KATE MIDDLETON is the daughter-in-law of the late Princess Diana. While the pair sadly never met, both the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Cambridge made their own strong statement on their wedding days.
Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, married Prince William in 2011, but she never had the chance to meet her mother-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales, who tragically passed away in August 1997. Despite never meeting, the two share a significant link through their iconic wedding dresses.
For her wedding, Kate donned a stunning satin and lace gown designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. In contrast, Princess Diana wore an ivory silk taffeta and antique lace dress created by David and Elizabeth Emanuel.
Although the designs were quite different, the dresses share a commonality in their regal essence. Wedding dress designer and founder of Stephanie Moran Couture, Stephanie Moran, noted that both dresses exuded “definite regal status” through their luxurious fabrics and design elements.
“Both ballgowns, with lace details and sleeves, were sensitive to royal traditions while holding their own and making a statement,” she explained, highlighting how each gown represented its wearer’s unique legacy within the royal family.
Kate Beavis, who runs the wedding blog Magpie Wedding, agrees, explaining that both designs were hugely influential in the design of wedding dresses in the future.
“Although Kate and Diana’s dresses were very different, they really impacted the world of wedding dress design and changed the direction of style,” she says.
“Kate went for a simpler style than Diana, with a subtle yet beautiful silhouette (after all, we were in the middle of a global recession) while Diana went for puffy sleeves, a large train and a veil.”
Take a tip from Terry Fox, a high-end bridal designer who worked with Emanuels and Zandra Rhodes after the wedding.
“Yes, there are some similarities between the two dresses,” she says.
Terry detailed how both of the dresses were “nipped in the waist”, had full skirts, and close fitting bodices.
“Both created a huge refreshing change in the design of bridal wear trends, instantly,” she added.
