Kate Middleton Prince William Wedding Anniversary: Kate’s Royal Wedding Gown Re-Visited

When Prince William married Kate Middleton on 29 April, all eyes were on the young bride, who looked beautiful in a Sarah Burton designed outfit that was kept a secret until the day of the wedding. The dress was an English and French Chantilly lace gown designed by Burton (the Creative Director at Alexander McQueen), in addition to ivory duchesse satin shoes that were also handmade by the team at McQueen.

Custom dictates the blushing bride have "something borrowed" as part of her trousseau. The Queen, therefore, gave her a silk tulle veil and a Cartier tiara. Kate's diamond rings were a gift from her parents and, according to Pop Sugar, she carried a bouquet of myrtles, Lily of the Valley, hyacinth and sweet Williams, all of which hold much significance for both the royal family and the Middleton's.

Meanwhile, the Telegraph reported that nearly 200 years of royal history and the heritage of the country's arts and crafts were incorporated into the dress, which was described as being sumptuous in its simplicity but definitely royal. This element of the Duchess of Cambridge's dress dated back to 1840, when Queen Victoria said her bridal gown ought to promote the nation's skills. Therefore, Kate's dress was made from the best of British materials. The graceful lines of the dress were reportedly inspired by Princess Margaret, who was also married at Westminster Abbey. Finally, there also seemed to be inspirations from Princess Diana, who was considered a style icon in her own right.

Every bride dreams of the perfect wedding dress and Kate was no different. She wanted a gown that could combine tradition and modernity. The Telegraph described the gown as "a strapless, Victorian-style corset, narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips - long a signature of the late couturier - underneath a high-necked, long-sleeved, sculpted bodice in intricate lacework and incorporating individual, hand-cut and embroidered flowers representing the rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock". Vogue, meanwhile, content itself with saying: "V-neck décolleté and a silhouette that stayed close to her torso, and long, delicate lace sleeves".

Incidentally, Harper's Bazaar crowned Burton the Designer of the Year, at the Women of the Year Awards last year.