Givenchy's Waight Keller and Stella McCartney draw praise for royal wedding dresses

American actress Meghan Markle picked a sleek sculpted dress by Givenchy creative head Clare Waight Keller for her wedding to Prince Harry on Saturday, worn with a five-meter long veil and a diamond tiara lent by Queen Elizabeth.

The long-sleeved dress with a boat neck had been eagerly anticipated by royal fans around the world, with speculation over which designer would be chosen.

Meanwhile, Stella McCartney scored a coup with the new Duchess of Sussex's white halter neck dress for the evening reception, as well as for the vivid yellow dress worn by Amal Clooney and the blush pink one worn by Oprah Winfrey. All three of the dresses drew praise from fashion critics, although Waight Keller's wedding gown was the big star of the day.

Waight Keller, previously at Pringle of Scotland and Chloé, became the first female artistic director at famed French brand Givenchy last year.

The 47-year-old met Meghan earlier this year and the two worked together on the design, which “epitomizes a timeless minimal elegance,” Kensington Palace said. She said after the wedding that she didn't even tell her husband and children until a few hours before the event that she had designed the dress.

But it all seems to have been worthwhile with Prince Harry saying to her: "Oh my God, thank you, she looks absolutely stunning."

“The focus of the dress is the graphic open bateau neckline that gracefully frames the shoulders and emphasizes the slender sculpted waist,” the palace said in a statement.

“The lines of the dress extend toward the back where the train flows in soft round folds cushioned by an underskirt in triple silk organza. The slim three-quarter sleeves add a note of refined modernity.”

Meghan’s long veil, made of silk tulle, was decorated with hand-embroidered flowers in silk threads and organza, the palace said, and paid tribute to the 53 countries of the Commonwealth.

“Ms. Waight Keller designed a veil representing the distinctive flora of each Commonwealth country united in one spectacular floral composition,” the palace said. Prince Harry last month was appointed a Commonwealth youth ambassador.

Queen Elizabeth lent the 36-year-old bride Queen Mary’s diamond bandeau tiara for the occasion. Made in 1932 for Queen Mary, the sparkling diamond and platinum bandeau boasts a center brooch dating from 1893. Meghan also wore Cartier earrings as well as a bracelet and silk duchess satin shoes, the palace said.

Additional reporting by Sandra Halliday