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23/11/10
Bookies William Hill took a £34,672 hit today after it was confirmed that the Royal Wedding will take place in April. "April started as a rank outsider but was backed all the way in to 1/33 at which stage we closed the betting. Royal wagers are proving costly and this is the second big payout in the space of a week as we paid out over £100,000 after they confirmed their engagement," said Hill's spokesman Rupert Adams.
Hills think that Kate will say obey in her wedding vows at 8/11, will wear a Phillipa Lepley dress (11/10), Jimmy Choo Shoes (5/1), Take That will sing at the reception (4/1) and that the honeymoon will be in Kenya (3/1).
Perhaps the biggest decision the bride faces will be her wedding dress.
Hilary Alexander, fashion director of the Telegraph, said she expects Middleton to come up with a surprising choice for a wedding dress.
Deborah Joseph, editor of Brides Magazine, said Middleton will face substantial pressure to choose an English designer.
"It's a British royal wedding, there's no need to look abroad," Joseph said. "Obviously, there will be lots of speculation on the designer now. It depends which route Kate takes. She may give a nod to Princess Diana and use one of her designers, like Bruce Oldfield or Amanda Wakeley, or she may make a statement of her own."
Joseph said Middleton's decision could define bridal wear for the next decade, much as Diana's choice in 1981 became the most-copied wedding dress in history. Flowers will be a critical part of the Royal Wedding and, with the eyes of the world on HM Prince William and Kate Middleton next year, what they choose and their source will speak volumes.
Gillian Wheeler, Principal of The Covent Garden Academy of Flowers and one of the world’s leading floral designers, drew on her 30-year career to predict the flowers that may be involved in the Royal Wedding.
“White roses were Princess Diana’s favorite flower and Kate’s favorite are said to be white lilies – as they will both be in season in spring and summer when the wedding is due to be held, it is highly likely they will be included,” Mrs Wheeler said.
“All royal wedding bouquets have included a sprig of Myrtle to symbolise a happy marriage, ever since Queen Victoria’s posy of snowdrops, the Queen Mother’s lily of the valley bouquet, the Queen’s British grown orchid bouquet, Princess Diana’s Edwardian cascade and Camilla Parker Bowles’ bouquet – most taken from Queen Victoria’s garden on the Isle of Wight.
“All royal bouquets have also included fragranced blooms to evoke lasting memories.”
"Despite being a modern couple, royal protocol demands a traditional wedding and the flowers will be traditional to suit," she said. “However as they were engaged in Kenya and William is said to consider Africa his ‘second home’, there are some beautiful Fairtrade roses grown in Kenya which could be included. Also as William is a Prince of Wales almost certainly something Welsh will be incorporated, maybe white daffodils.”
“The flowers may be sourced from Prince Charles’ beloved organic Highgrove garden or foliage from the Royal Gardens which has the highest quality and variety of English foliage available.”
However, despite vast experience providing floral designs for clients including The Royal Ballet, RHS Wisely, Royal Banqueting House Kew Gardens, Tate Modern and The Saatchi Gallery, Gillian Wheeler said the all-important wedding bouquet was a more difficult thing to predict.
“The style and shape of the bouquet depends on the fabric and design of Kate’s dress,” she said.
“However once the flowers are right, everything falls into place. As the eyes of the world will be on the happy couple, the flowers will enhance the enchantment of the day.” Prince William has said that he considers Africa to be like a second home, and it is no co-incidence that while William was proposing to Kate in Africa, Guides for Brides were there in order to research the perfect honeymoon itinerary, details of which will soon be available exclusively to users of this site.