Kate Middleton Thanks Wedding Dressmakers
The Duchess of Cambridge has personally thanked the people responsible for making her legendary Alexander McQueen wedding gown.
Kate Middleton wed Prince William in London on April 29 last year during a ceremony that made history.
In appreciation of team at the Royal School of Needlework who hand-made the lace applique for the bodice and skirt of the gown, Middleton paid a visit to the school at Hampton Court Palace on Tuesday.
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"She wanted to personally thank them for their work and learn more about what they do there," said a spokesperson at Middleton's office, according to People magazine.
Also commenting, a source close to Middleton told the U.K.'s Daily Telegraph, "Catherine was keen to express her gratitude in person to the women who worked so hard on her dress. She was very conscious of the pressure that they were under."
Chief Executive at the school Susan Kay-Williams expressed her reaction to meeting Prince William's wife.
"It was lovely to meet the Duchess of Cambridge and to show her what the Royal School of Needlework does," said Kay-Williams speaking to the Telegraph.
Her wedding gown by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen was featured in a display at Buckingham Palace last summer, and has inspired thousands of brides to emulate its style. The creation was kept tightly under wraps ahead of the royal nuptials last year and was worked on in secrecy.
"Miss Middleton chose British brand Alexander McQueen for the beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing," the palace said directly before the wedding.
"Miss Middleton wished for her dress to combine tradition with modernity with the artistic vision that characterizes Alexander McQueen's work. Miss Middleton worked closely with Sarah Burton in formulating the design of her dress."
Today the dress is kept in storage run by the Royal Collection.
After millions viewed the April 29 ceremony, statistics indicated that brides all over the world were influenced by Middleton's wedding dress, jewelry, and decor.
In the U.S. the Duchess' hand-embroidered veil resulted in a 52 percent increase in American brides choosing to wear veils, according to Brides Magazine.
Also, there was a 200 percent increase in requests for horse-and-carriage rentals in the U.S. - another inspiration drawn from the Royal Wedding.
Another trend following in the footsteps of the Duchess of Cambridge is the use of red aisle runners. These saw a 25 percent increase in sales, similar to the dramatic decor of Westminster Abbey the day of the British wedding.
