Deborah Chan
Kate Middleton's wedding dress and veil have been the subject of much fascination and speculation since her marriage to Prince William in 2011. Designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, the dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media, with replicas even being produced and sold. But what about the veil? How long was it and what made it so special?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Veil Type | Drop Veil |
| Veil Fabric | Ivory Silk Tulle |
| Veil Length | Long |
| Veil Design | Hand-embroidered flowers, attached to a thin lining at the bottom of the tiara |
| Veil Maker | Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- Kate Middleton's veil was made of soft ivory silk tulle
- The veil was held in place by the Cartier Halo tiara, borrowed from the late Queen
- The veil featured hand-embroidered flowers
- Kate's 'something blue' was sewn into her gown
- The veil was a drop veil, attached to a thin lining at the bottom of the tiara
Kate Middleton's veil was made of soft ivory silk tulle
The veil was a drop veil, meaning it didn't have a gather of tulle onto the comb, giving a lovely silhouette to the head, without any bulk or bunching up at the back. The drop veil was attached to a thin lining at the bottom of her tiara, so it was invisible, and gave the appearance of one piece with the tiara. The veil was also hand-embroidered with flowers.
The veil was designed to complement the Alexander McQueen wedding gown by Sarah Burton, which paid homage to heritage while pushing the boundaries. The gown was designed to combine tradition and modernity, with a Victorian-inspired bodice and intricate pleats. The veil's soft ivory colour and delicate fabric complemented the intricate details of the gown, creating a timeless and classic look.
The veil was also designed with versatility in mind. The soft ivory colour and subtle lace edging would complement an ornate lace wedding dress or add an element of lace to a classic wedding dress. The drop veil style and soft fabric ensured that the veil framed the train of the dress beautifully, without interrupting the line of the skirt. Overall, the soft ivory silk tulle veil was an elegant and luxurious choice for Kate Middleton's wedding ensemble.
RSVP Etiquette: How Long Do Guests Have to Respond?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The veil was held in place by the Cartier Halo tiara, borrowed from the late Queen
The veil of Kate Middleton, now the Princess of Wales, has been described as "iconic", "elegant", "timeless", and "classic". It was crafted from ivory silk tulle and featured hand-embroidered flowers. The veil was attached to a thin lining at the bottom of her tiara, creating a seamless, elegant silhouette. This veil was held in place by the Cartier Halo tiara, borrowed from the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The Cartier Halo tiara is a dazzling jewel, crafted with 739 brilliant-cut diamonds and 149 baguette diamonds. It was created by Cartier in 1936 and purchased by King George VI for his wife, Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. The tiara was a gift for the then-Duchess of York, who later became Queen consort when her husband ascended the throne in 1936. The Halo tiara was a favourite of the Queen Mother, and she wore it frequently in the early years of her husband's reign.
Princess Elizabeth, the future Queen, received the tiara as an 18th birthday gift from her mother in 1944. Before her marriage, Princess Elizabeth often loaned the tiara to her younger sister, Princess Margaret, who wore it to the inauguration of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands in 1948 and to her sister's coronation in 1953. The Queen's daughter, Princess Anne, also wore the tiara on several occasions before her marriage.
For her wedding to Prince William in 2011, then-Kate Middleton borrowed the Cartier Halo tiara from the late Queen. The tiara complemented Middleton's gown, an Alexander McQueen design by Sarah Burton, which paid homage to royal heritage while pushing boundaries. The veil, secured by the tiara, added to the timeless elegance of Middleton's bridal ensemble, which has since joined the ranks of the most famous royal wedding dresses in history.
Editing Wedding Photos: How Long Does It Really Take?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The veil featured hand-embroidered flowers
Kate Middleton's wedding veil has become one of the most iconic of all time. The veil was made of ivory silk tulle and featured hand-embroidered flowers. Each flower was individually hand-drawn and embroidered to create a meadow-like effect. The delicate embroidery gave the veil a quintessentially English look. The veil was designed and embroidered by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, with whom the Duchess worked closely on the design.
