Rhiannon Hendricks
The wedding dress worn by Catherine Middleton, now known as the Duchess of Cambridge, when she married Prince William on 29 April 2011, was designed by Sarah Burton, creative director of the luxury fashion house Alexander McQueen. The dress reportedly cost £250,000, or $434,000, and was rumoured to be paid for by Catherine's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Sarah Burton |
| Fashion House | Alexander McQueen |
| Cost | £250,000 ($434,000) |
| Fabric | Ivory and white satin gazar |
| Details | Victorian-inspired corsetry, floral motifs, lace appliqué embroidery, 58 buttons, a blue ribbon, a train measuring 2.7m |
| Tiara | Cartier Halo tiara |
| Earrings | Diamond earrings by Robinson Pelham |
| Veil | Layers of soft, ivory silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers |
| Wedding Date | 29 April 2011 |
| Wedding Venue | Westminster Abbey |
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What You'll Learn
Design and craftsmanship
The design of the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress was kept highly secretive before her wedding to Prince William on 29 April 2011. The dress was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen, a British fashion house owned by Gucci. The dress combined "tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterises Alexander McQueen's work".
The dress featured an ivory satin Victorian-inspired corset bodice, narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, with 58 gazar and organza buttons at the back. The bodice incorporated floral motifs cut from machine-made lace, which were then appliquéd on to silk net (tulle). The main body of the dress was made in ivory and white satin gazar, with a long, full skirt designed to echo an opening flower, with soft pleats that unfolded to the floor, forming a Victorian-style semi-bustle at the back, and finishing in a short train measuring just under three metres in length. The dress also featured hidden details requested by the Princess of Wales, including special nods to the Middletons, her new husband, and her late grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II.
The dressmakers had to follow strict rules and used the finest materials and techniques such as lace appliqué embroidery, which would have taken hours to complete. For example, seamstresses had to wash their hands every 30 minutes to ensure the lace remained pristine. The dress also featured a blue ribbon sewn inside, to partially fulfil the 'something blue' portion of British wedding tradition.
The veil was made of layers of soft, ivory silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers, including the flowers of the United Kingdom: the rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock. The veil was held in place by the Cartier Halo tiara, which was lent to the Duchess by the Queen. The tiara was commissioned in 1936 by King George VI for the Queen Mother, who later gifted it to her daughter for her 18th birthday.
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The dressmaker
The dress was designed to combine tradition and modernity, with the artistic vision characteristic of Alexander McQueen's work. It featured an ivory satin Victorian-inspired corset bodice, narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, with 58 organza-covered buttons at the back. The skirt was made of ivory and white satin gazar, with arches and soft pleats designed to mimic an opening flower, and a train measuring 2.7 metres (8.8 feet). The fabric was sourced from the UK and included lace from Solstiss, the same lacemaker that contributed trim to Grace Kelly's wedding dress.
The dress also incorporated symbolic flowers sewn into the lace pattern, including the flowers of the United Kingdom: the rose, thistle, daffodil, and shamrock. It featured a blue ribbon sewn inside, to represent the 'something blue' portion of the British wedding tradition, and a little extra volume below the midsection to accentuate the narrow waist.
The dress is estimated to have cost around £250,000, or $434,000, making it one of the most expensive dresses of all time. The cost of the dress was reportedly covered by the Duchess's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.
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The lace
In addition to the floral motifs, symbolic flowers were also sewn into the lace pattern, including the flowers of the United Kingdom: the rose, thistle, daffodil, and shamrock. These flowers were also featured on the veil, which was made of layers of soft, ivory silk tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers. The veil was held in place by the Cartier Halo tiara, which was lent to the Duchess by the Queen and featured nearly 1,000 diamonds with one large central gemstone.
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The tiara
The Cartier Halo tiara, which was lent to Kate Middleton by the Queen, was commissioned in 1936 by King George VI for the Queen Mother. It was a gift to the then-Princess Elizabeth on her 18th birthday. The tiara features nearly 1,000 diamonds with one large, central gemstone. To keep the tiara in place, the Duchess of Cambridge's hairdresser, Richard Ward, backcombed the top of her hair to create a foundation for the tiara to sit on. He then created a tiny braid in the middle of her hair and sewed the tiara onto it.
The Cartier Halo tiara was also worn by Princess Eugenie for her wedding to Jack Brooksbank in 2018.
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The veil
The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress and veil were widely anticipated and generated much interest in the media. Replicas of the dress were produced and sold, and the original dress was on display at Buckingham Palace from 23 July 2011 to 3 October 2011, along with the veil, tiara, and other accessories. The exhibition attracted 600,000 visitors.
The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress is believed to have cost around £250,000, with some sources estimating up to $434,000. The dress featured intricate details, such as lace appliqué embroidery, which would have taken a significant amount of time and skilled craftsmanship to create. The cost of the veil is not specifically mentioned, but it is likely that it contributed to the overall expense of the bridal ensemble.
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Frequently asked questions
The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress is estimated to have cost around £250,000.
The dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
The dress was displayed in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace from July to October 2011.
