Its design was kept so secret that Burton did not tell her own mother.
Burton added: “Even my mom called me and asked me, ‘You wouldn’t tell me, would you?'”
Embroiderer Amanda Ewing said of the dress: “We knew who it was for, but it was very secret. We had net curtains up, and cleaners were not allowed into the room, and the code on the door was changed.”
But the gown was still being altered the night before the wedding.
Embroiderer Chloe Savage told People: “Brides have a tendency to do things like drop (seven pounds) before a wedding and as her dress was going to be seen from every conceivable angle by a billion people, you couldn’t have it being a bit saggy because she’d lost weight or gained a couple of ounces due to stress.”
Catherine completed the traditional bridal details with Queen Elizabeth II’s Cartier Halo tiara, which contained 888 diamonds, and diamond earrings given to her by her parents, Michael and Carole Middleton.
Burton also sewed a blue ribbon inside the dress.
Catherine’s wedding day bouquet contained lily-of-the-valley, hyacinth, ivy, sweet William and myrtle, with each flower carrying its own symbolism.
For the evening reception, Catherine changed into a strapless satin gown and matching shrug, also designed by Burton.