Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are celebrating their eighth wedding anniversary (Image: PA)

On May 19, 2018 millions of people around the world tuned in to see Prince Harry marry American actress Meghan Markle. Obviously a huge proportion of those, including myself, were explicity tuning in to see what she wore. And we were to be sorely disappointed.

Eight years later as the couple celebrate their anniversary I’m still not over the shapeless sack she saw fit to wear on her big day. No matter what angle you look at it the dress simply hangs off her and is incredibly matronly. I can live with the fact it was very plain but not the fact it clearly didn’t fit her properly. No one will ever convince me Meghan insisted on having a dress made that was far too big for her slender frame. It was created by British fashion designer Clare Waight Keller, who at the time was the artistic director of the fashion house Givenchy. These are hugely reputable names in fashion but I have honestly seen more flattering dresses in Primark.

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It was an astonishing fashion fail given Meghan had the world’s designers clamouring to dress her for the big day, all sending her their suggestions for the gown.

It’s not as if thought didn’t go into her outfit. Her veil was beautifully symbolic, embroidered with flowers representing the countries of the Commonwealth; the California poppy, in honour of Meghan’s home state of California; and wintersweet, a flower that grows at Kensington Palace.

Yet when it came to her dress it looked like it was a last minute selection with no time for alterations. Not something which seemingly had been months in the planning.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry changed outfits for their wedding reception (Image: Getty)

I appreciate Meghan had some restrictions. Royal brides are expected to wear something modest, without a plunging neckline. The dress also is supposed to have long sleeves with fully covered shoulders. However she managed to have wriggle room with slightly exposed shoulders so she clearly wasn’t sticking rigidly to the rule book.

She was said to be inspired by the dress worn by Caroline Bessette-Kennedy when she tied the knot with John F. Kennedy Jr. but that creation, while very simple, had a stunning cut that showed off her fabulous figure. Another inspiration was said to be Audrey Hepburn, but I doubt the 1950s style icon would have been seen dead in Meghan’s frock.

This isn’t a matter of personal taste. Other royal brides have worn gowns that weren’t to my personal liking but I could appreciate their artistry – and they fit them properly. Princess Catherine managed to tick all the boxes when it came to the rules but her gown was still stunning.

Meghan’s dress reminded me of a toile rather than a finished product and I’m still not sure she didn’t pick up the sample instead of the actual dress. No matter how much time passes I will always consider this dress a massive fail. If only she had been allowed to wear her evening dress for the ceremony I imagine she would have been far more comfortable.