Ahead of today’s coronation ceremony, the tabloid rumour mill went into overdrive with one question – will Kate Middleton ditch her tiara in favour a flower crown?? – leaving us mere mortals scratching our heads at precisely when the Corrie Naish became mistaken with Coachella. When we got out first glimpse at the Princess of Wales this morning on the steps of Westminster Abbey, the rumours were confirmed – Kate did indeed have flowers in her hair. Except this was no mere daisy chain, wilting slowly over the course of the day. Instead, Kate’s flower-crown-to-end-all-flower-crowns was the creation of British fashion house Alexander McQueen, in collaboration with royal milliner Jess Collett, and crafted from silver bullion, shimmering with thousands of crystals and embellished with silver-thread leaf embroidery.
In a nod to her newly-crowned father-in-law King Charles’s love of horticulture, the Princess of Wales also wore a beautiful ivory silk Alexander McQueen gown trimmed with silver embroidery representing the four home nations – an English rose, a Scottish thistle, a Welsh daffodil and an Irish Shamrock. Kate also matched with her daughter Princess Charlotte, who wore a miniature version of her floral headpiece, teamed with a striking white cape dress also by Alexander McQueen.
Who Is Jess Collett?
Jess Collett held her first 'hat party' at the age of 7 - and has now been a couture milliner for 25 years. As well as making winter hats like fedoras, berets and trilbys, the brand also sells hairbands, clips and veils. Past celebrity clients include Pippa Middleton, who's worn her designs repeatedly over the years, as well as Princess Beatrice. Could Kate's younger sister - or her cousin-in-law - have given her the tip for today? Possibly.
Why Did Kate Choose Alexander McQueen?
It’s not the first time the royal has chosen to wear the label now designed by Sarah Burton, trusting the British fashion house for some of the most important occasions in her royal career, from the red carpet to the Buckingham Palace balcony. The most iconic moment, of course, being the Victorian-inspired lace bridal gown, complete with 8ft train, she wore to her own wedding to Prince William in 2011, as well as the white Grecian gown to attend the BAFTAs in February and an ivory ensemble – which she also owns in several other colours – for Princess Charlotte’s christening.
Undoubtedly, her decision to rep British style has long been the bookies favourite and will come as a surprise to few. In the run up to today’s ceremony, Kate flew the flag in the most literal sense, wearing red, white and blue - in that order – to three separate engagements.
On Thursday, she sported the same poppy red tailored coat by Eponine London wore to last year’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations to pop into Soho’s Dog & Duck pub, via the Tube, for a swift lunchtime pint - leaving the internet to dub her the 'Princess of ales'.
The day before the coronation, she was spotted on a walkabout in the capital in a polished white Jenny Packham sheath dress, before changing for the evening reception into an elegant royal blue shift by London label Self-Portrait.