Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, meanwhile, has chosen Valentino for many of her high-profile occasions, and her wedding to Crown Prince Willem-Alexander in 2002 was no different. As she became Crown Princess, the then-Maxima Zorreguieta looked truly flawless in a beautifully structured cowl-neck mikado silk wedding gown, its 16-foot train – inset with lace echoing the motif on her hand-embroidered silk tulle veil – trailing behind her.
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“The dress had to be extremely sumptuous and regal,” Valentino told HELLO!. “We had to remember, she will be Queen.”
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The designer's sketch of Queen Maxima's dramatic gown.
Photo: Maison Valentino
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“Working with Princess Madeleine has just been so easy. She is so beautiful! It has been an honor,” said designer Valentino of the royal bride's romantic dress.
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Valentino returned from retirement – he stepped down as creative director of the label in 2008 – to create her gown, made from pleated silk organza with appliqued chantilly lace.
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The details of Princess Madeleine's bespoke creation.
Photo: Maison Valentino
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In 2014, Italian aristocrat and journalist Elisabetta Maria Rosboch von Wolkenstein, known as Lili, wed the Belgian king’s nephew Prince Amadeo wearing a bespoke Valentino gown.
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The classic full-skirted creation featured a sweetheart neckline with a diaphanous overlay and sleeves, making it perfect for a traditional church ceremony.
Photo: Maison Valentino
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As she wed Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece in 1995, Crown Princess Marie Chantal had an amazing guest list – even Queen Elizabeth attended the ceremony – and her dress was equally stunning. Designer Valentino created a gorgeous $230,000 gown, hand-stitched by 25 seamstresses, and a veil embroidered with butterflies as a symbol of good luck. “Just the veil took one month to make, with 15 girls working on it,” Valentino told HELLO!.
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The wedding dress of Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece from 1995 displayed at the 'Valentino: Master of Couture' exhibition at Somerset House in 2012, London
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Monaco royal Pierre Casiraghi's bride Beatrice Borromeo wore a dress by Valentino creative directors Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli for her wedding at the Prince's Palace in July 2015.
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The pale pink and gold lace silk chiffon creation exuded fairytale romance.
Photo: Maison Valentino
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The Valentino design duo had also created a snow queen ensemble for Beatrice's sister-in-law Tatiana Santo Domingo as she married Princess Caroline of Monaco’s son Andrea Casiraghi in Gstaad last year. The ivory gown, worn under a double cashmere, mink-lined cape, had a macramé lace bodice and ruffled tulle and point d’esprit pleated skirt, a nod to Tatiana’s famed bohemian style.
Photo: Maison Valentino