Final Month – Countdown to William & Kate’s Big Day

The month leading up to any bride’s wedding is always a stressful time, with many details still requiring finalisation. Royal bride-to-be Catherine Middleton will be no different – although she has dozens of courtiers to assist her, and one of her last-minute checks will be to ensure that the heirloom tiara she will wear is ready to go.

Over the past few weeks, the British Royal Court has been slowly releasing various pieces of information regarding the April 29 nuptials. We know about the cakes (there will be two), have seen the Palace chef’s preparing for the wedding breakfast and have got interactive maps for the post-ceremony processional route. Several high-profile guests have also confirmed their attendance at the wedding.

What don’t we know? The one thing that everyone, everyone wants to know – who is designing THE dress. Since Miss Middleton’s engagement in November last year, dozens of dressmakers’ names have been thrown into the pot as possibilities for the “chosen one”. Bruce Oldfield is believed to be the front-runner, with sightings of Miss Middleton’s mother Carole and sister Pippa visiting Oldfield’s store at the end of February. Alexander McQueen creative director Sarah Burton was also claimed to be the designer, Burton however denied she was making the dress. Clarence House has been adamant any information about the wedding dress “won’t be revealed until the day.”

On to what we do know, here’s a brief run-down:

• The Royal Mint is producing an official commemorative coin, featuring the couple’s portrait, naturally. The coin comes in gold and silver, and cost between £10 and £5,450.
• Official stamps bearing Prince William and Miss Middleton’s engagement portraits will be released by Royal Mail on April 21st.
• Guests at the wedding receptions will be treated to two wedding cakes: a traditional fruit cake, decorated in floral homage to the four nations of Great Britain – England, Scotand, Wales and Ireland – will be made by Fiona Cairns of Leicestershire, while McVitie’s Cake Company will create a Windsor family recipe chocolate biscuit cake as specifically requested by the groom.
• Confirmed international guests: the King and Queen of Norway, the Crown Princess and Prince Daniel of Sweden, the Duke and Duchess of Brabant, the Prince of Orange and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine of Yugoslavia, the Governor-General of Canada, Governor-General Bryce and Prime Minister Gillard of Australia.
• Prince Harry, who will act as his older brother’s best man, has yet to write his best man’s speech for the reception. However, the Prince is planning to “embarass” his brother during the speech (as is a usual best man speech tradition). Harry revealed he and three of the groom’s close friends will be speaking at the reception and they cheekily hope to make William “lose some hair” – but the speech won’t be too risque, what with grandmother Queen Elizabeth II in attendance and all.

To keep up-to-date with all the news about the royal wedding, visit one of the following threads:

Pre-Wedding Information for Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton

Prince William and Catherine Middleton Wedding Suggestions and Musings

Filed under The United Kingdom
Tagged British Royal Wedding 2011, Fashion, Prince Harry of Wales, Royal Souvenirs, Royal Stamps, The Duchess of Cambridge, The Duke of Cambridge.