Will Meghan Markle Be Able to Keep Her Wedding Dress Post-Megxit?
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex‘s days as senior royals are about to be behind them and what lies ahead in their future is uncertain. There are so many questions about what the couple’s reality will look like as they begin a new chapter in their lives and “work to become financially independent.”
We know the Sussexes won’t have some of the privileges they did when they represented the crown as high-ranking members of England’s most famous family. And because of that there has been a lot of speculation about if Meghan will be able to keep what she acquired as a senior royal. Read on to find out what will happen to her wedding gown and the rest of her royal wardrobe post-Megxit.
Meghan’s Givenchy wedding gown
Royal fans remember exactly what Meghan’s gown looked like.
The Duchess of Sussex donned a Givenchy Clare Waight Keller creation. A statement from Kensington Palace at the time said Harry’s bride was a fan of Waight Keller’s “timeless and elegant aesthetic, impeccable tailoring, and relaxed demeanor.”
The dress was made of ivory silk and had an A-line silhouette with a slightly off-the-shoulder bateau neckline and fitted three-quarter-sleeves. It also featured a train and was paired with a 16-foot silk tulle veil.
The diamond bandeau tiara she rocked was on loan from Queen Elizabeth II and is no longer in her possession. But what about her wedding dress, will the duchess be able to hold onto that going forward?
Will she be able to keep the dress after she steps down?
Prior to the royal wedding, it was reported that Meghan’s dress would be privately funded by the bride. The exact price of the Givenchy number hasn’t been released publicly. However, experts offered their take on how much it cost based on another customed-made gown from the fashion house worn by Kim Kardashian when she married Kanye West in 2014. Kardashian’s dress was valued at more than $500,000.
“Haute couture gowns like [Meghan’s] can be priced as high as $340,000,” said Dawn Del Russo, a fashion expert and founder of Bella Dawn.
It’s not known if Meghan did end up footing the bill for her own dress. If she did it’s obviously hers, But if the royal family covered the cost will it still remain in the former actress’s possession?
“I don’t think her wedding dress would be her property,” royal expert Emma Forbes told Page Six.
Whether or not the royals chipped in or paid for the gown entirely, it doesn’t seem likely that they would ask Meghan to give the dress back especially not now as a move like wouldn’t look great on their part.
What will happen to the rest of the duchess’ royal wardrobe?
As for the rest of Meghan’s wardrobe acquired after she became a royal, well several reports stated that Prince Charles is going to continue picking up the tab for his son and daughter-in-law’s clothes post-Megxit.
That agreement will be reviewed after one year and Forbes said the duchess will be able to retain the monarchy-funded wardrobe she got as a senior royal.
Read more: Will Meghan Markle Be Banned From Wearing Princess Diana’s Jewelry After She Steps Down?
