Ok, so firstly, I realise this post is almost a month late, I’ve recently moved house so have only just had access to the internet. I hope you enjoy the post all the same.
29th April 2011, 10.51 am – the moment the whole world had been waiting for since the couple announced their engagement on November 16th 2010 – Catherine Middleton, is helped into the Rolls Royce Phantom (the same car which carried Charles and Camilla during the student riots of 2010) by her father Michael Middleton, and the world gets the very first glimpse of ‘the most famous dress in the world’, although the designer has not yet been named, the details of the dress that can be seen are scrutinised by fashion experts and amateurs alike, from the lace shoulder detail, long sleeves, diamond tiara and scalloped v-neck.
Ten minutes later the soon to be Duchess of Cambridge arrives at Westminster Abbey and steps out of the Rolls Royce, with the aid of younger sister Phillippa and the full view of THAT dress is available for all to see. Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen is announced to be the designer of the dress, more than living up to the fashion houses reputation as the best of British. It truly was a fashion moment for England to be proud of, with full skirt of heavy zibeline, handcut individual flowers worked into the ivory silk tulle and a train measuring 2m 70cm (9 ft), this dress was nothing short of perfect.
Kate opted for the diamond encrusted Cartier Halo tiara, borrowed from the Queen which she received for her 18th birthday in 1936, surprising royal pundits and fashion experts alike. Jewellery expert Vivienne Becker exclusively told Grazia magazine that the tiara has a tradition of being worn by young royals, for instance Princess Margaret wore it a lot in the 1960’s and Princess Anne in the 1970’s’ describing it as a young, decorative and low key choice.
Kate’s bouquet was created by royal florist Shane Connolly and consisted of flowers which all represented something of significance. There was Hyacinth which represented a constancy of love, Ivy to represent fidelity, Sweet William for gallantry, Lily of the Valley for happiness and finally Myrtle to represent happiness.
Kate followed in the footsteps of the Queen Mother who in 1923 left her flowers on the ‘Tomb of the Unknown Warrior’( the tomb of an unknown soldier from world war one which to this day represents Britain’s war loss) as opposed to throwing them at a group of giggling royal females.
With Catherine’s dress, tiara and bouquet aside, there was one more accessory that made her look simply perfect – her smile. What began as a nervous smile in the ride with her Dad, grew into an enormous beam by the time she reached her Price at the altar.
For many, April 29th 2011 will go down as the most memorable and romantic day in decades, for others it will be remembered as the day triumph can from the tragedy that was Lee McQueens death, but for Catherine it will simply be the day she married her one true love.
