The dress worn by Princess Beatrice at her scaled down wedding two months ago is going on display at Windsor Castle from Thursday.
The Sir Norman Hartnell gown, first worn by the Queen in the 1960s, was loaned to Beatrice by her grandmother for her secret, low-key wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in July.
The stunning dress will be on display from September 24 until November 22, the Royal Collection Trust announced earlier this month.
Photos show the dress inside its new home in a display cabinet inside the castle.
The Sir Norman Hartnell dress worn by Princess Beatrice at her scaled down wedding two months ago will be on display at Windsor Castle from Thursday. It was first worn by the Queen in the 1960s. Pictured: Royal Collection Trust curator Caroline de Guitut looks at the dress in its temporary new home
Beatrice, 32, and Edoardo, 37, had planned to marry in May but the coronavirus lockdown, which restricted the number of guests, forced them to reschedule.
Instead, they had a low-key ceremony which was only attended by close family including the Queen.
Also to go on display at Windsor will be Beatrice’s wedding shoes, made by Valentino, and a replica of her bridal bouquet.
She previously wore the shoes on other occasions including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding in 2011.
The gown was loaned to Beatrice by her grandmother for her secret, low-key wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in July
The Queen first wore the taffeta gown for a state dinner at the British Embassy in Rome during a visit in 1961
Beatrice’s bouquet was designed by Patrice Van Helden and contained trailing jasmine, pale pink and cream sweet peas, Royal Porcelina spray roses, pink O’Hara roses, pink ‘wax flower’ and baby pink astilbe, as well as sprigs of myrtle in keeping with the tradition for royal brides.
Made of peau de soie taffeta, the royal wedding dress features geometric hand embroidery in crystals and diamantes over the bodice, waist and hips, and the skirt is trimmed with a band of ivory duchesse satin.
It was altered for Beatrice by the Queen’s personal adviser and dresser Angela Kelly and the fashion designer Stewart Parvin.
Made of peau de soie taffeta, the royal wedding dress features geometric hand embroidery in crystals and diamantes over the bodice, waist and hips, and the skirt is trimmed with a band of ivory duchesse satin. Pictured: A close-up of the dress in its temporary home at Windsor
Members of staff were pictured wearing masks as they stood on guard either side of the new display
The dress was altered for Beatrice by the Queen’s personal adviser and dresser Angela Kelly and the fashion designer Stewart Parvin
The Queen first wore the taffeta gown for a state dinner at the British Embassy in Rome during a visit in 1961.
She also wore it to the world premiere of Lawrence Of Arabia at the Odeon Leicester Square in December 1962 and the State Opening of Parliament in 1966.
Detailing how the vintage piece was carefully remodelled for Beatrice’s big day, the Royal Collection said each alteration made to the dress is reversible to preserve the historic garment.
Changes included the full skirt being softened for a more modern look and the addition of short organza sleeves.
A spokeswoman for Trust said: ‘The full-skirted silhouette was softened to give a more contemporary, simplified shape, and the underskirt and petticoats were recreated and bound with silk tulle.
Detailing how the vintage piece was carefully remodelled for Beatrice’s big day, the Royal Collection said each alteration made to the dress is reversible to preserve the historic garment. Pictured: Ms de Guitaut peers at the dress, shoes, and bouquet
Changes included the full skirt being softened for a more modern look and the addition of short organza sleeves
Members of the public will be able to see the historic dress up close for the first time from tomorrow. Pictured: Wardens stand by the dress
Visitors will be able to get a good look at the exclusive dress until November 22
‘Short sleeves of triple organza were added to the straps and embroidered with vintage diamantes to match the original Hartnell embroidery design.
‘Each alteration made to the dress is reversible.’
The princess also wore a tiara loaned to her by the Queen – the Queen Mary diamond fringe tiara which the Queen, as Princess Elizabeth, wore on her own wedding day in 1947. But the tiara will not be part of the exhibition.
The Trust spokeswoman said: ‘It has not been possible on this occasion to display the tiara worn by Her Royal Highness on her wedding day.’
Speaking of the dress’s alteration for Beatrice’s wedding, a spokesman for the Royal Collection Trust revealed the full-skirted silhouette was softened to give the dress a more contemporary feel
They also said the underskirt and petticoats were recreated and bound with silk tulle
Alongside the display is an information board telling visitors about the magnificent dress’s history
The Royal Collection Trust also revealed that short sleeves were added to the straps of the dress and were embroidered with vintage diamantes to match the original Hartnell embroidery design
Beatrice and property tycoon Mr Mapelli Mozzi were originally due to marry in the Chapel Royal followed by a reception in the gardens of Buckingham Palace – but their wedding was postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak.
They eventually wed in a private ceremony, which was not made public beforehand, at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor on July 17.
Beatrice’s father the Duke of York walked her down the aisle but he did not feature in the photographs released by Buckingham Palace.
The news of the dress display comes after Beatrice joined her sister Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank for a night out in London on Tuesday night.
The royal sisters donned masks as they ventured out to exclusive member’s club Annabel’s yesterday and were snapped climbing into a taxi at the end of their night.
Beatrice and Edoardo eventually wed in a private ceremony, which was not made public beforehand, at the Royal Chapel of All Saints at Royal Lodge, Windsor on July 17
The display at Windsor Castle will also feature Beatrice’s wedding shoes, made by Valentino, which she previously wore on other occasions including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding. Pictured, Beatrice and Edoardo with the Queen and Prince Philip at the wedding
While Princess Beatrice showed off her tan in a little black dress with a matching face mask, Princess Eugenie, 30, looked chic in a pair of black leather leggings and wrapped up in a grey jacket.
She added a £40 designer mask from Wedel Art Collective x Jenny Holzer emblazoned with the words: ‘YOU ME’.
The special display of Princess Beatrice’s wedding dress is part of a visit to Windsor Castle from September 24 to November 22 2020. Tickets must be pre-booked in advance at www.rct.uk or +44 (0)303 123 7304.
The wedding dress will be on show at from September 24 until November 22, the Royal Collection Trust announced earlier this month. Pictured, Windsor Castle