 1947

Event: Queen Elizabeth’s Wedding
Notable Piece: Wedding Dress
Cost: $37,000*

Norman Hartnell, the designer of several other gowns on this list, designed the wedding dress of Queen Elizabeth II (then Princess Elizabeth). Hartnell’s designs were approved three months prior, and the famed designer had drawn inspiration from Botticelli. He transferred motifs from Botticelli to drawings, and then from drawings to the silk used to create the blossoms on the gown.

Queen Elizabeth’s Wedding Dress, 1947 @Lisa Shelton / @peachy / Pinterest.com

The entire dress was made of ivory Chinese silk. It had a tailored bodice, high neckline, and short train. The silkworms that made the dress’ Chinese silk were bought from Nationalist China directly and raised in the UK. The short train was made of satin, and Hartnell embroidered it with his signature.
The war took its toll on even plans for Queen Elizabeth’s wedding preparations. Clothing was still being rationed, so she had to buy her dress’s material with ration coupons. Also, she was unable to use silkworms from Japan or Italy, as they sided with the Axis powers during WWII. Despite those restrictions, she pulled it off.

5. Princess Margaret, 1962

Event: Princess Margaret in Jamaica in 1962
Notable Piece: Hat
Cost: $250*

On her tour of Jamaica, Princess Margaret wanted to wear something summery, but not over the top. So, she chose a pleated yellow dress and a fluffy hat. Princess Margaret was also confident experimenting in fashion, and that hat was proof that any Royal outfit deserves a piece de resistance.

Princess Margaret in Jamaica in 1962 ©George Freston / Gettyimages.com

Though there’s no information on who made the outfit or its price, the yellow hat might have been made by Reed Crawford. He was a milliner during the 1960s who made some hats for the Royal Family. His signature style involved helmet-like cloche hats made of fur or even plastic.

There are videos of Princess Margaret’s visit to Jamaica on YouTube, and, even in black-and-white, her style is still impeccable. Princess Margaret didn’t just visit Jamaica—she owned part of the country as a present. She received land on Mustique Island, a private island that houses white, sandy beaches like Endeavour Bay and Macaroni Beach, as a wedding gift.

6. Princess Diana, 1985

Event: Gala in Melbourne, Australia
Notable Piece: Headband
Cost: $95,000-$100,000*

Princess Diana never shied away from a fashion risk, and she almost always pulled it off (and, even when she didn’t, she still did). One fashion risk that she wore well was her famous headband, which she wore across the center of her forehead, opposed to atop her golden hair.

Princess Diana’s Headband, 1985 ©Anwar Hussein / Gettyimages.com

Princess Di’s headband wasn’t even a headband. It was actually a diamond and emerald choker. Made by Garrard in the 1920s after being commissioned by Queen Mary, the Princess was loaned the choker by Queen Elizabeth II. The interesting fashion choice wowed fans at the Melbourne, Australia gala she was attending.

Like with all the Royal Jewels, Princess Diana’s choker wasn’t exactly something you could buy at Macy’s. Her choker/headband was made of Cambridge emeralds, which dated back to the early 1800s. Princess Augusta, then the Duchess of Cambridge, entered a raffle in Frankfurt. She won forty cabochon emeralds of various sizes, and those would become the Cambridge Emeralds, which have been used in many pieces of Royal jewelry.

7. Prince William, 2011

Event: His Wedding to Kate Middleton
Notable Piece: Red Tunic
Cost: $300-$700*

Men can be fashion icons, too. Prince William’s red tunic, which he wore on his wedding day to Kate Middleton, was actually the same outfit that a Colonel in the Irish Guards wears. Prince William had been appointed to that position just two months before his wedding day. He finished off the red tunic by wearing Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee medallion.

Prince William’s Red Tunic, 2011 ©Julian Finney / Gettyimages.com

He also wore a star emblem with the Cross of St. George. This emblem indicated that he was a Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. He chose his Colonel uniform over his Royal Air Force uniform because the former was higher-ranking.

