The British-born designer who created the Duchess of Sussex’s wedding dress has said she was chosen because she is a “working mother” and “woman designer”.
Clare Waight Keller — the first female artistic director at French fashion house Givenchy — worked with the Duchess to create the dress. Her name was kept under wraps until the day of the wedding, after months of speculation about who was chosen to create the gown.
“I think she really admired the fact that I was a woman designer and the many companies I’ve worked for — British companies and international companies,” she said.
“And the fact that I’m a working mother maybe played into that as well, so that was maybe part of her story.”
The bridal gown was simple in a classic white, but the elaborate veil was embroidered with flowers from each of the 53 Commonwealth nations. Those working on it spent hundreds of hours meticulously sewing and washing their hands every 30 minutes to keep the tulle and threads pristine.
Waight Keller appeared on the steps of St George’s Chapel when Markle arrived to ensure her veil and train looked pristine, and helped to arrange it before the couple made their exit as husband and wife — a role often performed by the maid of honour.
There was no maid of honour as Markle did not want to choose just one out of her close group of friends.
Waight Keller said she did not think about the fact the world would be watching.
“I didn’t really think about it. I was actually just thinking about the dress and the veil.
“I wanted just for her to feel and look amazing. It was just an important moment to get all of that right and I thought she just looked spectacular,” she said.
Asked if she put much thought into her own outfit, she said: “Of course as a designer you always consider how you look. But I also wanted to make sure that I was somewhat invisible as well, that it was her moment, and that’s what was really key. But I wanted her to feel that I was there if she needed me.”
Waight Keller said it had been the bride’s idea to have the veil carried by two of her pageboys, twin brothers Brian and John Mulroney — the sons of Jessica Mulroney, the Duchess’s close friend.
“That was really Meghan’s idea, and I think it was really such a poetic little moment. They were adorable, the two boys, and they did a fantastic job.
“It was important that they place themselves in the right spot so that the veil looked amazing.”
She also revealed that Prince Harry — now the Duke of Sussex — had thanked her for making his new wife look “absolutely stunning”.
Waight Keller said Markle was “just glowing” after the ceremony.
“I think it was such a special moment for the two of them. They’re so in love, and I was just thrilled to be part of the whole thing,” she said.
Markle’s 16ft veil was held in place by Queen Mary’s diamond tiara and featured flowers from all Commonwealth countries, as well as her native California.
Talking about how that became a feature, Waight Keller said: “Well there was a conversation early on about the story that we were going to tell through this wedding.
“And the fact that both her and Prince Harry will be actually working a lot within the Commonwealth was something I thought was really intriguing and something built on to be part of the day.
“So over a period of time, we had different conversations back and forth and I came up with the idea of maybe representing each of the countries — the 53 countries of the Commonwealth — through their flora and fauna. She just loved it, absolutely loved it.”
Waight Keller said she was giving her final design sketches to the Duchess as a keepsake.
