The Coronation: 5 Ideas for Brides to Adapt the Exquisite Style of Catherine, Princess of Wales

“Your throne, o God, is forever and ever; a scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom.” -Psalm 45:6

“her title fits her stitch by stitch, like a very fine glove to a hand.”

It’s been a week, and still, I find myself dazzled by the poise, stateliness, and serene regality of Catherine, Princess of Wales—and her beautiful family—at the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla. For weeks, I wondered what Alexander McQueen might handcraft for the Princess; the exquisitely embroidered, ivory silk crepe gown exceeded all expectations. But it was more than a fashion moment—it was an historical moment. As the Wales family walked to the Abbey—and, in an especially poignant moment, when Catherine looked from the rain-covered window of her carriage—these photos held so much. The Princess exuded a certain settled quality, a wisdom which only deepened her beauty. As one would expect, she seemed changed from her wedding day, but time and experience have given her an air of wisdom and grace. She has so entirely embraced her royal role and life of public service, and her title fits her stitch by stitch, like a very fine glove to a hand.

Royal events always afford those of us in the wedding industry an opportunity to think about event creation—about what makes an event truly grand, and about why certain events reach a higher emotional register than others do. We love to see our favorite event trends reach their highest artistic potential, and witness an event executed at the highest and most sophisticated level. We see flowers more lavish than anything we could imagine, adorning doorways and gracing Abbeys. We marvel at what it takes to create a couture wedding or Coronation gown, as we listen to stories about the painstaking placement of each pearl, the embroidery of each delicate flower, the cleaning of each needle. Such exactitude excites our admiration—it is touching to see a task treated so nobly. As we watch these events, we see which trends royals bypass in favor of more classic choices, and, in certain special cases, we witness an event that insinuates itself in our minds and hearts forever. An event which feels nostalgic and iconic before it’s even over.

Photos, unless otherwise stated, via Getty Images.

Part of the fun of royal weddings and, in this case, Coronations, is the sheer splendor of it all. The glittering beauty met with ancient history. We marvel at the crown jewels, the fashions, the flowers; the necklaces, earrings, and tiaras passed from one her Majesty to the next; the horse carriage-led processions and the breathtaking precision of the military. The pomp and ceremony of it all—it’s just beyond. But what is true of smaller weddings is true also of royal events: the most exquisite moments, the beauty that surpasses explanation, magnify not the individual but God. The divine beauty of a hymn; the tender pathos of voices rising in praise; the promise to serve and take up one’s cross; the covenant of marriage; these invisible prayers and promises give a moment its true weight and beauty.

“an appreciation for dignity, civility, politeness, decorum, and mannerly grace still prevails.”

There were aspects of the Coronation I admired, and those I wished were a bit more formal. But what strikes me most, when watching royal events, is that an appreciation for dignity, civility, politeness, decorum, and mannerly grace still, for the most part, prevails. It is wonderful when the most longed-for moments of our lives unfold with the reverence and formality they deserve. When we refuse to undermine or apologize for them, and walk with reverence into the blessing, the new beginning. When we treat these set-apart moments with trembling hands. In a ceaselessly modern age—one that wants to arbitrarily do away with tradition—it is touching to see the traditions of faith, family, and country embraced. In these things, we have inherited a treasure-house of blessings. How refreshing, when progressivism and modernity are set aside for something loftier, nobler, and enduring.

This post will focus on the visually beautiful aspects of the Coronation, and some of the best trends we can adapt for our own weddings and special occasions. And hopefully, these beautiful fashion moments will contain a story, perhaps even a moral or two. Read on for five of those most gorgeous Coronation details—and all the ways brides can make them their own!

“Royal fashion lovers will have instantly recognized this as a full-circle moment, connecting to Coronation gown to the Princess’s veil of soft, silk tulle embroidered with the same four flowers.”

Embroidered Florals

Delicately embroidered onto Kate’s Coronation gown were the four flowers of the home nations: the English rose, Scottish thistle, Welsh daffodil, and Irish shamrock. Royal fashion lovers will have instantly recognized this as a full-circle moment, connecting to Coronation gown to the Princess’s wedding day, where she wore a veil of soft, silk tulle embroidered with the same four flowers. How poignant, to have a little shared something for two of the most public and important moments of her life—moments where she was called to serve and step into a higher level of visibility and of service. A very fine, very expert thread runs through these garments and connects them both.

Details of the Princess’s embroidery, from What Kate Wore

And, tenderly, that thread connected to something more, as we saw the same collection of flowers on her daughter’s cape. The coordination was sweet: a moment shared by mother and daughter. It was also significant and symbolic, for one day Charlotte will, by the grace of God, serve these nations and follow in her mother’s footsteps. What seemed like a merely pretty adornment— a sparkling spray of flowers—held great significance. I wonder if, one day, Charlotte’s wedding gown or veil might somehow include the same four flowers?

