28 April 2023 , 06:00
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The Prince and Princess of Wales will be celebrating their 12-year ‘silk’ wedding anniversary this weekend.
All eyes were on the royal couple as Prince William and the then- Kate Middleton tied the knot in a beautiful ceremony at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011.
Kate’s stunning dress drew a huge amount of attention from royal fans, but many didn’t spot a secret hidden in the gorgeous garment.
Kate obviously wanted to follow the old bridal tradition of something old, new, borrowed and blue for the ceremony.
For her marriage to Prince William, old was represented by a lace technique dating back to the 1800s on her wedding dress.
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Kate Middleton in her stunning gown (ExpressStar)Designer Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen used traditional Carrickmacross craftsmanship in making the gown.
Kate's something blue was also featured in the dress in the form of a blue ribbon.
The dress itself was a cause of consternation after Kate’s attempts to keep the name of her designer secret until the big day failed and Sarah Burton's name leaked in the lead-up to the wedding.
Speaking on Channel 5 documentary Secrets of the Royal Dressmakers, royal expert Katie Nicholl discussed how much this upset the future Duchess of Cambridge.
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."
The Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton April 2011 (AFP/Getty Images)Her something borrowed was a sparkling diamond tiara from Prince William's grandmother the Queen, the 1936 Cartier "halo". The Queen loaning the bride a tiara is a tradition of royal weddings.
And something new were the earrings given to her by her parents Carole and Michael to mark her wedding day.
Created by Robinson Pelham, they were diamond-set stylised oak leaves with a pear-shaped diamond set drop and a pave set diamond acorn suspended in the centre.
They were inspired by the Middleton family's new coat of arms, which includes acorns and oak leaves, and were created to echo and complement the tiara.