The Sweet Hidden Detail in Meghan Markle's Wedding Veil
Meghan Markle, now officially the Duchess of Sussex (!!!), was a truly regal vision in her custom custom Givenchy Couture wedding gown, first-ever tiara, and light makeup at the Royal Wedding. But some of the most gorgeous, touching features of her bridal look are hidden in the details—specifically, in that almost 16-and-a-half-foot veil.
According to a statement from Kensington Palace, Marke wanted to have all of the U.K. Commonwealth countries with her “on her journey through the ceremony”—a tall order, but one Clare Waight Keller, the designer of her wedding dress, was able to execute. In order to represent the 53 Commonwealth countries, Waight Keller created a veil “representing the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country united in one spectacular floral composition.”
The palace said that the team spent “significant time researching the flora” to create the veil, and that Keller oversaw the work to make sure each and every flower was unique. The veil itself is made from silk tulle, with flowers embroidered in silk and organza.
“Each flower was worked flat, in three dimensions to create a unique and delicate design,” according to the statement from the palace. “The workers spent hundreds of hours meticulously sewing and washing their hands 30 thirty minutes to keep the tulle and threads pristine.”
The representation of the Commonwealth countries isn’t only meaningful as a symbol of British rule—Prince Harry and Meghan will be focusing on the countries as part of their official duties as Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
On top of the flora from the 53 Commonwealth countries, the Givenchy team included “crops of wheat delicately [embroidereded] and [blended] into the flora, to symbolise love and charity” at the front of the veil, per Kensington Palace.
What’s more, Markle incorporated two of her personal favorite florals into the design: the wintersweet, which grows in front of Nottingham Cottage (where she and Harry live), and the California poppy, the state flower of Meghan’s birthplace of California.
Here’s the full list of the Commonwealth countries and the flowers they’re represented by on the veil. It’s truly an incredible piece of art.
Related Stories:
Read Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s Royal Wedding Vows—in Their Entirety
Meghan Markle’s Royal Wedding Dress: See the Givenchy Gown
Meghan Markle’s Lifetime Movie Dress Made an Appearance at the Actual Royal Wedding