Deborah Chan
Princess Kate's wedding dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, has become one of the most famous royal wedding dresses in history. The dress, which featured a fitted white V-neck gown with a long-sleeved lace overlay, was worn by Kate Middleton when she married Prince William at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011. The dress, which is believed to have cost £250,000, was later put on display at Buckingham Palace for the public to view. So, where is the iconic dress now?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Designer | Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen |
| Style | Fitted white V-neck gown with long-sleeved lace overlay |
| Cost | Rumoured to be $434,000 |
| Date worn | 29 April 2011 |
| Location worn | Westminster Abbey, London, England |
| Displayed | Buckingham Palace from 22 July to 3 October 2011 |
| Flowers in the lace | Roses, thistle, daffodils, and shamrocks |
| Tiara | Cartier Halo tiara |
| Bouquet | Myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, hyacinth, and sweet William |
| Second dress | White strapless satin gown with a matching shrug |
Explore related products
$37.98 $39.99
$39.99 $45.99
What You'll Learn
Kate Middleton's wedding dress designer
The wedding dress worn by Catherine Middleton when she married Prince William on 29 April 2011 was designed by English designer Sarah Burton, the creative director of the luxury fashion house Alexander McQueen. The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media. Replicas of the dress were produced and sold, and the original dress was displayed at Buckingham Palace from 23 July 2011 until 3 October 2011 during the annual summer exhibition.
The dress featured a fitted, long-sleeved, V-neck lace overlay, with a Victorian-style bodice and ivory and white satin gazar skirt. The lace bodice echoed that worn by Grace Kelly for her marriage to Rainier III, Prince of Monaco, in 1956. The lace designs included roses, thistles, dafodils, and shamrocks, representing the national flowers of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, respectively. The lace appliqué on the skirt and bodice of the dress was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework, which is based at Hampton Court Palace. The dressmakers used the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s.
The dress was noted for its combination of tradition and modernity, with the artistic vision that characterises Alexander McQueen's work. Burton said in a statement on the royal wedding day, "It has been the experience of a lifetime to work with Catherine Middleton to create her wedding dress, and I have enjoyed every moment of it."
Burton's name was officially revealed as the designer of the princess's wedding gown on the morning of the wedding. Buckingham Palace explained Kate's choice of the British designer in a statement on the royal family website:
> Miss Catherine Middleton's wedding dress has been designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen. Miss Middleton chose British brand Alexander McQueen for the beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing.
In addition to her wedding dress, Burton also designed a second dress for Kate to wear to the evening reception at Buckingham Palace: a white strapless satin gown with diamante detailing at the waist, paired with a matching shrug.
Wedding Dress Trials: A Preview of Your Dream Dress
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$44.99 $49.99
$34.98 $55.99
The dress on display at Buckingham Palace
Kate Middleton's wedding dress was put on display at Buckingham Palace from 22 July to 3 October 2011. The exhibition was part of the palace's annual summer opening, and more than 600,000 people came to see the dress. The display broke royal records.
The dress was exhibited in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace. Before the exhibition was open to the public, Kate and the late Queen Elizabeth II took a tour of the displays. A video of the Queen's reaction to the exhibition went viral on TikTok. In the video, the Queen turns to Kate and says, "Horrid, isn't it?" to which Kate replies, "Without my face there?" The Queen then says, "Horrible…dreadful."
The dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and featured handmade lace, floral appliqués, long sleeves, a deep V-neck, and an eight-foot train. The lace appliqué on the skirt and bodice of the dress was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework, which is based at Hampton Court Palace. The dressmakers used the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s. The dress is believed to have cost £250,000.
The exhibition also included Kate's veil and tiara. The tiara was the Cartier Halo tiara, which was loaned to Kate by Prince William's grandmother, the Queen. It was purchased by King George VI for the Queen Mother in 1936.
How to Care for Your Wedding Dress
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$50.14 $55.99
The dress's handmade lace
The dress's designer, Sarah Burton, is known for her work with the fashion house Alexander McQueen. In a statement, Buckingham Palace explained Kate's choice of the British designer:
> "Miss Catherine Middleton's wedding dress has been designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen. Miss Middleton chose the brand for the beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing."
The dress, a long-sleeved V-neck gown with a lace overlay, was designed to pay tribute to the United Kingdom through its intricate lace embroidery. It quickly became one of the most famous royal wedding dresses, with over 600,000 people viewing it during its display at Buckingham Palace in 2011.
The lace on Kate's wedding dress is a testament to the skilled craftsmanship and attention to detail that went into its creation. The combination of handmade lace techniques, Victorian-era influences, and meaningful messages made it a truly iconic and unforgettable part of royal wedding history.
The Mother of the Groom: Friend or Foe When Shopping for a Wedding Dress?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The dress's Victorian-era influences
Princess Kate's wedding dress, designed by Sarah Burton, the British creative director of Alexander McQueen, was a once-in-a-generation opportunity to cement the Waleses as the future faces of the Royal Family. The dress, which cost $434,000, successfully combined tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterises Alexander McQueen's work.
The dress featured Victorian-era influences, including the Victorian tradition of corsetry, which also happened to be a trademark style of Alexander McQueen. The lace bodice narrowed at the waist, had padding at the hips, and was adorned with 58 gazar and organza-covered buttons, fastened by Rouleau loops. The dress's bodice, with a narrow waist and slight padding at the hips, exemplifies traditional Victorian corsetry techniques.
The Victorian influence is also evident in the "exaggerated" flourish at the back of the dress, described as a "Victorian bustle detail" by fashion historian Sarah Collins. This detail added a slight edge to the classic wedding dress silhouette, showcasing Burton's ability to push the boundaries of fashion while respecting tradition.
Additionally, Princess Kate followed Victorian wedding traditions, including the "something borrowed" custom. Her "something borrowed" was Queen Elizabeth's Cartier Halo Tiara, which had 888 diamonds. The tiara was purchased by Queen Elizabeth's father, King George VI, for the Queen Mother in 1936 and was gifted to Queen Elizabeth on her 18th birthday.
The True Cost of Meghan Markle's Wedding Gown
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The dress's cost
The wedding dress of Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Princess of Wales, is considered one of the most famous royal wedding dresses in history. The dress was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen. The dress featured handmade lace, Victorian-era influences, and many meaningful messages. Burton's team sewed a blue ribbon into the interior of the dress to serve as Kate's "something blue". The lace appliqué on the skirt and bodice of the dress was handmade by the Royal School of Needlework, based at Hampton Court Palace. The dressmakers used the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s. The total cost of the gown is rumoured to have been $434,000, equivalent to $617,000 today.
The dress was widely anticipated and generated much comment in the media. Replicas of the dress were produced and sold, and the original dress was on display at Buckingham Palace from 22 or 23 July 2011 until 3 October 2011 during the annual summer exhibition. The display of the dress brought out more than 600,000 people to see it.
Kate also wore a second dress to the wedding reception, also designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. The second dress was a white strapless satin gown with a full circle skirt and a band of diamante detailing at the waist.
Finding the One: Doubting Your Wedding Dress
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Kate's wedding dress was displayed in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace from 22 July to 3 October 2011.
Kate's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
Kate drew inspiration from Grace Kelly's 1956 wedding gown when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco. The dress was also inspired by the Victorian tradition of corsetry.
