Countdown to the Royal Wedding

 William & Kate's engagement photo

Only two days to go until the most talked about wedding of the 21st century takes place. 

The wedding, which will take place at Westminster Abbey on Friday 29 April, will see  Prince William marry Kate Middleton. Those folks at Buckingham Palace, kindly granted Friday 29 April a bank holiday so I will be celebrating the wedding along with the rest of the nation!

Apart from the wedding, what do we actually know about the big day? Here are some key facts you should know about the royal wedding:-

• The prince popped the question to Kate during a trip to Kenya in October 2010. He is reported to have romantically whisked his girlfriend off in a borrowed helicopter to a remote lake on the slopes of Mount Kenya where he popped the question (Awwwwwww!)

• The engagement ring is the same ring that William's father the Prince of Wales, gave to Princess Diana back in 1981. It is made of 18-carat white gold, (see previous post) featuring an oval sapphire and surrounded by 14 diamonds.

• William and Kate released their official engagement photos on December 11 2010. Taken by the famous photographer, Mario Testino, who famously took the iconic photos of William's mother Diana.  Kate wore a white Reiss dress and pearl earrings (see above)

• The Royal ceremony alone will reportedly cost around £12 million alone, and is being paid for by both the Royal family and Kate Middleton's parents, who are reportedly contributing a "five-figure sum" towards the total costs. Policing and security for the wedding will add another £20 million

• So what will be Kate's official title after the wedding? She will be known as Princess Catherine, though at this moment her official title is still unknown. However, when William eventually accedes to the throne, she will become Queen Catherine - the sixth in the history of the British monarchy.

• What will Kate be wearing on the day? Unfortunately, Kate's wedding dress remains a mystery! Though there have been hints that the dress is likely to be a mix of "something traditional, but with a modern twist," as revealed by fashion director Peta Hunt. Hunt also predicts the gown will feature hand-embroidery and lace.  Other potential designer names already thrown into the hat include Bruce Oldfield, Phillipa Lepley, Oscar de la Renta, and Vera Wang. 

All eyes will be on the dress. I suspect that the Queen Kate will chose an English designer opting for a classic , timeless

quintessential gown as opposed to a daring little number - this is royalty after all! 

Whatever dress the future queen of England chooses for the big day, it is sure to inspire an entire creation of copycat designs. Be sure to check out my blog for the latest news and pics of Kate's dress!

♥