Kate’s Unforgettable Second Wedding Dress: A Stunning Departure from Her First, Allowing Her to Dance the Night Away with Grace and Elegance

Kate Middleton was the center of attention 12 years ago when she walked down the aisle to meet Prince William wearing a breathtaking Alexander McQueen gown. The ivory dress, featuring a satin bodice, lace sleeves, and delicate padding at the hips, has since become an inspiration for a whole generation of brides-to-be.

For her wedding on April 29th, the bodice of Kate’s dress had been meticulously hand-stitched by the world’s finest seamstresses at the Royal School of Needlework, utilizing the Carrickmacross technique, which dates back to the 1800s.

However, there was another wedding dress that was only seen by a select few hundred people.

For the ceremony at Westminster Abbey on April 29 2011, Kate wore an ivory Alexander McQueen dress, with a satin bodice, lace sleeves and slight padding at the hips, went on to inspire a generation of brides-to-be

Prince William and his bride Kate leave Westminster Abbey, London, following their wedding

As is traditional for royal brides, Kate changed into a second dress sticking with the same designer Sarah Burton, Creative Director of Alexander McQueen. The dress was made from white satin with embroidered diamante detail around the waist. Here, Kate is pictured  leaving Clarence House to travel to Buckingham Palace

After the wedding ceremony, 300 guests were invited to a private reception and party at Buckingham Palace, which was presided over by Prince Charles. Following the tradition of royal brides, Kate changed into a second dress designed by Sarah Burton, the Creative Director of Alexander McQueen. The dress was made of white satin with an embroidered diamante detail around the waist and did not have a train, allowing the couple to dance the night away. Kate paired the dress with a white angora bolero cardigan and wore her hair down.

Kate’s sister and maid of honor, Pippa Middleton, also changed her outfit for the evening reception. She swapped her famous white gown for a long emerald green sleeveless dress by designer Alice Temperley, featuring a jeweled embellishment on the front and sparkling silver Aruna Seth shoes. The guests danced until 3am, making it a night to remember. Royal author Katie Nicholl shared her insights on the night in her book, “Harry: Life, Loss, and Love.”

Referring to his best man’s speech, she wrote:

‘It was affectionate, warm and funny and touched William deeply,’ she wrote.

‘The speech was peppered with Harry’s classic sense of humour, and he ribbed his brother: ‘William didn’t have a romantic bone in his body before he met Kate, so I knew it was serious when William suddenly started cooing down the phone at Kate’.

‘Famous for his mimicry, Harry then impersonated his brother calling Kate ‘Babykins’, to much laughter from the guests.

‘When he said the couple’s decade-long romance was his inspiration, there was a shy smile from Chelsy, while Kate shed a tear.’

Unlike the impressive dress worn during the ceremony, Kate’s second wedding dress did not have a train, allowing Kate and William to dance the night away

Prince Harry has contradicted claims that he was Prince William’s best man in his memoir, “Spare.” Harry stated that the role was “all for show,” and that “Willy didn’t want me giving a best man’s speech.” According to Harry, the “real” best men were two of William’s closest friends, James Meade and Thomas Van Straubenzee, who gave the traditional speech at the reception.