The Best Beauty Products Royal Brides Used at Their Weddings

Your bridal beauty look is a big deal no matter when and where you get married—after all, it’s going to be preserved in photos and videos forever. You’ve probably spent a good deal of time imagining how you want to look as you exchange vows with your partner, whether you’re sticking to a traditional ceremony or opting for something totally different. Now imagine you’re part of a royal family or marrying into one, and millions of people are going to watch your every move.

Royal weddings attract lots of attention from the citizens of the country in question, as well as outside interest from the rest of the world. For example, nearly 23 million Americans watched Kate Middleton marry Prince William in 2011, and over 29 million Americans tuned in to see Meghan Markle tie the knot with Prince Harry in 2018. 

How did royal brides decide on their wedding day makeup and which brands and products brought their vision to life? While royal rules often dictate that exact products can’t be shared publicly, here’s what you need to know about their looks, plus the lipsticks, hair products, and perfumes that will have you feeling positively princess-like on your own big day.

Kate Middleton

The Duchess of Cambridge actually did her own makeup on her wedding day, working with makeup artist Hannah Martin to nail techniques and find the perfect shades for her elegant, classic bridal beauty look. She likely opted for a few Bobbi Brown bestsellers, including Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink, Lip Color in Sandwash Pink, and Blush in Pale Pink. For her manicure, Kate layered UK drugstore favorite Bourjois So Laque Nail Enamel in Rose Lounge and Essie nail polish in Allure. The final touch before walking down the aisle in front of a crowd of millions? A few spritzes of White Gardenia Petals perfume by Illuminum. 

Kate worked with hairstylist Richard Ward on her sophisticated half-up wedding hairstyle, and after the ceremony, let her hair down—literally—into a bouncy blowout (Kate’s signature look) for the reception. Kate is a fan of Kerastase hair products and likely used the brand on her wedding day, too. 

Princess Eugenie

Princess Eugenie also opted for Bobbi Brown makeup for her October 12, 2018 wedding, working with Martin to create a flushed, natural-looking glow with defined brows. The glitter came courtesy of Eugenie’s Greville Emerald tiara, on loan from the Queen. Martin didn’t share the exact products she used on the princess but revealed that her go-to products for brides include Bobbi Brown's Skin Foundation Stick, Bronzing Powder, and the all-important Blush in Pale Pink for a sweet, romantic flush of color.

According to Martin, she skipped applying SPF for photo purposes—but this tip should only be used when absolutely necessary, as SPF is the most important part of your beauty routine. "A couple of the things I swear by are absolutely no SPF on your wedding day. Loads of brands will say that their SPF is photo-friendly, but I just prefer to avoid it," she shared on her podcast Life and Lipstick after the wedding. 

Princess Beatrice

Eugenie’s sister Beatrice tied the knot in July 2020 in a small secret ceremony, wearing a vintage gown originally worn by Queen Elizabeth. Details on Beatrice’s fresh, natural look were kept private, but the princess is a Bobbi Brown enthusiast (like the rest of her family), as well as British makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury’s line. It’s likely Princess Beatrice relied on Charlotte Tilbury mascara for her bright-eyed beauty moment.

Meghan Markle

Meghan Markle, Duchess of Sussex, is known for her gorgeous skin and natural "no-makeup makeup" looks, and she kept true to her signature style for her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry. Meghan tapped makeup artist (and personal friend) Daniel Martin to collaborate on her wedding day makeup, and her lit-from-within look that showed off her freckles became a trendy phenomenon and a bridal beauty game-changer.

After prepping the skin, Martin applied foundation (most likely Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation) to Meghan’s face, skipping powder everywhere but her forehead to keep her look fresh, not matte and flat. That radiant peachy glow came courtesy of Dior Backstage Glow Face Palette, Honest Beauty Magic Balm, and Honest Beauty Creme Cheek + Lip Color in Coral Peach, which Martin layered on her skin to give her extra radiance. Martin used Dior Backstage Eye Palette in Warm Neutrals to add subtle depth to Meghan’s eyes, plus a touch of eyeliner for a doe-eyed gaze. Martin finished Meghan’s makeup look with mascara and tinted lip balm for a hint of color and definition. Meghan wore a custom scent from Floris London on her big day; the house often creates scents for the royals, including the Queen. 

