Kate Middleton's dress has been compared to Grace Kelly's when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco in April 1956.

The Irish American actress from Philadelphia has inspired many other brides with her wedding dress but Kate is certainly the most high profile copier.

Both dresses shared the high collar top, long lace sleeves and full skirt.

The Alexander McQueen designer, Sarah Burton, created the ivory gown with lace applique floral detailing and a 2.7 metre train, as well as the bridesmaid dress worn by the bride's sister Pippa Middleton, and Kate's ivory duchesse satin and lace shoes.

The skirt was handmade by the royal school of needlework at Hampton Court.

The lace design was hand-engineered using Carickmacross lace making techniques developed in Ireland in the 1820s.

The individual flowers - thistles, roses, daffodils and shamrocks -  were hand-cut from Chantilly lace and engineered onto ivory silk tulle.

Kate wore a diamond Cartier tiara - loaned by Queen Elizabeth - and long veil with her hair pinned up at the front, flowing into soft curls at the back.

Her earrings, diamond-set stylised oak leaves designed by Robinson Pelham, were a gift from parents Michael and Carole.

The bride-to-be kept her flowing gown virtually hidden as she made her way to Westminster Abbey, with only parts of her flowing train visible as she and her father Michael Middleton got into their car to travel to her wedding.

William's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth wore an Angela Kelly primrose dress with hand-sewn beading and matching hat, accessorized with Queen Mary's true lovers knot brooch.

Kate's mother Carole Middleton was a hit in the fashion stakes, wearing a Catherine Walker-designed sky blue wool crepe coat dress with satin piping and Jane Corbett hat.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall teamed her Anne Valentine champagne blue silk dress and hand-embroidered coat with an eye-catching Philip Treacy hat and bronze Jimmy Choo shoes.

In total, the milliner designed hats for 35 members of the royal families, including Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Queen Anna-Marie of Greece and Princess Mathilde of Belgium.