The Most Beautiful Princess Wedding Dresses Throughout History

When you come across the phrase princess wedding dress, a big poufy ball gown probably comes to mind, right? Well, based on our research, the actual princess wedding dresses throughout history aren't always of the poufy ball gown variety. While Princess Diana's wedding dress certainly put all poufy wedding dresses to shame (we'll refresh your memory of it below), most of the dresses worn by princesses over the years aren't actually very poufy at all. Alternatively, they run the gamut from slim, lace, and long-sleeved to off-the-shoulder and satin. You're probably familiar with a few of the below gowns (has anyone on this planet not seen Kate Middleton's dress a thousand times?), but many of the princess wedding dresses included below are significantly more under-the-radar.

Head below to see 19 stunning princess (and queen) gowns throughout history, from Queen Elizabeth II in 1947 to now.

Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, 1947
queen elizabeth wedding dress

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Getty Images 

Designer: Norman Hartnell

Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco, 1956
grace kelly wedding dress

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Getty Images 

Designer: Helen Rose

Princess Diana of Wales, 1981
princess diana wedding dress

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Anwar Hussein/Getty Images 

Designer: David and Elizabeth Emanuel

Princess Masako of Japan, 1993
Princess Masako of Japan wedding dress

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Getty Images 

Designer: Hanae Mori

Princess (now Queen) Máxima of the Netherlands, 2002
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands wedding dress

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Getty Images 

Designer: Valentino

Princess Letizia of Asturias (now Queen of Spain), 2004
Princess Letizia wedding dress

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Getty Images 

Designer: Manuel Pertegaz

Princess Mary of Denmark, 2004
Princess Mary of Denmark wedding dress

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Getty Images 

Designer: Uffe Frank

Princess (now Queen) Noor of Jordan, 2004
Princess Noor of Jordan wedding dress

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Getty Images 

Designer: Unknown

Princess Alexandra of Denmark, 2007
Princess Alexandra of Denmark wedding dress

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Getty Images 

Designer: Henrik Hviid

Duchess Catherine of Cambridge, 2011
kate middleton wedding dress

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Getty Images 

Designer: Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen

Princess Victoria of Sweden, 2010
Princess Victoria of Sweden wedding dress

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Getty Images 

Designer: Pär Engsheden

Princess Sophie of Prussia, 2011
Princess Sophie of Prussia wedding dress

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Getty Images 

Designer: Wolfgang Joop

Princess Charlene of Monaco, 2011
Princess Charlene of Monaco wedding dress

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Getty Images 

Designer: Giorgio Armani Privé

Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg, 2011
Princess Nathalie of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg wedding dress

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Getty Images 

Designer: Henrik Hviid

Princess Stéphanie of Luxembourg, 2012
Princess Stephanie of Luxembourg wedding dress

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Getty Images 

Designer: Elie Saab

Princess Claire of Luxembourg, 2013
Princess Claire Lademacher Of Luxembourg wedding dress

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Getty Images 

Designer: Elie Saab

Princess Madeleine of Sweden, 2013
Princess Madeleine of Sweden wedding dress

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Getty Images 

Designer: Valentino

Princess Beatrice of Monaco, 2015
Princess Beatrice of Monaco wedding dress

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Getty Images 

Designer: Giorgio Armani Privé

Princess Sofia of Sweden, 2015
Princess Sofia of Sweden wedding dress

Photo:

Getty Images 

Designer: Ida Sjöstedt

Next up, see the custom dress and veil worn by our newlywed editor

Opening Image: Getty Images