Princess Eugenie Has Worn Some Royally Good Wedding Guest Dresses

Princess Eugenie of York has made waves with her fashion choices over the years. As a non-working royal — meaning a member of the royal family who doesn't benefit from the Sovereign Grant and therefore works a normal job for a normal income — she's under less media pressure than her high-profile cousins. While she doesn't have the total freedom of a commoner to dress exactly how she pleases, her outfits do often feature more creativity and playfulness than would be afforded to someone like Kate Middleton. That's led to some stellar looks in the past, particularly as far as wedding guest outfits are concerned. 

Since she's still technically representing the Firm, Eugenie does tend to dress in a way that the family would approve of, keeping it safe with sensible hemlines and classic silhouettes. But we see a sense of her individuality and taste for more contemporary styles come out in the small details, whether it's the studs on her accessories or the pops of color that she weaves into even the most simple of ensembles. 

Nobody can get their fashion right all the time, and Eugenie has occasionally fallen victim to the style blunders that can trap us all. Unfortunately, she did land on our list of the worst-dressed royal wedding guests for her overwhelming blue look at the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales in April 2011. But mostly, Eugenie's wedding guest outfits shine a light on her unique aesthetic that blends the timeless with the modern, as well as her strong understanding of wedding guest etiquette, especially in a royal context. When she struts her stuff in looks like the blue Gainsbourg dress she wore to the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, it's clear she's a stylish royal that should be on your radar.

In June 2024, Princess Eugenie attended the wedding of Hugh Grosvenor, Duke of Westminster, and Olivia Henson in the city of Chester, England. She deviated from her go-to wedding guest attire of a short dress and blazer, opting for an olive Joseph maxi with a pleated skirt. The nude Aquazurra heels matched her neutral fascinator, which was designed by Emily London Millinery. Though this look was on the simple side, the pleated detail in the skirt created a timeless effect, and the accessories gave the overall ensemble a sense of quiet sophistication.

It might not be strictly necessary to color co-ordinate with your date after prom, but Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank had a subtle twinning moment at the May 2017 nuptials of Pippa Middleton and James Matthews. Eugenie's '50s-style body-hugging midi dress married the classic with a contemporary edge (see the cold shoulder detail), but the standout part of this look was the red stripe on her pumps, which were otherwise navy and cream. These matched Brooksbank's red-and-navy striped socks, along with his red tie. Cute, guys! 

We all know the golden rule that wedding guests are supposed to follow: no white. Royal circles are also of the opinion that black is a no-go for weddings, since it's a shade reserved for mourning. But Princess Eugenie managed to achieve the inherent elegance that comes from wearing black or white with a gray dress at the wedding of Petra Palumbo and Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat in London in May 2016. The ombré design saved this look from being flat slate, while the thin gold belt and blazer made the whole thing feel more intentional. 

Like black and white, some color palettes just lead to a sophisticated moment. Judging from Princess Eugenie's look at the July 2011 wedding of her cousin Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall, held at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland, cream and brown definitely fits the bill. Some might criticize this blazer for being too close to white, and therefore something that shouldn't be worn to a wedding. But we're willing to look past that for the way it complements the chocolate tone of her dress, not to mention the flattering lines of the handkerchief hem.

There were a lot of beautifully dressed guests at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2018. But Princess Eugenie takes the prize as far as the guests are concerned. The powder-blue Gainsbourg knit dress evoked a vintage aesthetic with its high neck and front pockets, especially when paired with the pillbox hat. Though this dress was stunning on its own, the princess turned up the wow factor for the Windsor Castle event by finishing the look off with an edgy pair of studded metallic Valentino heels. 

Powdery blue shades are definitely something Princess Eugenie should reach for more often. She looked gorgeous in a similar tone at the August 2018 wedding of Charlie van Straubenzee and Daisy Jenks, this time going for a longer, more flowy and summery silhouette with back cutouts. Since this wedding was lacking the intense media coverage of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's, Eugenie was more relaxed, swapping out her headpiece for a cool pair of sunglasses and a cream jacket. We especially love the pop of color in her floral clutch, which brought a playfulness to the ensemble. 

In March 2018, Princess Eugenie traveled to Lima, Peru, for the nuptials of Prince Christian of Hanover. Her look for the destination wedding was fitting, and distinct from the more refined 'fits she opts for when attending weddings on British soil. She matched with sister Princess Beatrice in a floral dress, though while Beatrice's was navy and off-the-shoulder, Eugenie went for a long-sleeved belted V-neck style. The vibrant green and large yellow-and-white flowers made for a much more laidback aesthetic than the princess usually goes for, though she did have her nude Aquazurra pumps at the ready.

Perhaps the rules about black clothing don't apply to non-working royals after all, and Princess Eugenie is better off for it. For the August 2011 wedding of James Stunt and Petra Eccleston in Rome, Italy, the princess opted for another off-the-shoulder dress, this time in black. Paired with black platform heels, this outfit came across as both purposeful and formal. We don't know if the late Queen Elizabeth II would have been happy with the color choice, but Eugenie looked beautiful, especially when the otherwise simple frock was elevated with a shoulder embellishment and ruched fabric.

The minidress and blazer combo is one Princess Eugenie has worn to many weddings, so we're glad she went for a different take on the look in June 2013, at the nuptials of Lady Melissa Percy and Thomas van Straubenzee. For the event, Eugenie went for a vibrant teal dress and jacket featuring both hardware and lace, creating a textural surprise for the already maximalist look. She kept the 'fit from being too overwhelming by going for a blush fascinator and studded clutch, rather than drenching the whole ensemble in teal.