The satin and organza gown with its lace bodice, designed by Sarah Burton, creative director at Alexander McQueen, remained a secret until the big day on April 29th, when it was admired by the public and leading fashion designers alike. The satin-embroidered shoes worn by Catherine Middleton at Westminster Abbey, as well as her diamond earrings matching the tiara lent by the Queen, will also be on display.
An exceptional dress
Among the million people who lined the route for a chance to catch a glimpse of the young couple, very few were close enough to appreciate the exquisite detail of her dress.
The skilled hands of the Royal School of Needlework, who painstakingly stitched each lace flower onto the bodice and skirt with tiny 2-3 mm stitches, had to wash their hands every 30 minutes to avoid tarnishing the ivory. The fine needles had to be changed every three hours to keep them sharp.
"Horrible" and "chilling"
The Queen deemed the presentation of Kate's wedding dress "horrible" and even "chilling" during her preview visit with the new Duchess of Cambridge.
The somewhat ghostly appearance of the mannequin, dressed in the famous lace gown and wearing the tiara and veil, but headless, apparently surprised the monarch, who found the effect "chilling."
Queen Elizabeth II was heard exclaiming "horrible," then "awful," while William's wife explained that it was a "three-dimensional effect."
"It was a private conversation between the Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge, and we do not comment on private conversations," a palace spokesperson said.
The dress, displayed in the center of a vast reception room, raised on a kind of platform, appeared strangely static. A film of the wedding shown in an adjacent room better conveyed the elegance of the dress, worn on April 29 by Kate Middleton.
125,750 tickets sold in advance
Advance ticket sales for the Buckingham Palace tour have already doubled at this time last year, with 125,750 tickets sold.
This year, the temporary exhibition showcases the exquisite eggs from the Fabergé collection, but the dress will likely be the main attraction for many visitors.
"The dress is obviously the star attraction; we expect a busy summer," said the spokesperson for the Royal Collections.
The 19 State Rooms of Buckingham Palace are open to the public from July 23 to October 3.
