The Prince and Princess of Wales' 2011 wedding captured the attention of the world. While the bride dazzled onlookers in a gorgeous dress designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, her sister and maid of honour Pippa Middleton's appearance prompted much chatter on the day.
Pippa was on bridesmaid duty for her big sister's milestone moment, tasked with carrying Kate's sweeping 9 feet long train when they stepped out of the car at Westminster Abbey. Pippa wore a white cowl-neck dress, an unconventional colour choice, to the televised wedding, which was watched by around 17.6 million people from around the world.
The fitted silhouette of Pippa's bridesmaid dress proved to be a conversation starter from the nuptials, with Pippa later joking that it fitted "a little too well".
© GettyPippa's reaction
"As I have found out, recognition has its upside, its downside and – you may say – its backside," Pippa quipped at a 2024 dinner held by Women in Advertising and Communications London group.
Pippa said that at the time she was just "glad it fitted", but added that "In retrospect, it fitted a little too well!"
Speaking with Matt Lauer on NBC's The Today Show in 2014, her first televised interview, Pippa admitted the global attention she received from the dress was "unexpected". "You know, I think the plan was not really for it to be a significant dress. Really just to sort of blend in with the train," she explained.
"I suppose it's flattering, embarrassing, definitely. It wasn't planned," she added.
Kate's sister previously wrote about the famous moment in her 2012 party-planning book called Celebrate: A Year of Festivities for Families and Friends. She admitted: "It is a bit startling to achieve global recognition before the age of 30 on account of your sister, your brother-in-law and your bottom."
Where is the dress?
© GettyThe 2011 bridesmaid dress made Pippa an overnight name. During her sit down with Today in 2014, Kate's sister revealed she kept hold of the dress in question.
"It's the sort of thing I'm sure I'll bring out if someone wanted to see it, or my children one day want to see it - I'll show them. It's tucked away," she said.
