Kate Middleton's Wedding Dress To Be Exhibited At Buckingham Palace

Did your invitation to the Royal Wedding get lost in the mail? (Ours, too!)

No worries: officials from Buckingham Palace's Royal Collection announced on Monday that the Duchess of Cambridge's famed Alexander McQueen gown and other wedding day goodies will go on public display this summer, the AP reports.

Also included in the exhibit, the Telegraph revealed, will be Kate Middleton's Alexander McQueen shoes, Cartier tiara, Robinson Pelham diamond earrings, and even the royal couple's wedding cake.

The announcement comes after weeks of speculation as to where the dress would first go on display -- the Victoria & Albert Museum and the Hampton Court Palace were both considered possibilities. A Clarence House spokesman told the Telegraph last Thursday, "The Duchess of Cambridge is considering a number of options to give members of the public the opportunity to see, close-up, the skilled British craftsmanship that went into the making of her wedding dress by Sarah Burton and her team as well as the Royal School of Needlework."

Now, like Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II's dresses before it, the Sarah Burton-designed confection will join the royal treasures of Buckingham Palace's state rooms.

Planning a summer vacation to London? The exhibition will run from July 23 through October 3 as part of the state room tour, which costs about $29. Now, if only an Alexander McQueen dress could be had for such a low price...

Comments

[ScarlettMocha]

03:07 PM on 06/09/2011

The gown was beautiful, simple and classy.

[nana4g]

09:50 AM on 06/09/2011

This wedding gown was everything I, a nobody, wanted and hoped it would be. Simple, elegant, classic, no sparkles, bangles, puff and pouf, no strapless, no belts or binding. It is a work of art, with the hand embroidered and appliqued hand made lace and I loved the way the skirt fell from the back bustle. The veil was exquisite. Every move she made in that Abbey, the dress, train, followed her and flowed with her. She looked like an English maiden, modern, and at times, as if she were straight out of days of yore, especiall side views. The only thing I had wanted was for her to wear her hair in a low chignon, but, that was just me, and her choice was perfect, to wear it down. She was the most beautiful bride I have seen in a very, very long time. The ceremony, the prayers, the "theme" of Caritas and Amor, was telling of who they intend to be, as a married couple and family, as partners in their work and their mission in public life. And I wish the music would be put on a CD for sale, proceeds to their charities.

[Yasky2012]

07:24 PM on 06/08/2011

I'm always curious why guys tend to stick together and women are SO CADDY about one another. Are women REALLY that insecure and miserable?

[Wistfulslinking]

01:48 PM on 06/09/2011

They like golf.

[bravenewgirl]

07:57 PM on 06/07/2011

What a joy it must have been to wear a dress that was so exquisitely designed, and put together with such fabulous craftsmanship - the lace and embroidery were just magnificent.

[Lucky22]

10:05 AM on 06/07/2011

The dress is very pretty but cost well way over to much a cheaper dress would have been just as pretty but thats was what she wanted for her wedding an it was her money.

[Westies]

08:40 AM on 06/07/2011

I absolutely loved the dress, It was very elegant...to each her own. But with that said, I loved my own own dress as well, don't need to spend that much money to look good.

[classygirlkq1]

02:21 AM on 06/07/2011

Don't get me wrong, Kate could rock a burlap sack, but I was underwhelmed at the dress. It was elegant and classy, and don't know why, but it struck me as being kind of Blah. Ditching the grandmotherly lace sleeves and a decent hairdo I think would have gone a long way.

[ABXNOMORE]

08:17 AM on 06/07/2011

Totally agree. It was nothing extra special, did not enhance her looks and her hair do was terrible. She looks better on an average day than she looked on her wedding day.

[travelingblogger]

02:02 PM on 06/07/2011

It was very humid that day, so the hair pretty much went south on everyone. Also pretty much why she rode in an air conditioned car instead of the airless glass coach (Diana almost fainted riding in it; no ventilation).

To me, the dress was simple, classic, tasteful, elegant, and understated. She took into account the economics of the day and that people would be screaming if she went all out.

Remember that this was not to be an elaborate wedding. William is 2nd in line to the throne, not the immediate heir. I think we all were expecting another grand display as was Diana & Charles', who is the immediate heir to the throne.

[Balefull]

08:26 PM on 06/07/2011

A lady always covers her arms in church.

[Ugonna]

11:23 PM on 06/06/2011

I was hoping you meant Pippa's dress! Much more interesting.

[sbhibbing]

05:03 PM on 06/06/2011

Beautiful dress and beautiful bride!

[Diana Bitritto]

04:23 PM on 06/06/2011

The dress was nice but nothing spectacular.

[Wistfulslinking]

09:50 AM on 06/07/2011

It was never meant to be "spectacular" or over the top, the gown was meant to be appropriate and historically correct as befitting a future British queen.

The upper classes and monarchy eschew "showiness". In fact to "try" to be fashionable is considered vulgar and lower class. A Brit or Prep doesn't have to try.

It is enough to be oneself. i.e., American "preppy". A duchess only wears old tweeds and rarey anything designer.

We "Preps", only drive older cars and never, ever over dress or follow noticeable trends. Always classic, always demure, always just right.

[Linda Haywood]

10:20 AM on 06/07/2011

Yes, it was historically correct but very boring. I think everyone was expecting an over the top memorable dress. I think the dress for the reception was more memorable than her wedding dress. I just think she played it safe, not wanting to disappoint the the queen, but I think she disappointed all of us. I don't think it was age appropriate either, come on she's not that old that she had to cover it all up with all that boring lace and what was up with her hair. I had told my husband that I am courious to see what her hair is going to look like. I figured it would be fabulous, and then I saw boring. That was not traditional for a royal wedding, traditional was an up-do. I think she should have gone with tradition.

[agness nutter]

11:10 AM on 06/07/2011

This may well be the funniest thing you've ever posted. Hilarious.

[travelingblogger]

04:12 PM on 06/06/2011

I'm really curious: exactly how much did this dress cost to make (in US dollars)?

[Wistfulslinking]

08:38 PM on 06/06/2011

The dress was, of course, free.

[ABXNOMORE]

08:19 AM on 06/07/2011

Good thing it was free because it wasn't any thing too special. Not the best look for her and certainly not the V neck line. She looks better on a average day then she did on her wedding day.

[travelingblogger]

02:16 PM on 06/07/2011

Hmm.. ok, let me rephrase:

If I wanted to have that gown made for my wedding by that designer, what would I be expected to pay?

[Hardyman1966]

03:49 PM on 06/06/2011

Nice. I just wish the exchange rate to England wasn't always so brutal. :)

[Wistfulslinking]

09:44 AM on 06/07/2011

It was a tad better this Summer.