14 Years Later, We’re Still In Love With Kate Middleton’s Wedding Dress

It’s a royal wedding anniversary: on this day in 2011, Prince William and Catherine Middleton took their vows in Westminster Abbey, kicking off the next generation of royal nuptials. And while it’s been over a decade since we saw it for the first time, Kate Middleton’s wedding dress continues to set the (royal) standard for brides all over the world. In celebration of the couple’s 14th wedding anniversary, we revisit the moment that would go on to change bridal fashion forever.

Looking Back At Kate Middleton’s Wedding Dress

When the black vintage car carrying Kate Middleton and her father Michael pulled up to the front of Westminster Abbey, it was to a merry cacophony of cheering crowds. But when the future princess took those first few steps out onto the pavement, a funny thing happened: all of the onlookers hushed. With only the chiming bells of the abbey acting as the soundtrack, the nation got its first full look at the new royal in all her bridal bliss.

But the collective breath-holding didn’t last for long. The princess would soon step forward (her wedding train being artfully arranged behind her by her father and sister, Pippa), turn to the crowds and wave – setting off another wave of cheers and well-wishes.

As the first royal wedding on British soil in six years (25 years, if we’re not counting Charles and Camilla’s civil service in 2005), fanfare was high for the occasion. Will and Kate, as the couple are affectionately known, had something of a modern fairy tale romance, having met in 2001 while studying at the University of St Andrews. The two didn’t start dating until 2003 – after that famous university fashion show moment – and stayed together for several years before the Prince William proposed in October 2010, using the same engagement ring that his father had proposed to his mother with.

Prince William and Kate Middleton on their wedding day, 29 April 2011 (c) Alamy

And of all the wedding details, none were kept so tightly under wraps as Kate Middleton’s wedding dress. The creation of the bespoke gown sat within a large-scale security operation, with strict confidentiality agreements, rooms hung with net curtains to prevent accidental glimpses and even fake meetings to hide the fact that certain people were working on the dress.

‘We knew who it was for, but it was very secret – we had net curtains up and cleaners were not allowed into the room and the code on the door was changed,’ Mandy Ewing, one of the dress-makers, told Hello!. ‘The dress was all in the news, but nobody knew who was doing it. When you’re working you just focus on it and try not think about what’s in the news. But it was an exciting event and everybody loved working on it — it was a once in a lifetime opportunity.’

And 14 years later, it seems the wait paid off. Kate Middleton’s wedding dress remains one of the most famous in royal (and, let’s face it, global) history, and remains the blueprint for many brides today.

Who Designed Kate Middleton’s Wedding Dress?

Kate Middleton’s wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton, the then-newly appointed Creative Director of British luxury fashion label Alexander McQueen. (Burton had just taken up the mantle the year prior, with her first collection for the house debuting at Paris Fashion Week in September 2010.)

But the challenge of designing a royal wedding dress hot off a major role change at work didn’t seem to phase Burton. ‘I had no idea it would be as big as it was,’ she told The New York Times. ‘Only the night before, seeing all the photographers outside the abbey, did I think, “Oh, my God. This is massive.”‘

Burton has famously been tight-lipped about her time working with Kate on the dress, aside from calling it ‘a magical time’ – but her choice to remain quiet on the topic didn’t come from a place of fear. ‘Some people think … that I’m afraid to speak up about the happy experience I had creating the [Kate Middleton]’s wedding dress, but I can tell you that is nonsense. I have never been a shrinking violet or a person who is ruled by fear,’ she said. ‘I loved making the dress. We put our hearts into it. I respect the intimate nature of that lovely project and I respect the friendships that were forged during it

‘An instinctive, intelligent, imaginative young woman’s wish for a beautiful wedding dress — or any kind of dress — is the most natural thing in the world,’ the designer continued. ‘And I was honoured to pick up the challenge and always will be.’

What Did The Dress Look Like?

Kate Middleton’s wedding dress was reportedly inspired by Victorian wedding gowns, with a narrow waist and padded hips used to create a corseted effect, and a full skirt (designed to look like an opening flower) leading to white satin gazar arches and pleats that formed a semi-bustle.

The ivory and white gown was topped off with 19th century Carrickmacross lace, which was sewn into the appliqué lace detailing, alongside a nine-foot train and a veil decorated with roses, thistles, daffodils and shamrocks.

What Was Her ‘Something Blue’?

Not one to steer away from tradition, the royal did wear something blue – although it was carefully hidden. Kate wore a blue ribbon that was sewn into the inside of her dress as her ‘something blue’, while her ‘something old’ was the Carrickmacross lace incorporated into her dress, the ‘something new’ was her custom-made diamond earrings, and her ‘something borrowed’ was the Halo Tiara that was lent to her by the Queen.

How Much Did It Cost? (& Who Paid For It?)

There’s been plenty of speculation about the cost of Kate bridal gown, with News of the World reporting that it sat at £250,000 shortly after the wedding took place. (Although this was swiftly debunked by a spokesperson at Clarence House.)

While the exact price isn’t known, it’s widely believed that her parents were the ones who paid for the dress to be made, rather than the royal family.

Did Kate Middleton Have A Second Wedding Dress?

Kate changed into a second dress, also by Sarah Burton, at a private reception held at Buckingham Palace. While less recognised than her ceremony gown, it still remains a pretty iconic reception dress. Made from white satin, it ditched the long train in favour of a simpler A-line silhouette and was dressed up with a diamante belt and fluffy cardigan.

Can You Still Watch The Royal Wedding?

Yes, the royal family shared a video of the big day on their official YouTube channel, which recounts the entire ceremony, the parade outside Buckingham Palace and the famous balcony scene. You can watch the royal wedding below (you’ll get your first full look at Kate Middleton’s wedding dress at the one-hour mark):