The Princess on her wedding day, and in the official Coronation portrait.

The Coronation flowers were executed in silver bullion and threadwork. It was at once a masterstroke of fashion diplomacy, a personal detail, and a simply gorgeous, shimmering sight. The Princess is by nature quite subdued, quite willing to shine the spotlight on others. For these very reasons, we love it when she sparkles.

Little glimpses of the McQueen gown beneath the majestic Coronation robes, from What Kate Wore.

*Catherine and Pippa, radiant in McQueen.*

2. Intricate Updos

If there was anything as couture as the Princess’s Alexander McQueen gown, it was her hair. The sheer precision and intricacy of the updo takes one’s breath away. This gorgeous excerpt from The Telegraph by Annabelle Jones, does her Coronation hair justice—and includes a surprising connection to Her Majesty the Late Queen Elizabeth II:

The intricacy of the Princess of Wales’s tiara, a silver bullion and crystal embroidered headpiece by Jess Collett for Alexander McQueen, was held proudly in place by her intricate updo, a true work of hair artistry that will go down as one of the Princess’s finest style moments, trumped only – and that’s debatable – by her wedding day hair.

A spectacle from every angle, the Coronation chignon, which mimicked the intricacy of her silver leaf headpiece, epitomised regal modernity.

An ode to the late Queen Elizabeth II, from the side the Princess’s updo is a contemporary interpretation of the silhouette which Elizabeth II became renowned for during her reign.

The dimensions will have been minutely calculated leaving nothing to chance. Subtle height at the crown of the head balances out the gravitas of the headpiece without overshadowing it, and allows glimpses of the Princess’s hair to be visible when her head is turned to the side, ensuring that her headpiece doesn’t drown her features.

3. Flower Girl Sweetness

Of course, Charlotte is not a flower girl, but wasn’t she darling on Coronation day—very serious and dignified for the occasion (and always acting like a ‘little mother’ to Louis). Her capelet will surely inspire many wedding day looks. Imagine a cape dress, trimmed in fur, for winter weddings in snowy mountain chapels, or a sweet spring version embroidered, like Charlotte’s, with impeccable blooms.

4. Coordinating Moments

As mentioned above, Princess Catherine and Charlotte shared a sweet moment of coordination with their shared headpieces and embroidered gowns (and intricate updos— did you see Charlotte’s lovely braided version?!). Brides can channel this by coordinating something meaningful with a flower girl or other member of a wedding party.

How sweet it would be, to have a seamstress embroider matching bouquets on the bridal gown and flower girl dress. Brides can of course coordinate in other ways, by wearing the same flowers in their hair, or carrying a larger version of the flower girl’s posy bouquet. In the end, what is true of Princesses is true of brides as well: they are never lovelier than when they share their light with others. In a world that insists brides should claim the spotlight for themselves, the gentle way of a sharing bride will always sweetly, wordlessly, surpass even her most beautiful and best dressed counterparts.

4. Botanical Wreaths

In some aspects, this was not the Coronation many of us would have hoped for—the King’s insistence on casualness prevented the moment from being as timeless as it could have been. I so wish the royals in attendance could have dressed in white tie and ivory gowns and tiaras, in keeping with tradition. For I believe that life’s most important moments deserve to unfold with as much reverence, formality, and dignity as possible. These grand moments are, in the end, so brief. Why apologize for or undermine them? The moments that we petition God so fervently for deserve to be treated with utmost respect, with trembling. I find the concept of scaling back a Coronation and asking guests to wear morning dress somewhat like pastors who wear jeans. It’s simply not the setting for it. The message, the moment, the task, deserves more.

That being said, Catherine elegantly negotiated the King’s wishes with the formality of the moment via her headdress, created in collaboration with milliner Jess Collet and Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen. It was not as grand as a tiara; it seems somewhat illogical to commission a new piece (under the guise of economy) when the Royal Family has such a vault of treasures to choose from. But I digress. In its best moments, the botanical head wreath lent a kind of mythological, fairy tale quality to the Princess’s appearance. I read one commenter who felt the Grecian style gave her look an air of fantasy, of myth—unreal in its beauty, capable of carrying one away. In the end, the overall impression created by the Princess—the unseen qualities which supported her; her dignity, composure, and regal bearing—created an impact that mere jewels cannot give.

Brides can channel the Princess of Wales (and Queen Victoria on her wedding day) by planning an updo with pearls or opting for a crown of mockorange or jasmine, delicate, fragrant flowers befitting a bride (or Queen). Especially when woven into an intricate updo, these will look crafted and elegant rather than 1970s bohemian. It’s about how these elements play off of the entire look, the conversation between gown, flowers, and bouquet.

“No diamonds.” A line from the Victoria series, beautifully delivered by Jenna Coleman as she trades a tiara for a crown of mockorange blossoms. The moment could equally apply to the Princess of Wales on Coronation Day in her Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen headpiece. Victoria Series photo via Digital Spy.

