Kate Middleton and Prince William's royal wedding on April 29, 2011 included many memorable moments people are still talking about today, on the couple's 10th wedding anniversary. But no detail has stood the test of time quite like Kate's iconic wedding dress.
Kate's gown was created by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, and the Duchess worked closely with Burton on the design of the dress. "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," the Palace revealed in a statement on Will and Kate's wedding day. "Miss Middleton wished for her dress to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterizes Alexander McQueen’s work. "
Read on for eight surprising details you might not know about Kate Middleton's gown:
The dress was Victorian-inspired.
Specifically, the bodice was inspired by the Victorian tradition of corsetry, meaning it narrowed at the waist and was padded slightly below the midsection, according to a statement released by the Palace. This particular style is also an Alexander McQueen hallmark.
Kate's train was nearly nine-feet-long.
Or two meters, 70 centimeters long. While the train made for a dramatic entrance into Westminster Abbey, it was actually short compared to Princess Diana's train, which measured a whopping 25 feet in length. Kate's dress also featured 58 gazar and organza- covered buttons on the back, which were fastened by rouleau loops.
The lace work was created by hand.
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. Hand-cut lace flowers, including roses, thistle, daffodils, and shamrocks, were created individually and added onto ivory silk tulle.
The bodice, skirt, and underskirt trim was created out of an English and French Chantilly lace. The French Chantilly lace was the only fabric not sourced or supplied by a British company.
Kate's "something borrowed" was her Cartier tiara.
Talk about the ultimate something borrowed: Kate wore the Queen's Cartier Halo tiara on her wedding day, also known as the Cartier Scroll tiara. The tiara was purchased by King George VI, Elizabeth's father, for the Queen Mother in 1936. It was later given to Elizabeth by the Queen Mother on her 18th birthday. The tiara rested on Kate's ivory silk tulle veil, which featured hand-embroidered flowers.
And her "something blue" was sewn into the dress.
Burton's team sewed a blue ribbon into the interior of the dress to serve as Kate's something blue on her wedding day, according to Good Housekeeping.
Kate's bouquet honored royal tradition and her groom.
Kate's bouquet featured myrtle, lily-of-the-valley, hyacinth, and sweet William, a nod to the groom. The sprig of myrtle came from the same plant used in Queen Elizabeth's wedding bouquet back in 1947, the Palace noted. The tradition of a royal bride carrying myrtle in her wedding bouquet dates back to Queen Victoria's era. Queen Victoria's eldest daughter Princess Victoria carried myrtle in her bouquet when she married in 1858, and royal brides have embraced the tradition ever since.
Kate wore a second wedding dress to the evening reception.
Kate's second wedding dress was another gorgeous design by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen.
The Duchess chose a white strapless satin gown with detailing around the waist for the evening wedding reception, which was held at Buckingham Palace. She topped her second bridal look off with a white shrug. Will also changed for the nighttime celebration, swapping his military uniform for a tuxedo.
This dress was actually the third look created by Burton for the royal wedding day. Burton and her team at Alexander McQueen designed not only the bride's two ensembles but also Pippa Middleton's maid of honor gown. Pippa's dress was made of an ivory, satin-based crepe and had the same buttons and lace trims as the bride's gown.
The dress went on display at Buckingham Palace in 2011.
Kate's wedding dress quickly joined the ranks of the most famous royal wedding dresses in history, and was even treated to an exhibit at Buckingham Palace just months after the wedding took place. The dress was featured in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace during the annual summer opening, and was on display from July 22 through October 3, 2011.
Maggie Maloney is the Site Director of Oprah Daily. She previously worked at Town & Country, Elle DECOR, and Something Navy.
