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| Photo Credit: Getty Images |
The Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress along with her wedding tiara and earrings will go on display at Buckingham Palace during its annual summer opening. As big as this display is for much of the world (an estimated 3 billion saw the British royal wedding), it may be overshadowed by what is considered by many to be the world’s greatest collection of Fabergé pieces that will also be part of the same opening of the official London residence of Britain's sovereigns.
The exhibition will run from July 23 till October 3, so if you are planning to visit London during this time it’s a good idea to book your tickets now as this double-dose of British royal artifacts will no doubt draw huge crowds from around the world.
The former Kate Middleton’s wedding dress, designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, is made from ivory and white satin-gazar (stiffened organza). The shape of the skirt, with arches and pleats, echoes an opening flower, and the ivory satin bodice, which is narrowed at the waist and padded at the hips, draws on the Victorian tradition of corsetry—a hallmark of Alexander McQueen’s designs. The back of the dress is finished with 58 gazar- and organza-covered buttons fastened by Rouleau loops. The underskirt is made of silk tulle trimmed with Cluny lace. The train is nearly nine feet in length.
The lace appliqué for the bodice and skirt was hand-made by the Royal School of Needlework, founded in 1872. The lace was produced using the Carrickmacross lace-making technique, which originated in Ireland in the 1820s. Individual flowers were hand-cut from lace and hand-engineered on to ivory silk-tulle to create a design that incorporates the rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock. Each lace motif was applied with tiny stitches every two to three millimeters. The bride’s veil, made of layers of soft, ivory silk-tulle with a trim of hand-embroidered flowers, was also embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework.
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| Photo credit: Ben StansallGetty Images |
The veil was held in place by the Cartier ‘Halo’ tiara, which was lent to The Duchess by the queen. The tiara is formed as a band of 16 graduated scrolls set with 739 brilliants and 149 baton diamonds, each scroll being divided by a graduated brilliant with a large brilliant at the center. The tiara was made in 1936 and purchased by The Duke of York (later King George VI) for The Duchess of York (later Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother) three weeks before he succeeded his brother as King. The tiara was presented to Princess Elizabeth (now The Queen) by her mother for her 18th birthday.
The duchess’s earrings were commissioned by the Middleton family as a personal gift to the bride from her parents. They were created by the London-based jewelers Robinson Pelham. The design, stylized oak leaves with a pear-shaped diamond-set drop and a pavé-set diamond acorn suspended in the center, was inspired by the Middleton family's new coat of arms.
The duchess’s wedding shoes, also part of the display, were hand-made by the team at Alexander McQueen, of ivory duchesse satin and lace embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework.
In addition, the duke and duchess’s wedding cake created by Leicestershire-based cake designer Fiona Cairns will be shown in the State Dining Room. The multi-tiered traditional fruit cake was hand-made using British ingredients and decorated with sugar flowers.
The duchess’s earrings were commissioned by the Middleton family as a personal gift to the bride from her parents. They were created by the London-based jewelers Robinson Pelham. The design, stylized oak leaves with a pear-shaped diamond-set drop and a pavé-set diamond acorn suspended in the center, was inspired by the Middleton family's new coat of arms.
The duchess’s wedding shoes, also part of the display, were hand-made by the team at Alexander McQueen, of ivory duchesse satin and lace embroidered by the Royal School of Needlework.
In addition, the duke and duchess’s wedding cake created by Leicestershire-based cake designer Fiona Cairns will be shown in the State Dining Room. The multi-tiered traditional fruit cake was hand-made using British ingredients and decorated with sugar flowers.
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More than 100 pieces from what many consider to be the finest collection of Fabergé in the world will be the other big draw of Buckingham Palace’s public opening. The display will chart the Royal Family’s passion for the work of the great Russian jeweler and goldsmith, Peter Carl Fabergé, over six generations—from Queen Victoria, to Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles.
A number of works will go on display for the first time, including a complete miniature tea set (above) originally belonging to Queen Alexandra is made of gold and enamel to give the impression of porcelain. Each lid is decorated with a tiny ruby.
Other highlights include an Imperial Easter Egg (left), the Basket of Flowers Egg, commissioned by Tsar Nicholas II for Tsarina Alexandra Feodorovna in 1901. It was kept in the Tsarina’s study at the Winter Palace before being confiscated during the Russian Revolution in 1917. It is decorated with gold and rose diamonds and moss made of green gold and was acquired by Queen Mary in 1933. 
In addition, the only known Fabergé figure of a Chelsea Pensioner (left), acquired by King Edward VII on his last visit to Fabergé’s London branch, will also go on display.
All Fabergé photos courtesy of The Royal Collection © 2011