Carole Middleton's wedding dress gets 'second lease of life' at son James's private wedding
Carole Middleton's wedding dress was proudly worn by bride Alizée Thevenet last week
Carole Middleton's wedding dress took another trip down the aisle this year, after over forty years in hibernation.
- Carole Middleton's wedding dress has been revived after 41 years in hiding, much to the delight of fashion-savvy royal fans.
- The Duchess of Cambridge's mother gifted the vintage dress to her son's wife, Alizée Thevenet, after she "fell in love" with it during wedding preparations.
- In other royal news, Kate Middleton has a secret code word that she uses to get her children to behave.
Kate Middleton's mother gifted her wedding dress to Alizée Thevenet after the bride-to-be "fell in love" with its design during preparations for her big day.
The French financial analyst, who tied the knot with long-term partner James Middleton last week, was blown away by Carole's off-the-shoulder floor-length gown when she first laid eyes on it during lockdown.
She ended up wearing the vintage dress for her intimate wedding reception at a vineyard in southern France, which was attended by an exclusive guest list of 50 close friends and family members. Prince William and Kate Middleton were also there to celebrate the occasion, jetting in with their three children for the romantic ceremony.
Speaking to Hello! magazine in an exclusive interview, Alizée gushed over the memory of finding the perfect dress. She had been staying at the Middletons' family home in Berkshire when she was introduced to her future mother-in-law's bridal gown, an heirloom that's been sitting in storage for 41 years.
A post shared by James Middleton (@jmidy)
A photo posted by on
"While talking about dresses with Carole and sharing ideas during lockdown for inspiration, I tried on her wedding dress and fell in love with it," she told Hello! magazine. "It fitted me perfectly and was exactly what I wanted. It always troubled me that wedding dresses are only worn once, so it was amazing to give such a beautiful dress a second lease of life."
Notably different from Kate Middleton's wedding dress, Carole's white gown features an off-the-shoulder neckline embellished with zigzag lace fabric. It's also much looser than many of the popular royal dresses in recent history, gently draping down the body and sweeping effortlessly to the floor to cover footwear. Alizée allowed the dress to speak for itself, pairing it with minimal jewelry and a breezy half-up hairdo.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
Kate Middleton also kept it relatively low-key with her look, turning up for her younger brother's nuptials in a long, pale green dress. William too emulated this casual style, wearing a beige and off-white suit for the event.
Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.
Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.
-
Royal coronations throughout the years – the interesting facts you may not know
From King Charles III's recent coronation to traditions from coronations centuries ago – here's everything you need to know about royal coronations
By Amy Hunt Published
-
Inside Kate Middleton's beauty routines, from her skincare routine to her make-up bag staples
Everything we know about the Princess of Wales' beauty regime
By Kerrie Hughes Published
-
Kate Middleton was a 'terrible' waitress before she was royal
The Princess of Wales had various jobs before she married Prince William - and she says she was particularly bad at waitressing
By Caitlin Elliott Published
-
Kate Middleton's kitchen nightmare that left her ceiling green is something she'll never repeat again
The Princess of Wales once opened up to Dame Mary Berry about a major kitchen disaster
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
The important royal job Kate Middleton could give to Pippa when she's Queen - that Camilla has given her own sister
Kate Middleton could have her sister working with her when she becomes Queen
By Caitlin Elliott Published
-
Kate Middleton granted prestigious new title by King Charles - and it's ten words long
King Charles recommended that the Princess of Wales should receive a new title that no royal has held before
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
M&S has the dreamiest white summer dress just like Kate Middleton's
Princess Kate's Zimmerman summer dress has long been discontinued - but M&S have just dropped a rival piece that looks so similar
By Charlie Elizabeth Culverhouse Published
-
Prince Louis's sixth birthday photo is the most adorable one yet as Kate Middleton gets back behind the camera
Prince Louis's sixth birthday photo has been posted by the Prince and Princess of Wales and it's a return to tradition for his proud mum
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton's 'very deliberate and clever' preparation for 'powerful' royal role
The Royal Family have been smart and intentional about getting the Princess of Wales ready for the duty that lies ahead, an expert says
By Caitlin Elliott Published
-
The unexpected inspiration behind Prince Louis's 'first words' revealed by Kate Middleton
One of Prince Louis's 'first words' was shared by his proud mum on TV and it's got nothing to do with the Royal Family
By Emma Shacklock Published