All Of The Something Blues That Were Hidden In Royal Weddings

Something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue — an age-old tradition that originated in England during the Victorian Era and has been used in royal weddings for decades. When used in conjunction, these items are said to bring the newlywed couple good luck, prosperity, and a happy marriage (per Danversport Weddings).

"Something blue," in particular, is the color used to encourage a marriage of purity, love, and fidelity. Oftentimes, a bride's "something blue" is subtle and incorporated in her bouquet, the interior of her wedding dress, her jewelry, or even her shoes. Back in the day, a garter belt was the "something blue" of choice worn by brides, and was an item typically given to the bride by a married woman or a mother, according to Reader's Digest.

Rather impressively, the age-old "something blue" has kept its hold on royal weddings today, and seems to be one of the must-haves on a royal bride's checklist (though some are a bit more discreet than others). Keep reading to get an inside look at all of the unique "something blues" at royal weddings.

Lady Diana Spencer became the Princess of Wales after marrying then-Prince Charles at St Paul's Cathedral in London on July 29, 1981. Her dramatic, custom-made gown was adorned with silk bows, puff sleeves, and a 25-foot-long train. The dress has since gone down in history as one of the most iconic wedding gowns ever, and was even put on display at Kensington Palace in 2022, marking what would have been her and Prince Charles' 40th wedding anniversary (per Today).

Contrary to her actual wedding gown, Princess Diana's "something blue" was quite discreet. She had a small blue bow sewn into the waistband of her dress; she also included a tiny, hidden 18-carat gold horseshoe with diamond studs as a good luck charm (per Good Housekeeping).

Unfortunately, the couple separated in 1992 when Prince Charles' affair became public knowledge. They ultimately divorced in 1996, after 15 years of marriage. Prince Charles went on to marry his mistress, Camilla, in 2005, eight years after Princess Diana's fatal car crash in 1997 (via People).

Kate Middleton married Prince William of Wales on April 29, 2011, at the Abbey in Westminster, England. The bride wore a modest Alexander McQueen gown with a modern ballgown silhouette and beautiful lace sleeves. The train of the dress was also a showstopper, measuring 8.85 feet long!

For Kate's "something blue," she kept it sentimental and sweet by honoring her late mother-in-law Princess Diana. Like Diana, Kate also had a blue ribbon sewn into her dress, according to Express UK. However, that wasn't the only "something blue" Kate wore that day.

At the reception, Kate changed into a different outfit, which included Princess Diana's iconic oval blue sapphire engagement ring. The 18-carat white gold ring holds a whopping 12-carat blue sapphire surrounded by 14 smaller solitaire diamonds (per Express UK). With that being said, Kate might just take the cake for having the best (12-carat) "something blue" at a wedding, ever!

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018. The bride wore a custom Givenchy gown featuring a classic minimalist silhouette with a slight off-the-shoulder style. She also wore a cathedral-length veil held in place by Queen Mary's diamond bandeau tiara, which served as her "something borrowed" (per Royal UK).

Similar to Kate Middleton, Meghan also paid homage to her late mother-in-law Princess Diana by including a small blue ribbon sewn into her wedding gown, but the actual fabric she chose was also significant. In an interview with ET Canada Live, Meghan shared a closer look at her wedding gown showcasing her "something blue" with viewers. "Somewhere in here, there's a piece of... did you see it? The piece of blue fabric that's stitched inside? It was my 'something blue.' It's fabric from the dress that I wore on our first date."

For the reception, the bride changed into a gorgeous ivory silk halter-style gown. She donned a few other "something blues" at the reception, including a huge aquamarine ring that belonged to Princess Diana and satin Aquazzura shoes with blue soles (via Vogue).

Just a few months after Meghan and Harry wed, Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank also tied the knot at Windsor Castle on October 12, 2018 (per People).

The bride wore a Peter Pilotto and Christopher De Vos ball gown which featured a fold-over, low-back v-neck with long sleeves and a lace overlay. Princess Eugenie opted for a unique twist on her "something blue" by incorporating subtle hints of blue thistle in her bouquet. According to the company Lily Grass Flowers and Decor, blue thistle "symbolizes courage, bravery, and loyalty in the face of treachery." The bride's bouquet also included a mix of Lily of the Valley, Stephanotis pips, ivy, white roses, and sprigs of myrtle, following a royal tradition started by Queen Victoria, according to Honey.

But the true standout was her "something borrowed" accessory: a Greville Emerald Kokoshnik Tiara borrowed from her grandmother, the Queen. The tiara choice was also significant because it included a pop of color, which is a rarity in royal tiaras since they are typically diamond.

Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall tied the knot in Edinburgh at Canongate Kirk on July 30, 2011. The bride wore a silk Stewart Parvin gown with thick tulle shoulder straps and a full skirt featuring a beautiful cathedral train. As for her "something borrowed," the bride wore a diamond tiara that belonged to her mother, Princess Anne, and was once gifted to Queen Elizabeth on her wedding day in 1947 (per The Crown Chronicles).

Breaking tradition, Zara Tindall had a very unique take on her "something blue" for the wedding. In an interview with The Sunday Times, she revealed a pale pink manicure and a surprising electric blue pedicure. "I got married with them this color. It was my 'something blue.'" Although unique in royal tradition, her blue painted toes were concealed in her white pointed heels, making her "something blue" possibly the most creative one on this list.

Camilla Parker Bowles and King Charles III wed in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, followed by a marital blessing at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on April 9, 2005 (per Harper's Bazaar). Since this was considered a second marriage for both of them, the wedding was more intimate than the elaborate royal wedding we typically see. According to Cosmopolitan UK, since the Church of England did not approve of remarriages, the Queen (the head of the Church) was not in attendance at the wedding.

For Camilla's ceremony gown, she wore a simple cream gown with a long matching coat, paired with an elegant hat in the place of a tiara. Her "something blue" came into play in a major way when she changed into her second wedding dress for the marital blessing. The dress was a beautiful floor-length grey-blue chiffon gown with a matching coat that had gold accents. Her daughter Laura Lopes even wore gold shoes to match the dress (via Express UK).

Wallis Simpson married the Duke of Windsor (formerly King Edward VIII) in June 1937. According to Hello Magazine, Edward renounced his reign after just 10 months so he could marry Wallis, who was an American divorcee.

On her wedding day, Wallis (who could not wear white, since she was remarrying) opted for a floor-length powder blue, cinch waist gown, which was a daring choice for a wedding dress back in the day (per The Telegraph). To match the dress, Wallis wore a blue halo-shaped straw hat instead of a veil, which may have given her the most unconventional "something blue" in royal wedding history. The color of the dress was even named "Wallis blue," because the designer Mainbocher made the color specifically to match her eyes. As Anne Sebba, author of Wallis' biography, explained:  "She was very aware of the impression which it would make; she wasn't dressing for the party of the wedding, but for the image, for posterity ... If she couldn't be Queen of the United Kingdom, then she wanted to mark out her territory as the Queen of Chic."

In 1950, Wallis donated her wedding dress to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art; unfortunately, the blue dye completely faded over time (per Hello Magazine).