Think back to Kate Middleton and Prince William’s enchanted Westminster Abbey nuptials twelve years ago. The magical day in royal history was actually marred by a scandal that very few people are aware of, despite the fact that the royal couple enchanted the country as they exchanged vows.
On her wedding day, the Princess of Wales looked every inch the stunning bride while wearing an exquisite lace bridal gown created by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. It’s difficult to forget the whimsical wedding gown that propelled Kate into the royal spotlight, with its impressive 8.85 ft train, opulent lace bodice, and hidden family tributes stitched into the seams.
Five years later, when bridal designer Christine Kendall filed a lawsuit against the British fashion house, alleging a violation of copyright, Princess Kate’s custom wedding dress continued to generate controversy.
Christine asserted that the Princess of Wales’ wedding gown was remarkably similar to the sketches she had made for it. She also believed that without her influence, the royal’s wedding dress would not have been what it was.
This wasn’t a big deal at first, but then Christine claimed that the palace had thanked her for her designs after putting out a call for designs from British designers.
Christine Kendall reportedly filed a lawsuit against Alexander McQueen, according to The Sunday Times, though they were “utterly baffled” by the claims.
In a statement, the fashion house said: “Christine Kendall first approached us at Alexander McQueen almost four years ago, when we made it clear to her that any suggestion Sarah Burton’s design for the royal wedding dress was a copy of her designs was nonsense.”
Prior to Princess Kate’s arrival at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011, the identity of the wedding dress’s designer was kept a secret from the general public.
The gown’s embroiderer, Amanda Ewing, spoke candidly about the level of secrecy surrounding its production. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity, she continued, adding: “We knew who it was for, but it was very secret – we had net curtains up, cleaners were not allowed into the room, and the code on the door was changed.”