As for her hairstyle, Meghan worked with celebrity go-to Serge Normant to create her undone low chignon. Normant told Glamour that he couldn’t share the exact products he used due to royal rules, but said the updo took only one trial and 45 minutes to craft the final look. 

Princess Diana

The Princess of Wales’ wedding day look was youthful and soft; she wore her dark blonde hair in gentle waves off her face and a hint of her then-signature blue eyeliner. As noted by Hello!, Diana likely wore her favorite mascara, Lancôme’s Keracils, for her 1981 wedding to Prince Charles. That mascara is no longer available, but Défincils would be a similar pick. The Princess of Wales chose Quelques Fleurs by Houbigant for her wedding day scent.

Countess Olympia von und zu Arco-Zinneberg

The countess exchanged "I dos" with Prince Jean-Christophe Napoleon Bonaparte in Paris in 2019, wearing a stunning fern embroidered lace Oscar de la Renta gown with a matching capelet. As the intricate dress was definitely the focal point of her wedding day look, Countess Olympia kept her hair and makeup minimal. Her hair was pulled up into a classic updo with a braid detail and she chose a warm, romantic pink-taupe eyeshadow to give her lids subtle definition. ILIA’s Liquid Powder Chromatic Eye Tint in Fresco or Dim would be a beautiful wash of color for any bride, regardless of royal status.

Princess Nina of Greece & Denmark

Nina Flohr married Prince Philippos, godson of Princess Diana, in three different ceremonies: a small ceremony in 2020, a party in June 2021, and a formal religious ceremony in October 2021. For their simple civil service, she donned a plain white dress and coat and pulled her hair back with a sweet coordinating white bow. 

For the formal ceremony, Nina opted for an off-the-shoulder Chanel gown with a long, billowing train. She wore her hair pulled back in a low bun and kept her makeup look minimal and glowing with subtle contour. For a similar look, try Chanel’s Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream. 

Marie Ducruet

Grace Kelly’s grandson, Louis Ducruet, married his high school sweetheart, Marie Chevallier, in 2019 in two separate ceremonies: a civil ceremony with only family in attendance and a grand wedding at the Monaco Cathedral. For the civil ceremony, the bride wore a cream jumpsuit and styled her hair in long, loose waves and kept the beachy-glam moment going with radiant, sunkissed skin. For a dewy look like Marie’s, try Saie’s Slip Tint, which provides lightweight coverage while still looking like skin.

Grace Kelly

The Hollywood star’s wedding look is one of the most iconic and influential bridal moments of all time. With her high-necked lace gown and sophisticated chignon, she wore Creed’s Fleurissimo perfume, which was created for her by her husband-to-be, Prince Rainier of Monaco, and is available to the public today.

Alessandra De Osma

When marrying Prince Christian of Hanover in 2017, Alessandra opted for a sweet and simple beauty look with defined lashes and brows, creamy skin, and a rosy lip. For a similar look, try Chanel’s Rouge Allure Luminous Intense Lip Colour in Séduisante.

Princess Madeleine of Sweden

Princess Madeleine’s 2013 bridal beauty look mimicked the Duchess of Cambridge’s with her rosy cheeks, bold brows, and dark eyeliner. Dior’s 5 Couleurs Couture Eyeshadow Palette in Tutu is a five-shade set fit for a princess.

Princess Sofia of Sweden

Princess Sofia looked picture perfect on her wedding day to Prince Carl Philip in 2015, donning a lace gown that showed off her shoulders and a stunning diamond and emerald tiara. Her dark hair was styled in a middle-parted low chignon by her friend (and Paradise Hotel costar) Marwan Hitti and William Värnild did her makeup. To give your royal updo a light-reflecting shine like Princess Sofia’s, try R+Co’s Trophy Shine + Texture Spray.