Royal weddings through history - in photos

From the UK to Sweden to Japan, every country has its own stunning spin on royal weddings - and royal wedding dresses

With less than a month to go before Prince Harry gives up the single life to tie the knot with US actor Meghan Markle, curiosity about how the big day will unfold has reached fever pitch.

In the days before live television coverage, royal weddings were a far more low-key affair. Those clamouring to see the then-Princess Elizabeth’s gown at her 1947 wedding to Philip Mountbatten had make do with photographs in the next day’s newspapers.

By the time of her son Prince Charles’ wedding to Lady Diana Spencer, all that had changed. Close to one billion people around the world are thought to have tuned in to see the pair wed at St Paul’s Cathedral in 1981.

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Now, the omnipresence of TV and the internet means every last detail of the Harry and Meghan’s wedding will come under scrutiny.

The build-up to the big day is dominated by one pressing question: what will the bride wear? Details of Markle’s dress remain firmly under wraps, but her designers can draw a wealth of inspiration from royal weddings past.

Take a look at the gallery to see some of the most glamorous royal weddings from around the world:

Princess Margaret wedding

(Image credit: Getty Images)