And how about those ‘buns’?

I’m certain the answer to my question is a big royal no.

But while scanning newspaper ads from a 1973 UK royal wedding special, the moment I saw Princess Anne in her wedding dress my immediate thought was…

… that look … it’s just so Princess Leia!

Princess Anne and Captain Mark Phillips were married on November 14, 1973, at Westminster Abbey, England. Anne’s wedding dress was created by designer Maureen Baker. Made in Suffolk, England from a speciality silk, it featured a high neckline (Anne’s idea), military-inspired epaulettes picked out in seed pearls, a tiny waist, and long medieval oversleeves with short swelling undersleeves.

Anne’s hair, though not made up in buns like Leia’s, gives a similar effect with its swept back sides, backcombing and a centre parting.

Princess Leia’s simple white hooded gown was designed by John Mollo who had the outfit made at Bermans & Nathan’s, a London costume shop. For me, this costume and the similar one worn at the medal ceremony in 1977’s Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope, defines the ‘Princess Leia look’. I think it’s a tribute to great costume-making and the talents of actress the late Carrie Fisher who played the role.

Princess dolls

Certainly there are some similarities between these two famous 1970s Princess costumes. And one final similarity… both Princesses have been made into dolls – Anne as a Peggy Nisbet doll and Leia as a Kenner doll.

TVTA bonus…

Check out the following two wedding dress images from Hungarian Nok Magazinja #5 1980. The date is after Princesses Leia and Anne, but the style is similar.

images:

Princess Anne images taken from Daily Mail, Thursday, November 15, 1973.

Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia photos property of Lucasfilm / Disney.

Peggy Nisbet doll image taken from Bidorbuy.

Kenner doll image taken from imperialgunnery.

Wedding dresses from Nok Magazinja N°5. 1980. Hungary.