… Just for a bit of frothy fun: the tiara I was hoping Catherine would wear, The George IV Diamond Diadem Tiara. From The Court Jeweller: A large diamond and pearl crown topped with alternating cross pattée and floral elements. Made by Rundell, Bridge, and Rundell in 1820 for the coronation of King George IV. Subsequently altered for the coronations of Queen Victoria (1838), Queen Alexandra (1902), and Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (1937). Worn by King George IV (on his coronation day, with a velvet cap), Queen Adelaide, Queen Victoria, Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth II.

… And because everything in this royal fashion post tends to come full circle, here’s a dazzling image of Jenna Coleman again as Queen Victoria, wearing a replica of what I presume is the George IV Diamond Diadem Tiara. *sigh*

5. The Intangible & Surpassing Beauty of Selflessness

The greatest takeaway from the Princess’s Coronation appearance was, for me, a sort of intangible, invisible lesson. She demonstrated that day the regality, the dignity, and the absolute beauty of rising above. The Wales family seems to have adopted Her Majesty the Late Queen’s unofficial motto, ‘Never Complain, Never Explain,’ and this long game always plays out beautifully. Further, we often forget that Princess has dedicated her life to public service. Her choices, in many ways, are not her own. Yes, she is surrounded by splendor and has access to luxuries most of us will never see. But the Princess’s basic way, her default, is to shine the light on others. She is reserved, discreet, and willing to step back that others may be celebrated. And of course, in refusing to command our court attention, she captivates us all the more.

In an age where everyone reveals everything, Catherine’s quietness gives her an attractive air of modesty and of mystery. She never directly responds; she wordlessly weathers assaults. A discreet, quiet, poised demeanor is more, however, than just refreshing. When these values work in concert with our faith, when we allow Christ’s gentleness to flow through our believing hearts, we give God a precious gift. “Do not let your adornment be merely outward,” writes the Apostle Peter, “rather let it be in the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God” (1 Peter 3:3-4). And God’s chosen ones are all who give their lives to Him— whether they live a life of royalty or poverty; of great visibility or total obscurity. Our gentleness and quietness can be very precious in His sight, whether we express those virtues as brides, mothers, daughters, in the deepest places of our hearts and in the unseen moments of our daily lives.

I write these words as a reminder to myself as much as anyone—I am obsessed with control, often self-consumed with both my concerns and desires, and this frequently makes me insensitive to the needs of others. Princess Catherine’s best virtue—her willingness to take a supporting role-- offers a poignant reminder to us all. How much more beautiful it is to give than to receive; to serve rather than be served. Although these qualities are cultivated in difficult conditions, and require daily effort and nurturing, the beauty of these hidden virtues cannot help but flower and be seen in certain magnificent moments. Wordlessly, Catherine rose above, and it was evident on Coronation Day. It was intangible, but felt. The quiet dignity of her life and choices spoke for themselves.

Two balcony moments, separated by twelve years, each worthy of a Shakespearean play.

And how much more surpassingly beautiful is the life surrendered to and consecrated to Christ. Even the most magnificent Coronation cannot compare the heavenly beauty of this—the oft-overlooked beauty of taking upon one’s cross, of living and dying to Christ, and resting all our hopes on Him. Kings and queens are but mimic majesty, unfit to be compared to Christ, the King of heaven. May we place our treasure where neither moths nor rust may destroy, looking to the eternal King and kingdom. And may contemplations of His majesty fill us with overflowing hope for our work and service here. “My soul,” writes Spurgeon, “I charge thee, lay up thy treasure in the only secure cabinet; store thy jewels where thou canst never lose them. Put thine all in Christ; set all thine affections on His person, all thy hope in His merit, all thy trust in his efficacious blood, all thy joy in His presence.”

One day, if we give our lives to Him, He will raise us and allow us to reign with Him eternally. “The saying is trustworthy, for: If we have died with Him, we will also live with Him; if we endure, we will also reign with Him” (2 Timothy 2":11-12). Even now, walking this earth, in a gorgeous mystery we cannot fully comprehend, He has made us from the moment of our salvation “sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). We are with Him, our precious King, and nothing can separate us from Him. We know a majesty that infinitely surpasses the earth’s most splendid pageants, and the believer’s inheritance, laid out so beautifully in Ephesians 1, contains riches too lavish to be counted. This earth and its splendors will fail, but our hopes in Him are secure. Thank God He is the King of kings, and His sovereignty rules over all (Psalm 103:19).

“Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.” -1 Timothy 1:17

“Say to the daughter of Zion,

‘Behold your King is coming to you,

Gentle, and mounted on a donkey,

Even on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’” -Matthew 21:5

And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.” -Revelation 19:16

Then the seventh angel sounded; and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He will reign forever and ever.” -Revelation 11:15

These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.” -Revelation 17:14