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Before Friday''s wedding, Emanuel told Reuters that Middleton was older and more assured in terms of fashion than the shy 20-year-old Diana, and so was likely to know better what she wanted for the big day.

Kate Middleton wore a stunning but simple ivory dress created by Alexander McQueen''s Sarah Burton to marry Prince William on Friday, topped off with a tiara on loan from new grandmother-in-law Queen Elizabeth.

Fashionistas across the world had been engulfed in months of fevered speculation over who would get the career-defining job of designing one of the most talked-about outfits of the decade. The dress featured a long train and hand-made lace appliqué over an ivory-coloured bodice and skirt, made of silk and satin. Inspired by the Middleton''s new coat of arms, Kate''s earrings included diamond oak leaves and pear-shaped diamond acorns.

"It was such an incredible honour to be asked, and I am so proud of what we and the Alexander McQueen team have created."

Burton said Alexander McQueen''s designs were about marrying contrasts and hoped the combination of traditional fabrics and lacework with a modern structure and design had created a beautiful dress for the future queen.

The identity of the designer and details of the dress were kept a closely guarded secret by St. James''s Palace throughout the build-up to Middleton''s wedding to Britain''s Prince William.

A special marquee was erected outside the entrance to Middleton''s London hotel to prevent anyone getting an early glimpse of the dress before she stepped out of her car outside the abbey.

The crowd outside Westminster Abbey were also bowled over by the dress - and the bride.

Middleton''s dress differed radically from that of Diana at her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981, a frilly, flouncy cream number designed by Elizabeth Emanuel which reflected the times in which it appeared.

Before Friday''s wedding, Emanuel told Reuters that Middleton was older and more assured in terms of fashion than the shy 20-year-old Diana, and so was likely to know better what she wanted for the big day.

"With Diana she was very young, when we were introduced to her and fashion was not one of her big interests so she didn''t really have her own sense of style," Emanuel said.

"But Kate Middleton does. She''s worked in fashion. She knows what suits her."