11 November 2023 , 10:00
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Planning a wedding is a joyful experience. But it can also be incredibly stressful for the couple involved, with a seemingly endless list of things to organise. From finding a date that suits everyone, to deciding who makes the guest list, arranging the perfect day can take years in the making.
So spare a thought for the Prince and Princess of Wales, who had just four months to sort everything out - with the added pressure of knowing their wedding would be watched by millions of people around the world.
The day was absolutely perfect. But there were reportedly tears behind the scenes when details of one of the most important aspects of the wedding - Kate's dress - were leaked to the press.
Kate looked radiant on her special day (Getty Images)
Kate's beautiful wedding gown was revealed when she stepped out of her car outside Westminster Abbey on her wedding day (Getty Images)The bride-to-be had done everything she could to keep the identity of the designer - Alexander McQueen's Sarah Burton - a secret but word got out and hit the headlines. At the time, The Sunday Times reported: "A fashion source said that the dress will be a combination of Middleton's own design ideas and Burton's deep knowledge and understanding of high fashion."
Speaking on Channel 5 documentary, Secrets of the Royal Dressmakers, Katie Nicholl claimed Kate was heartbroken once she realised the secret was out. She said: "Behind the scenes I think that caused tears at the Palace because Kate had done everything she could to keep the wedding dress a secret."
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Designer Sarah, of course, denied any involvement until she was officially confirmed as the designer when Kate stepped out of the car in front of Westminster Abbey in 2011.
She later spoke about her experience working with Kate to create the gown, and said: "Some people think … that I'm afraid to speak up about the happy experience I had creating the Duchess of Cambridge's [now Princess of Wales] 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. I loved making the dress…and 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. And I was honoured to pick up the challenge and always will be."
And the leak certainly didn't seem to bother Kate on the big day. She was the most beautiful bride and she couldn't have looked happier to get her fairytale ending and marry her Prince.