Queen rewears wedding dress to mark 20th anniversary

The Queen has marked her 20th anniversary with the King by wearing her wedding dress on the couple’s state visit to Italy.

Camilla arrived at the Italian Parliament on Wednesday wearing her silk chiffon dress from her civil wedding in 2005.

The white dress was modified for the occasion by its designer Anne Valentine, with additional embroidery by King’s Foundation artisan Beth Somerville.

Camilla previously rewore the outfit with a different hat and set of shoes for the opening of the Welsh Parliament in June 2007.

Speaking to reporters in Italy on the day of her anniversary, Camilla said: “Who could believe it was 20 years?”

She added: “What is the secret? I don’t know, well, I suppose it’s just sort of friendship, really.

“Laughing at the same things, getting on with life. I suppose doing this (gesturing to the engagement) takes up most of the time.”

Asked if they had time to exchange cards or gifts, Camilla replied: “No, we are going to do that when we get back. We are going to save that.

“Otherwise you can’t really, you have to rush it. You don’t have time to say anything.

“No, I think we might dig into our pockets and pull something out at the end of the day.”

She added: “Ah yes, well I have got something. Because it’s china.”

China is often a traditional gift for a 20th wedding anniversary, symbolising the delicate and enduring nature of a long-lasting marriage.

The outfit was originally made for the couple’s Windsor Guildhall wedding on April 9 2005 by Ms Valentine’s and Antonia Robinson’s former fashion house Robinson Valentine.

For her civil wedding, Camilla paired the outfit with a hat, designed by Philip Treacy – made of natural straw, overlaid with ivory French lace and trimmed with a graphic fountain of feathers.

Camilla then wore a separate chiffon dress with a floor-length embroidered pale blue and gold coat for the wedding blessing at St George’s Chapel, Windsor.

Clarence House said at the time that the design team wanted a “crisp clean look with subtle detailing” for the ceremony at the Windsor Guildhall.

The lacquered discs were made in Switzerland while the hand-worked herringbone detail on the coat was embroidered in-house using silk thread.

Marylebone-based Ms Valentine was granted a Royal Warrant of Appointment by Camilla in December 2024.

Companies holding a Royal Warrant, which is granted for up to five years, are recognised for providing goods or services to the monarchy and are allowed to use the coat of arms of the royal they are associated with on packaging, as part of advertising or on stationery.

The fashion designer said at the time that she was “honoured” to be appointed by the Queen.

During his address to Italy’s parliament, the King referenced his wedding anniversary, telling the politicians from the chamber of deputies and the senate of the republic in their own language: “The timing is all the more special to us both since today also marks our 20th wedding anniversary.

“And by the way, I hope I’m not ruining Dante’s language so much that I’m no never invited to Italy again.”