Eurohistory: The "Party of the Century" and a Few Abominable Dresses

Monday, May 2, 2011

The "Party of the Century" and a Few Abominable Dresses

The serious partying began shortly before 8pm on Friday, when the bride emerged from Clarence House after four hours alone with her new husband.
Kate Middleton – now the Duchess of Cambridge – had changed from her wedding dress into a second Sarah Burton creation with circle skirt and sparkling diamante embroidery around the waist

For the public, the highpoint of the day had been the double kiss on the balcony at 1.25pm.

But for William and Kate the best was yet to come: a dinner and dance with 300 friends and family at Buckingham Palace.

Such was William’s desire to keep goings-on secret that some guests were required to sign secrecy agreements.

But from insider accounts, a picture has emerged of saucy speeches, pumping dance music, flamboyant dancing from our future Queen – and some cattiness between guests.

The first slip-up came at the Goring Hotel at about 7.30pm, when Kate’s mother Carole briefly lost her footing as she came down the stairs in a black tiered and pleated gown. She was steadied by her 23-year-old son James.
When William and Kate arrived at Buckingham Palace (at least 30 minutes later than planned), it was through a passage lined with flaming torches.