Kate Middleton's Wedding Dress Designer Didn't Tell Anyone She Was Creating the Royal's Gown—Not Even Her Own Mom

Before Kate Middleton tied the knot with Prince William on April 29, 2011, she tapped Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen to create her wedding dress. The designer worked on the garment—an elegant ensemble composed of handmade lace, floral appliqués, long sleeves, a deep V-neck, and an eight-foot train—in complete secrecy. In fact, Burton never even told her mother the project she was taking on, reports Marie Claire. “Even my mum called me and asked me, ‘You wouldn’t tell me, would you?’” Burton recalled after the royal couple’s special day.

The Royal School of Needlework was responsible for designing the intricate lace embroidery that covered the frock’s bodice and sleeves, and like Burton, the team also went above and beyond to ensure the piece was closely guarded. “We knew who it was for, but it was very secret,” embroiderer Amanda Ewing said. “We had net curtains up, and cleaners were not allowed into the room, and the code on the door was changed.” To create the fabric, the team cut individual rose, thistle, daffodil, and shamrock flowers from antique lace and hand-appliquéd them onto silk tulle, Marie Claire reports.

According to The Daily Mail, Kate chose Burton as her bridal gown designer after attending Sara Buys and Queen Camilla’s son Tom Parker-Bowles’ nuptials in 2005 at St. Nicholas church in Oxfordshire. The bride wore an Alexander McQueen gown, which was a strapless mermaid-style dress with a layer of tulle beneath the skirt, and Kate was reportedly impressed with the label’s work. “Miss Middleton chose British brand Alexander McQueen for the beauty of its craftsmanship,” the palace said in a statement at the time.

The princess was also inspired by Grace Kelly’s long-sleeved getup featuring a high neck and a lace-embroidered bodice, which she wore when saying “I do” to Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956. The Daily Mail writes that Kate had visited the “Grace Kelly—Style Icon” exhibition at the Victoria & Albert Museum in London a year before her big day, which may have informed the final piece. Kate shared her input and wishes with Burton, so conceptualizing the design was a collaborative effort.

Although Kate’s wedding dress was the most famous of Burton’s work, it wasn’t her only success story. The designer crafted several pieces for other high-profile clients, including Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Zendaya, Lady Gaga, and Gwyneth Paltrow. Burton first started working at the fashion label as an intern in college before officially joining the company as an assistant in 1997. Three years later, she was promoted to the head of womenswear until she succeeded designer Alexander McQueen as the new creative director after his passing in 2010. After 26 years at the company, the designer announced that she’s stepping down from the fashion house’s helm.