Emilia Wickstead, one of Kate Middleton's favorite designers, the latest to join the accusations, has had to apologize.
If Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle has become one of the biggest media events of the moment, one of its main protagonists was the bride's dress. As with any classic wedding (and even more so in a royal one), the bride's attire became the center of attention. In the case of the Duchess of Sussex, her choice was a white, raw silk dress with long sleeves and a bateau neckline, topped by an impressive five-meter veil embroidered with the 53 flowers typical of the Commonwealth countries.
The design chosen by Markle was created by the French fashion house Givenchy (Audrey Hepburn's favorite) and was a classic, clean, and simple wedding dress. So much so that comparisons have been made everywhere and of all kinds. Many have seen in it a style very similar to that worn by Infanta Cristina at her wedding to Iñaki Urdangarin in 1997, created by Lorenzo Caprile. It was also compared to a design worn by actress Jennifer Lopez at the end of the film *The Wedding Planner* in 2001. But these aren't the only ones it resembles, as has been seen in a major controversy that has arisen in the United Kingdom in recent days.
There, the issue was sparked by a publication in *The Daily Mail*, which quoted alleged statements from New Zealand-born fashion designer Emilia Wickstead, highly regarded in that country and a favorite of Kate Middleton, wife of Prince William and sister-in-law of Markle. Apparently, the publication spoke with the designer a few days ago, and she said of Prince Harry's new wife: “Her dress is identical to one of ours. Apparently, a lot of commentators were saying, ‘It’s an Emilia Wickstead dress.’”
As if that weren't enough, Wickstead—according to the Mail—added fuel to the fire, saying, “If you choose a simple design, it should fit your body perfectly. Her wedding dress was quite loose.” And to top it all off, she also commented on Meghan's hair: “Pull those strands back. It's a royal wedding, for goodness sake.” All of this has led to a barrage of criticism against the designer; in fact, her Twitter account was suspended (it's unclear whether by her or the platform) this past weekend.
The controversy has been further fueled by Wickstead's Instagram posts. There, the designer (or her team) posted a photo of the royal couple on Sunday, May 20, the day after the wedding, and another on Tuesday, May 22. Since then, over the course of a week, she has posted no fewer than five images of a dress similar to the Duchess's, though without commenting on its resemblance to Meghan's.
Finally, on Sunday, May 27, the designer posted a statement on the social network apologizing. “I am deeply saddened by the comments that have appeared in the press and online over the past few days. Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Sussex looked absolutely radiant on her wedding day, and I have the utmost admiration and respect for her. I do not believe her wedding dress was a copy of any of my designs. I have the greatest respect for Clare Waight Keller and the House of Givenchy, a huge source of inspiration for me. I hope Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have a wonderful, happy, and loving life together,” she wrote, signing her statement with her name, Emilia.
Wickstead's dresses, also in a classic style, have an average price of around £7,000 (approximately €8,000), according to this publication, while the Duchess of Sussex's dress reportedly cost around £200,000 (€228,000).
