The Naked Dress

As headlines turn to the all-important question of who will be chosen to design Kate Middleton’s wedding gown; the barely-there frock that caught the Prince’s eye back in 2002 is rumoured to be worth £100,000.

Worn by our future Queen at a charity fashion show while at St Andrews University, the designer Charlotte Todd said it cost her only £30 to put the dress together back in 2000. However, Ms Todd has also said she will never sell it despite bookies predicting it will rise in value to a possible £100,000 if Kate becomes Queen. The last time a “naked” dress sparked so much interest was back in the mid-1990s with season one (episode 6: Secret Sex) of Sex and the City which saw Big fall for Carrie, in a big way!

So what of the latest “naked” dress? Returned to Ms Todd’s mother’s closet following the fashion show, the 31 year-old received an offer for £1,000 to sell the dress but refused. A fashion one-hit-wonder, she did not go on to pursue a design career opting instead for a job in an aquarium. But she can hold onto her claim to fame with her role in the royal love story after William really noticed Kate when she strutted down the catwalk in Ms Todd’s design. She said, ‘It’s part of fashion history – the moment William could first have fallen in love with Kate – and that makes me really proud.’

With the date set and the venue booked, Britain prepares for the royal wedding and a new bank holiday weekend (which as luck would have it, coincides with my own wedding anniversary on May 2nd). So who will be the lucky fashionista who gets to join Ms Todd in continuing the tapestry of this royal love story? Bets are on Philippa Lepley as the designer of choice with those in the style-know predicting Ms Middleton will want to choose someone well-established but without a celebrity that will overpower her own on her special day.

Previous designers who have dressed those brides entering into the British monarchy include Sassi Holford (http://www.sassiholford.com), Jasper Conran (http://www.jasperconran.com) and Lindka Cierach (http://www.lindkacierach.co.uk). Despite cementing their love with Princess Diana’s sapphire and diamond engagement ring, it is unlikely that William’s fiancée will opt to be dressed by Elizabeth Emanuel, who famously designed Diana’s bridal gown for her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981.

So we can but wait. Only five months to go… can our patience hold out?!

Will and Kate

Going to the A-a-abbey, gonna get ma-a-arried, getting to the abbey on time,
Yes Prince Wills and future Queen Kate’s engagement has inspired a rhyme.

Hiding the £28,000 ring in his backpack on a trip to the South African wild,
Wills took days to work up the nerve to propose to his belle with a smile.

Attending yesterday’s photo-call dressed in royal blue,
Miss Middleton’s certainly getting in gear by opting for that hue.

The sapphire and diamond heirloom that once graced the hand of Princess Di,
Has found its place on Kate’s fair hand, only a measly nine years shy.

Waiting for Wills to pop the question, with drama and break-ups in between,
Kate must have thought all her chances were up of becoming England’s future Queen.

Now the rumour-mill is abuzz with who will design the bridal gown,
Will it be Daniella Issa, whose designs share the spotlight with the crown?

Camilla declared the impending nuptials “wicked”, at least that’s how it sounded,
I’m sure she’ll be able to tutor Wills’ ‘commoner bride’ on how best to stay grounded.

Prince Harry is thrilled to welcome Kate into the fold, after big bro popped the question,
He’s “delighted” to be gaining the sister he wanted [he’s lining up pranks to get her attention].

Reports state that the young royal couple will marry in the summer of next year,
So all other brides had better take note and make sure their venues are clear.

‘Cause you don’t want to find out the caterer’s double booked or the florist can’t do your bouquet,
Or your dressmaker’s tied up and they’re out of confetti to sprinkle on your own special day.

The Queen released an official statement joining the ranks of twitterverse,
To wish one's grandson and his beautiful girl all the love in the world.

Harking back to glorious memories of royal weddings gone by,
All the royalists will be lining the streets to watch the son of Princess Di,

As he rides in the Palatial carriage to Westminster Abbey to wed,
His blushing bride, Catherine Middleton, the future of our UK homestead.

Because news just in, the PMs requested a bank holiday off for all,
So rather than work we’ll all be glued to our TVs in utter thrall.

Commemoration mugs and five pound coins will surely be going on sale,
So get yours quick to celebrate in style this imperial fairytale…