12 stunning Met Gala appearances by royalty

The year's biggest fashion event is fast approaching. This year, the Met Gala will be held on May 5, 2025, with the theme being Superfine: Tailoring Black Style. The Met Gala has remained the world's biggest costume gala since 1948, when it got the monicker as 'the party of the year'. Over the years, the Met has attracted many important celebrities to attend a glamorous night away from their duties; many of whom were royalty. Princess Diana, Queen Rania of Jordan, and Princess Beatrice are only some of the most influential aristocrats who have walked down the Met Gala red carpet. Scroll below to take a look at the most iconic royal Met Gala red carpet appearances. 

1. Princess Diana 

Princess Diana's scene-stealing appearance in 1996 is one of the most talked-about Met Gala appearances, to date. She donned an inky black silk gown by John Galliano for Dior. The lingerie-inspired silk dress had lace detailing on the border, lending it a sensuous appeal. Later on, Galliano revealed that Diana altered the dress by removing the corset; revealing how personal her style really was. It remained her one and only Met appearance, as she tragically passed away the next year.

2. Queen Rania of Jordan 

Queen Rania Al-Abdullah remains one of the most inspiring royal figures from the Middle East, thanks to her humanitarian work. She walked the Met Gala red carpet in the year 2016 in a black and silver monochrome mesh Valentino dress for the 'Tech White Tie' theme. A floral hairpin ornamented her hair, cataloguing her look as one of the best-dressed celebrities that year. However, the queen's first appearance was when she walked the red carpet at the 2007 Met Gala, which had the theme of 'Poiret King of Fashion'. She was seen wearing a navy blue and black belted gown with capped sleeves.

3. Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece

The crown princess of Greece, Marie-Chantal, walked the Met Gala red carpet not once or twice but three times; in 1995, 1999 and 2001. For her first appearance, she walked along with her husband, Prince Pavlos of Greece, donning a periwinkle gown. In 1999, she walked with the prince for the 'Rock Style' theme in a sparkling golden gown. Her third Met appearance was in a regal mint-green Valentino dress. As tribute to Jacqueline Kennedy's visit to Cambodia in 1967, her ensemble was aligned with the theme of that year, Jacqueline Kennedy: The White House Years'. She walked the red carpet with Valentino Garavani, who was the designer of her gown that night. 

4. Princess Alexandra Fürstenberg

The sister of Crown Princess Marie-Chantal, Princess Alexandra Fürstenberg alongside her mother-in-law, Diane von Fürstenberg, took to the red carpet when the fashion world was honouring late Gianni Versace, as the theme paid an homage to the designer during the year of his death in 1997, making their family-led appearance a memorable one. 

5. Princess Beatrice

Another British royal to join Princess Diana on the list is her niece, Princess Beatrice. For her Met Gala debut in in 2018, she remained true to her royal status by embracing a purple gown – a colour associated with royalty for the 'Heavenly Bodies' theme. Her gown was designed by Alberta Ferretti. 

6. Charlotte Casiraghi

Eleventh in line to the throne of Monaco, Charlotte Casiraghi is the second child of the Princess of Hanover and Stefani Casiraghi. She walked the Met Gala red carpet in 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2023. In 2016, she donned a colourful dress by Gucci and her royally bold 2018 look included an asymmetrical Saint Laurent dress with platform boots. She once again wore Saint Laurent at the 2019 Met; this time in a high-low black dress to match the 'Camp: Notes on Fashion' theme. For the 2023 Met Gala, she wore a black jumpsuit underneath a black lace gown by Chanel for the Karl Lagerfeld-themed evening.