We finally had our first look at Princess Eugenie as a bride in her wedding dress as she arrived at St. George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle to wed Jack Brooksbank on Oct. 12.
The granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth, 28, arrived at her ceremony in to St George’s Chapel in a 1977 Rolls Royce Phantom VI, accompanied by her father, His Royal Highness The Duke of York, wearing a dress designed by British-based Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos, Buckingham Palace said.
Onlookers gasped ‘stunning’ as the bride drew up, looking radiant in her gown.
Princess Eugenie’s dress featured a neckline that folds around the shoulders to a low back that drapes into a flowing full length train.
The low back feature was specifically requested by Princess Eugenie, who had surgery aged 12 to correct scoliosis, a spokesman added.
The dress also includes a number of symbols that are meaningful to Princess Eugenie as motifs, including a thistle for Scotland acknowledging the couple’s fondness for Balmoral, a Shamrock for Ireland as a nod to the bride’s Ferguson family, and the York Rose and ivy representing the couple’s home.
Eugenie also wore the Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara, made in 1919 in the fashionable “kokoshnik” style popularised in the Russian Imperial Court, which has been lent to her by the Queen.
Princess Eugenie also wore diamond and emerald drop earrings, a wedding gift from the groom, and satin peep-toe heels by Charlotte Olympia.
The public had their cameras and phones at the ready at the West Door eager for a first glimpse of Princess Eugenie as she arrived in the same vehicle Kate Middleton travelled in for her wedding.
As the bride waved from the car one woman in Horseshoe Cloister remarked: “Oh, she looks stunning.”
Onlookers waved small union flags as she ascended the steps with the Duke of York, who at one stage moved to help fix her train.
Princess Eugenie’s wedding bouquet was made up of Lily of the Valley, Stephanotis pips, hints of baby blue thistles, white spray roses and trailing ivy.
It was created by Patrice Van Helden Oakes, the sister of floral designer Rob Van Helden.
The floral arrangement also contains sprigs of myrtle from Osborne House, as part of a regal tradition which can be traced back to Queen Victoria.
The gaggle of youngsters in the bridal party had a few minutes to wait before the bride arrived, and were kept in check by the Cambridges’ nanny.
Prince George held his hand over his ear as trumpeters lined out at the back of the chapel to herald the arrival of Eugenie.
The future king was standing next to sister Princess Charlotte and Peter and Autumn Phillips’ daughter Savannah.
As the trumpeters got in position, the nanny held George and Charlotte’s hands.
Before that, George could be seen looking around the chapel and craning his neck to look up into the high ceiling.
The prince could be seen shuffling his feet on the carpet beneath him, while Charlotte went up on her tiptoes at one point.
The group of children were startled and jumped when the trumpeters performed an initial flurry, and Savannah appeared to put a finger in her ear as she anticipated what was to come.
At one stage, George seemed to shake his legs and briefly bobbed up and down in time to the music.
In the few minutes the children had to stand, one little girl appeared to sit down on the stone ledge behind them before the nanny nudged her up.
The princesses’ wedding ring was made from a piece of Welsh gold given by the Queen.
Eugenie will now celebrate her nuptials with Jack, 32.
Italian opera singer Andrea Bocelli performed two pieces during the service, with members of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra also featuring.
Following the wedding ceremony, newlyweds Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank kissed on the steps of St George’s Chapel.
They were due to take a horse and carriage ride through Windsor, but will not go up the Long Walk like Harry and Meghan did on their wedding day.
The Queen was due to host an afternoon reception for her granddaughter at Windsor Castle while nighttime celebrations were reportedly due to be held at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park.
Royal family members present included Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Princess Beatrice, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and Prince Philip amongst others.