The St. George’s Cross is perhaps the most meaningful of the emblems worn by Prince Harry. According to The History Channel, this Cross represents the entire U.K. St. George is a military saint, and he is often depicted as a brave crusader. England adopted St. George’s Cross in the 1200s, when its ships would fly flags with the Cross to deter enemies.

8. Queen Elizabeth, 2012

Event: 2012 Diamond Jubilee
Notable Piece: Colorblocked Suit
Cost: $5,000-$10,000*

Queen Elizabeth II loved a good color-block suit, so much so that it became her trademark look over the years. As part of her 2012 Diamond Jubilee Celebrations, Queen Elizabeth II traveled to Nottingham. There, she wore a blue Stewart Parvin coat with a matching fascinator (a decorative headpiece).

Queen Elizabeth’s Colorblocked Suit, 2012 ©WPA Pool / Gettyimages.com

Stewart Parvin is very expensive and very exclusive. The Royal couturier calls himself “one of fashion’s best kept secrets” and a master of “understated” and “chic elegance.” He also made Zara Phillips bridal gown. A coat from this luxe couturier costs anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 (the prices aren’t even listed on his own website—that’s how you know he’s expensive).

Royal fans know that one of the people behind the Queen’s colorblock suits is Angela Kelly, a Royal dressmaker. She was the Personal Advisor to Her Majesty, working with The Queen’s Wardrobe. This means that she curated and designed the Queen’s fashions—though with guidance from Her Majesty herself, of course.

9. Meghan Markle, 2020

Event: Commonwealth Day Service
Notable Piece: Dress
Cost: $2,000-$5,000*

Meghan Markle carried out one of her final duties as a Royal in 2020, and that was attending Commonwealth Day Service. After that, she and Prince Harry stepped back from the limelight and moved back to Meghan’s native Southern California. Bittersweet though the event may have been, Princess Meghan looked amazing at Commonwealth’s Day Service.

Meghan Markle’s Commonwealth Dress, 2020 ©Gareth Cattermole / Gettimages.com

She wore an emerald cape dress, made by Emilia Wickstead, and nude heels (a smart choice, considering how bold the emerald color was). Emilia Wickstead is a fashion designer known for her strong use of color and modern silhouettes. In 2014, she won the Elle Style Awards’ “Red Carpet Designer of the Year.”

Wickstead has an in-person clothing store in England, but, like many of the designers on this list, you can’t exactly walk into Nordstrom and buy her clothing off the rack. Wickstead hasn’t amassed a reputation for exclusivity the way other designers, like Stewart Parvin, have, but she is definitely known for high-luxury items.

10. Kate Middleton, 2019

Event: A Trip to Ireland
Notable Piece: Missoni Dress
Cost: $2,480*

In 2019, Princess Kate Middleton tried her hand at bartending while on a trip to Ireland’s Empire Music Hall. Not only did she bartend, she also did so wearing a Missoni dress, which cost $2,480.  The shimmery, green Missoni dress was her first outfit of the Northern Ireland tour.

©Samir Hussein/Getty Images

She and Prince William took a two-day trip to Belfast. The V-neckline was deeper than you might usually see on dresses from the Royal Family (though in no way “revealing,” of course). It was balanced out by the sheer puff sleeves. Princess Kate completed her look with nude pumps and a matching nude clutch.

Kate Middleton’s choice of Missoni once again represents the way that younger members of the Royal Family are branching out towards non-domestic designers. Missoni is a luxury fashion house headquartered in Varese, Italy. It was founded in Gallarte in 1953, and it is known for its crochet knit and use of colors.

11. Prince George, 2018

Event: Prince Harry’s Wedding Day
Notable Piece: Dege & Skinner Uniform
Cost: $10,246*

Little Prince George wanted to match his uncle on Prince Harry’s wedding day. Prince Harry wore the uniform of his regiment, the Blues and Royals, on his wedding day. Prince Harry’s Dege & Skinner uniform coat cost $8,484, while his pants cost $1,762. Prince George’s outfit was a miniature version of Prince Harry’s, though it had a similar price tag.
Prince George’s Dege & Skinner Uniform 2018 ©WPA Pool / Gettyimages.com

Of course, instead of his military rank detailing, like on Prince Harry’s uniform, Prince George’s coat had his initials embroidered on it instead. Prince George had to look sharp on Prince Harry’s wedding day, as he had an important job: he was a page boy.

