Compare Meghan Markle's Wedding Dress to Kate Middleton's 2011 Gown

Meghan Markle’s stunning wedding dress is doubtlessly already inspiring couture bridal collections and fast-fashion brands alike, but before the “Markle Sparkle” took its effect on the fashion industry, there was another influencer shaping the latest trends: Kate Middleton.

Markle’s new sister-in-law captivated audiences at her 2011 wedding to Prince William in a long-sleeve lace Alexander McQueen design with a nine-foot long train, inspiring countless similar gowns that hit the market in the months (and years) following. Prince Harry’s bride is likely to do the same with her Clare Waight Keller for Givenchywedding dress, and though it’s certainly unique to her personal style, we can’t help but notice some resemblances between her gown and Kate’s.

Kate Middleton Meghan Markle Wedding Dresses - Embed
Getty Images

Like Middleton, Markle opted for a long-sleeved gown for the church ceremony, as is customary for the bride in a royal wedding. Both Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth also kept their arms covered on their wedding days.

While Middleton walked down the aisle in an A-line gown, Markle opted for an open-neck design.The Duchess of Cambridge’s dress featured a V-neckline, kept appropriately modest for a wedding in front of the Queen. Similarly, Markle kept things conservative with her mid-sleeve gown and flowing train.

Royal Wedding - Wedding Guests And Party Make Their Way To Westminster Abbey
Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Kate Middleton Wedding Dress
Ian Gavan/GP/Getty Images
Kate Meghan Wedding Dresses - Embed
Getty Images

Like her sister-in-law, Markle opted for a long train, though it looked shorter to the eye than Middleton's 9 foot one.

Related Articles
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's Relationship Timeline
Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex wave from the Ascot Landau Carriage
Meghan Markle’s Wedding Dress Had a Secret Nod to Her First Date With Prince Harry, the Designer Just Shared
Meghan Markle Outfits
Meghan Markle’s 42 Best Outfits Since Becoming a Royal
The Best Dressed Celebrity Brides of All Time
The Best Dressed Celebrity Brides of All Time
Kate Middleton
36 Times We Wanted to Be Kate Middleton
Royal Tiara
The 11 Most Iconic Royal Tiaras and Surprising Facts About Each
Kate Middleton Jordan royal wedding
Kate Middleton Wore a Shimmering Pink Gown and Her Favorite Tiara for Prince Hussein and Princess Rajwa's Wedding Reception
Kate Middleton with long, wavy hair and drop earrings
A Look Back at Kate Middleton's Style Through the Years
beyonce on the red carpet
A Look Back at 20 Years of Beyoncé's Red Carpet Style
A woman in a sparkly white dress
33 Pretty and Unexpected Wedding Reception Outfits
Meghan Markle Kate Middleton
Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle Can't Stop Dressing Like Each Other
Givenchy
The History of Givenchy
Royal Family
Everything to Know About the Royal Family Tree
Princess Charlotte of Cambridge attend Church on Christmas Day on December 25, 2016 in Bucklebury, Berkshire.
Princess Charlotte Braves the Cold (and the World) in Colored Tights
Kate Middleton Smiling Blue Polka Dot Dress Prince William Sitting 2022 Wimbledon
Kate Middleton Rewore One of Her Signature Looks to Wimbledon
royal family on balcony at King Charles coronation
The Most Unexpected Royal Moments at King Charles's Coronation