Kate's Choice: Bridesmaids Over Flower Girls

Kate Middleton and Prince William's wedding was a grand affair, with around 1,900 guests invited to the ceremony and 600 people to a luncheon at Buckingham Palace. The couple chose to have four bridesmaids, including Lady Louise Windsor, Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Grace van Cutsem, and Eliza Lopes, who were all children at the time. While they are sometimes referred to as flower girls, they were officially bridesmaids. This may be because traditionally, bridesmaids at royal weddings tend not to be adults. Kate's choice to have children as bridesmaids instead of adult women may have been influenced by this royal tradition.

Kate Middleton's bridesmaids were all connected to Prince William's side of the family

Kate Middleton's bridesmaids were indeed all connected to Prince William's side of the family. Lady Louise Windsor, the daughter of Prince Edward and cousin of Prince William, was seven years old at the time of the wedding. Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones, the granddaughter of the late Princess Margaret, was eight years old. Grace van Cutsem, the daughter of Prince William's close friend Hugh van Cutsem, was just three years old. Finally, Eliza Lopes, the granddaughter of the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla, was also three years old.

Although none of the bridesmaids were adults, they were all given the title of "bridesmaid" rather than "flowergirl". This may be because, traditionally, bridesmaids at royal weddings tend not to be adults. For example, the bridesmaids at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018 were all children.

Kate's choice of bridesmaids was likely influenced by royal tradition and protocol. It is also worth noting that her sister, Pippa Middleton, was her Maid of Honour, a role that is more commonly associated with American weddings.

The children in the bridal party wore wreaths modelled on Carole Middleton's

The children in the bridal party wore wreaths that were modelled on Carole Middleton's bridal headpiece from her wedding to Michael Middleton in 1980. The four young bridesmaids wore white flower crowns featuring lily of the valley and ivy. Carole's daughter, Kate, paid a heartwarming tribute to her mother by choosing this detail for the royal wedding.

The Duchess of Cambridge's bridal party included Lady Louise Windsor, the daughter of Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex, who was seven at the time of the wedding. The oldest of the bridesmaids, Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones, was eight years old, and she is the granddaughter of the late Princess Margaret and the daughter of the Earl of Snowdon. Eliza Lopes, the Duchess of Cornwall's granddaughter, was three years old when she was a flower girl at the wedding, and Grace van Cutsem, the daughter of Hugh and Rose van Cutsem, was also three.

The children wore white dresses with cream sashes and carried flowers as they walked down the aisle ahead of the bride. The choice of wreaths for the floral girls was one of several details at the wedding that were chosen specifically to honour Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.

Grace van Cutsem, one of the bridesmaids, became famous for her grumpy expressions

Grace van Cutsem, the three-year-old daughter of Prince William's close friend and godfather, Hugh van Cutsem, and Rose Astor, was one of the four bridesmaids at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Grace became famous for her grumpy expressions, covering her ears and pulling a face as the newlyweds kissed on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. The noise from the crowd and the flyover by the Royal Air Force seemed like too much for the toddler, and her expressions inspired many memes. She was dubbed the "Grumpy Bridesmaid" and the "Frowning Flower Girl" by the media, with her candid reactions stealing the limelight from the happy couple.

Grace's family has a long-standing relationship with the royals. Her grandfather, Hugh van Cutsem Sr., was a close friend of Prince Charles, and her great-grandfather trained and bred horses for Queen Elizabeth. Grace's mother, Rose Astor, is a descendant of John Jacob Astor, once the richest person in America. Rose Astor is a yoga instructor and entrepreneur who has previously spoken about her desire to raise her children with good manners and a strong work ethic.

Grace has largely stayed out of the public eye since her memorable appearance at the royal wedding, but she did attend Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018, though she was not a bridesmaid this time. Her younger cousin, Florence van Cutsem, was a bridesmaid at the latter wedding.

The youngest bridesmaid was three years old

The youngest bridesmaid at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton was three years old. The three-year-old bridesmaid was Eliza Lopes, granddaughter of the Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla. She was one of four bridesmaids at the wedding, which took place on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey.

Eliza was the same age as Grace van Cutsem, another of the bridesmaids, who is the daughter of the couple's friend, Hugh van Cutsem. Grace became an internet sensation after she was pictured looking a little overwhelmed on the Buckingham Palace balcony, covering her ears as the newlyweds shared their first public kiss.

The other two bridesmaids were Lady Louise Windsor, Prince William's cousin, who was seven at the time, and Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones, granddaughter of the late Princess Margaret, who was eight.

The bridal party also included two page boys, William Lowther-Pinkerton, who was ten, and Tom Pettifer, who was eight.

The bridesmaids' dresses were designed to have the same timeless purity as Meghan Markle's

For her wedding to Prince William in 2011, Kate Middleton had four bridesmaids, all of whom were children. They were: Lady Louise Windsor, Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones, Grace van Cutsem, and Eliza Lopes. The bridesmaids' dresses were designed with the same timeless purity as Meghan Markle's. The dresses were short-sleeved and white with full skirts. The dresses were made by Givenchy, hand-sewn from measurements only. However, they needed to be altered, as they didn't fit the young bridesmaids. The tailor, Ajay Mirpuri, and his team worked long days and nights to ensure the dresses were ready for the wedding.

The purity and timelessness of the dresses is reflected in their simple, classic design. The short sleeves and full skirts create a youthful and innocent silhouette, perfect for the young bridesmaids. The white colour symbolises purity and innocence, contributing to the timeless and classic aesthetic. The dresses were hand-sewn, demonstrating the attention to detail and craftsmanship that went into their creation.

The dresses were altered by Ajay Mirpuri, owner of Mirpuri Bespoke tailoring workshops in London and Switzerland. Mirpuri and his team worked tirelessly to ensure the dresses were ready in time for the wedding. He described the process as stressful and nerve-wracking, but he was proud of the work they accomplished under pressure. Mirpuri's expertise and dedication ensured that the bridesmaids looked their best on the big day, contributing to the overall elegance and timelessness of the wedding.

The timeless purity of the bridesmaids' dresses at Kate Middleton's wedding is comparable to the elegance and sophistication of Meghan Markle's wedding dress. Both designs prioritised classic aesthetics, creating a lasting impact that will be remembered and cherished for years to come. The dresses exemplified the importance of attention to detail and the desire to create a cohesive and elegant look for the bridal party.

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