Katharine Worsley, 90, married Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, 87, on June 8, 1961, at York Minster.
The brand new Duchess of Kent wore a marriage gown designed by the Irish designer John Cavanagh.
This choice was made on the recommendation of Princess Marina, Prince Edward’s mom, as Mr Cavanagh had educated below Edward Molyneux, the designer of her personal marriage ceremony robe from 1934.
The gown was fabricated from 217 metres of white patterned silk, that includes a excessive scooped neckline, lengthy sleeves and a fitted waist.
The total skirt was coated on the again by a 15-foot double practice. Nonetheless, there was additionally a hidden function within the gown that hardly anybody knew about on the time.
Just a few stitches on the hem of the robe had been deliberately left unsewn as a result of superstition that it’s fortunate to go away some a part of a marriage gown unfinished, in accordance with studies.
The brand new Duchess wore a tulle veil and a diamond bandeau-style tiara which had belonged to her husband’s late grandmother, Queen Mary. The Queen bought the diadem from Garrard & Co in 1925.
Each Katharine and Princess Marina had been involved that her marriage ceremony gown appeared huge in Mr Cavanagh’s studio.
Nonetheless, the designer reassured the duo that the size would match York Minster, the marriage venue.
There was additionally concern the gown was too heavy and could be awkward to manoeuvre.
To assist with this, Katharine practised strolling, curtsying and kneeling within the gown with Mr Cavanagh’s assist previous to the marriage.
Prince Edward and Katharine broke with royal conference once they selected to tie the knot at York Minster, moderately than persevering with the long-established custom of marrying in Westminster Abbey.
It was the primary royal marriage ceremony to be held there in over 600 years.
Distinguished royal {couples} just like the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and the Duke and Duchess of York all married at Westminster Abbey.
Nonetheless, different royals such because the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex additionally opted towards marrying inside Westminster Abbey.
Each {couples}, together with Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, married at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Fort.
Equally, Princess Diana and King Charles married at St Paul’s Cathedral, and Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi married on the All Saints Chapel in Windsor.