Prince George and his sister, Princess Charlotte, love their Uncle Harry. Prince Harry reportedly wanted them to be “best friends” with his son, Archie. According to New Idea, the families being separated (Kate and William in the UK, Harry and Meghan in SoCal) is hard on the kids, but they’re keeping their chin up and have already exchanged holiday gifts this year.

12. Queen Elizabeth II, 1969

Event: Her Royal Wedding Day
Notable Piece: Tiara
Cost: $500,000-$1 million*

No one wore a tiara quite like Queen Elizabeth II. The Sapphire Tiara differed from many other tiaras in the Queen’s collection because it wasn’t handed down throughout the generations. Queen Elizabeth II commissioned the Tiara in 1963. She wanted a headpiece that would match the diamond and sapphire earrings and necklace that her father gave her as a wedding present.

@Andy Madden/Pinterest

The Belgian Sapphire Tiara, as it’s known, was made by Garrard. Though the Tiara itself was commissioned in the 1960s, the sapphires from the Tiara originated in the 1800s. The sapphires came from a necklace owned by Princess Louise of Belgium (1858-1924).

The story behind the sapphires is more fodder for a DISC reality show than anything. Princess Louise was not only a badly-behaved Royal, she was also quite a big spender. Her father had had enough of her behavior and, in order to pay off debts Louise racked up because of her antics, he sold her sapphires, including the Belgian Sapphire, to the Crown.

13. Princess Eugenie, 2018

Event: Engagement Announcement
Notable Piece: Dress
Cost: $5,175*

Princess Eugenie announced her engagement in late January of 2018. The Royal wore the same Erdem dress that she’d donned for a Harper’s Bazaar photo shoot. The dress, which cost $5,175, isn’t the only Erdem that Princess Eugenie has worn. She also wore a floral Erdem dress to the Royal Ascot.

©David M. Benet/Getty Images

She has shared the dress with Kate Middleton, as well as the Duchess of Kent, proving that Royals raid each other’s closets, just like us. Erdem’s lead designer is Erdem Moralioglu, MBE, and his brand uses silky and structured fabrics to create a “feminine” yet “bohemian sensibility.”

Several months later, Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, married. The silk gown was designed by two British designers, Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos. People thought, initially, that Erdem would be the designer of the wedding gown (Stella McCartney and Suzannah were also guesses), but Peter Pilotto won out. Princess Eugenie kept it a secret until her wedding day, saying, “I’m not telling anyone who’s making [the dress].”

14. Prince Harry & Prince William, 2018

Event: Prince Harry’s Wedding Day
Notable Piece: Uniforms
Cost: $10,246*

Prince Harry’s best man at his wedding was, of course, his brother, Prince William. The two wore matching Blues and Royals uniforms, which had price tags of over $10,000 (the gold accessories on Prince William’s uniform likely drove up the price even more). According to Dege & Skinner, these uniforms were priced at around $10,246.

Prince Harry & Prince William in Uniform, 2018 ©WPA Pool / Gettyimages.com

For those who don’t know, Blues and Royals is the brothers’ regiment. The Blues and Royals is the second-most-senior regiment. Prince Harry did two tours in Afghanistan, while Prince William was stationed at Anglesey, a remote Welsh island, conducting search-and-rescue missions. He served at Anglesey from 2010 to 2013.

The King is the Colonel-in-Chief of the Blues and Royals. In order to wear the frock coat version of his uniform to Prince Harry’s wedding, Prince William and Prince Harry had to get permission from the late Queen Elizabeth, then the Colonel-in-Chief, which she gave. Queen Elizabeth II had been the Colonel-in-Chief of the Blues and Royals since 1969.