
Kate Middleton's wedding dress is considered one of the most expensive royal wedding dresses of all time. The gown, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, cost $434,000. The dress featured handmade lace created by the Royal School of Needlework, with images of roses, thistles, daffodils, and shamrocks on both the bodice and skirt. The style of the dress, with its long sleeves and vintage-inspired design infused with modern elements, influenced wedding fashion in the years following the royal wedding in 2011.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen |
| Cost | $434,000 |
| Style | Ivory and white satin gazar ball gown with long sleeves |
| Details | Handmade lace, silk tulle underskirt, lace bodice, appliquéd flowers (roses, thistles, daffodils, and shamrocks) |
| Accessories | Robinson Pelham earrings, a bouquet by Shane Connolly, a veil |
| Date | 29 April 2011 |
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What You'll Learn

Kate Middleton's wedding dress cost $434,000
Kate Middleton's wedding dress was a topic of much speculation and interest when she married Prince William in 2011. The world watched as she walked down the aisle in a stunning gown, and many wanted to know the cost of the dress. Well, it has been revealed that the future Queen Consort's dress cost a whopping $434,000 (around £300,000).
The dress was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen and featured a intricate lace appliqué, a long train, and a delicate veil. The cost of the dress is mainly due to the intricate craftsmanship and the use of expensive fabrics and materials. The dress is said to have taken months to create, with a team of seamstresses working tirelessly to create the perfect gown for the royal wedding.
The $434,000 price tag includes the cost of the fabric, the design process, and the hours of labor that went into creating the dress. It is also reported that the royal family may have contributed to the cost of the dress, as is traditional for royal weddings. The dress is now considered a iconic piece of fashion history and is remembered as one of the most beautiful and elegant wedding dresses of all time.
While the cost of Kate Middleton's wedding dress may seem extravagant to some, it is important to remember the significance of the occasion and the fact that royal weddings are often on a grander scale than your average wedding. Additionally, the dress is likely to have increased in value since the wedding, becoming a valuable piece of royal memorabilia.
The dress has certainly earned its place in fashion history, and its cost reflects the skill, time, and artistry that went into its creation, ensuring that it remains an iconic symbol of modern royalty.
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The dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen
The wedding dress worn by Catherine Middleton when she married Prince William on 29 April 2011 was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. Burton, who had been McQueen's right-hand woman for years, was named as the designer's successor after he died by suicide in 2010.
The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media. Fashion experts noted that the design was largely traditional and drew inspiration from dresses from the 1950s. The dress was also expected to influence Western bridal gown trends.
The gown was an ivory and white satin gazar ball gown with a Victorian-style bodice and a nearly 9-foot-long train. The bodice featured lace, echoing the one worn by Grace Kelly in 1956. The majority of the dress was made using Solstiss lace, specifically the skirt and train. The floral motifs in the lace designs included roses, thistles, daffodils, and shamrocks, representing the national flowers of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, respectively.
The dress was kept a closely guarded secret until the bride arrived at Westminster Abbey just before the service. In a statement, the palace said that Middleton chose the British brand "for the beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing." The dress was reportedly worth $434,000.
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It featured metres of lace and a nine-foot-long train
The wedding dress worn by Catherine Middleton, now known as the Princess of Wales, on her wedding day on 29 April 2011 was designed by English designer Sarah Burton, creative director of the luxury fashion house Alexander McQueen. The dress was an ivory and white satin gazar ball gown. It featured a nine-foot-long train and metres of lace, including handmade lace created by the Royal School of Needlework. The lace design was hand-engineered (appliquéd) using the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s. The lace bodice echoed that worn by Grace Kelly for her marriage to Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, in 1956. The dress was also covered in floral motifs, with images of roses, thistles, daffodils, and shamrocks placed on both the bodice and skirt. These flowers represented the national flowers of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, respectively.
The lace used for the dress was not specially commissioned but was chosen from stock patterns. The style of machine lace was called "English Cluny" and "Chantilly", though these names should not be confused with the older handmade bobbin laces of the same names. The lace that was formerly known as Sophie Hallette's "950264" is now known as "Kate's lace", though this lace was only used for the bodice of the dress. The skirt and train were made of Solstiss lace, a French couture lace company that also made the lace for Grace Kelly's wedding dress.
The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media, with replicas being produced and sold. It was noted for its design, symbolism, and expected influence on Western bridal gown trends. It was largely traditional and inspired by dresses from the 1950s, with a modern twist. The choice of the label and style of the dress was described as "a very clever mix between edgy fashion and tradition—all in a very British way". The dress was considered to be one of the most expensive royal wedding dresses of all time, costing a whopping $434,000.
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The dress was covered in handmade lace, created by the Royal School of Needlework
The wedding dress worn by Catherine Middleton, now known as the Princess of Wales, on her wedding day on April 29, 2011, was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The dress was made of ivory and white satin gazar and featured a lace bodice and skirt. The lace on the dress was not specially commissioned but was chosen from stock patterns. The specific type of lace used for the bodice, "Kate's lace", was not used for the skirt and train, which were made of Solstiss lace.
The lace bodice of Middleton's dress echoed that worn by Grace Kelly when she married Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, in 1956. The dress as a whole was largely traditional and drew inspiration from dresses of the 1950s. It featured long sleeves and a train, signalling a departure from the strapless wedding gowns that had been popular.
The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media, with replicas being produced and sold. It is considered one of the most expensive royal wedding dresses of all time, costing $434,000, or £250,000.
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The gown was believed to have cost her parents £250,000
The world watched on April 29, 2011, as Kate Middleton, now the Princess of Wales, married her prince, William, at Westminster Abbey. Her wedding dress was one of the most highly anticipated reveals of the century, and it did not disappoint. The gown was believed to have cost her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, £250,000, which would equate to roughly $410,000 in American currency at the time.
The dress was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen, and it did not come without controversy regarding its cost. The gown's intricate design and use of luxurious fabrics certainly contributed to its hefty price tag. The dress featured a lace appliqué bodice and skirt, with a V-neckline and long sleeves. The train was relatively modest compared to some royal brides, measuring just under 9 feet long. It was made from ivory and white satin gazar and featured a floral design, incorporating roses, daffodils, thistles, and shamrocks, which represented the four nations of the United Kingdom.
The cost of the dress sparked some debate, with some arguing that it was an unnecessary expense, especially during a time of economic hardship for many. However, others defended the choice, arguing that the wedding was a historic occasion and that the dress would become an iconic symbol of the day. It is also important to note that the Royal Family and the Middletons likely had agreements in place regarding financial contributions to the wedding.
Despite the controversy, the dress was widely praised for its elegance and beauty. It has become one of the most famous wedding dresses in recent history and has been exhibited in various museums, attracting thousands of visitors eager to catch a glimpse of the stunning gown. The dress is a testament to the skill and craftsmanship that went into its creation and will forever be a part of fashion history.
In the end, the cost of the dress is just one aspect of the fairytale wedding that captured the hearts of people around the world. The Duchess of Cambridge's wedding gown will forever be remembered as an exquisite example of modern royal bridal fashion, reflecting both tradition and innovation in its design.
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Frequently asked questions
Kate Middleton's wedding dress cost $434,000.
Kate Middleton's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
The dress was an ivory and white satin gazar ball gown with a lace bodice and skirt made of Solstiss lace.
The design of the dress was largely traditional and inspired by dresses from the 1950s.











