The choice of British brand Alexander McQueen was motivated by the beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanship and technical construction. The veil was designed to pay tribute to Great Britain with four national flowers: the English rose, Welsh daffodil, Irish shamrock, and Scottish thistle. The embroidery was executed by the Royal School of Needlework, which has a long-standing relationship with Buckingham Palace.
The veil was a drop veil, a style favoured by royal brides, which means it did not have a gather of tulle onto the comb. Instead, it was attached to a thin lining at the bottom of the tiara, creating an invisible, seamless look. This style gives a lovely silhouette of the head without any bulk or bunching at the back. The drop veil style also has a blusher, the front part of the veil that covers the face and is then lifted to sit at the back, thus creating a two-tier veil.
The veil's hand-embroidered flowers added a little weight to the silk, preventing it from flying away and interrupting the line of Middleton's skirt. This ensured the veil beautifully framed her train without detracting from the overall look. The combination of the drop veil style and the weight of the embroidery created a timeless and elegant look, befitting a royal wedding.
Wedding Buffet Lines: How Long Should Guests Typically Wait?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$44.32 $47.11
Kate's 'something blue' was sewn into her gown
Kate Middleton's wedding veil was made of ivory silk tulle and featured hand-embroidered flowers. It was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, with whom the Duchess worked closely on the design. The veil was a drop veil, meaning it didn't have a gather of tulle onto the comb, giving a lovely silhouette without any bulk or bunching at the back. It was attached to a thin lining at the bottom of her tiara, so it was almost invisible.
Now, for Kate's "something blue", a blue ribbon was sewn into the interior of her wedding gown, according to Good Housekeeping. This detail followed the bridal tradition of including "something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue" in the wedding ceremony. In Kate's case, "old" was represented by a lace technique from the 1800s used on her dress. "New" was a pair of diamond-set oak leaf earrings with a pear-shaped diamond drop and a pave set diamond acorn, given to her by her parents. "Borrowed" was the Cartier Halo tiara, loaned to her by the Queen, which was purchased by King George VI in 1936 for the Queen Mother.
The Wedding Cord: Length and Cultural Significance Explored
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The veil was a drop veil, attached to a thin lining at the bottom of the tiara
The veil worn by Kate Middleton, now the Princess of Wales, on her wedding day was a drop veil. This style of veil is a common feature of royal weddings and is characterised by the absence of a gather of tulle onto a comb, creating a sleek silhouette. Instead of a comb, Middleton's veil was attached to a thin lining at the bottom of the tiara, making it invisible. This gave the veil a seamless appearance, as if it were one piece with the tiara.
The drop veil style is known for its simplicity and elegance, and it complemented Middleton's intricate Alexander McQueen wedding gown, designed by Sarah Burton. The veil was made of soft, ivory silk tulle and featured hand-embroidered flowers. It is reported that the veil was inspired by English cottage gardens, with delicate embroidery creating a quintessentially English look. The length of the veil is not specified in sources, but it is described as long and is estimated to have been at least two metres and 70 centimetres, as it extended beyond the length of the dress's two-metre-long train.
The process of creating Middleton's veil involved a high level of attention to detail and craftsmanship. The veil, along with the gown and its accessories, was crafted by a team of seamstresses and embroiders who followed strict guidelines to ensure perfection. This included washing their hands every 20 to 30 minutes to prevent any oil or dirt from tarnishing the fabric.
The veil was secured by the Cartier Halo Tiara, also known as the Cartier Scroll Tiara, which was loaned to Middleton by the late Queen. The tiara, featuring 739 brilliant diamonds and 149 baton diamonds, added a touch of sparkle and royalty to the ensemble. Overall, the combination of the drop veil style, the delicate fabric, and the intricate embroidery contributed to the timeless and classic look that has made Middleton's wedding veil one of the most iconic in history.
The Deer Hunter: Wedding Scene Duration Explored
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Kate Middleton's veil was 16.5 feet long.
It was a drop veil, which means it didn't have a gather of tulle onto the comb.
To hold the veil in place, Middleton wore the Queen's Cartier Halo tiara, which was purchased by King George VI for the Queen Mother in 1936.
