Kate Middleton Holds Sister’s Train At ‘Wedding Of The Year,’ Helps Prince George And Princess Charlotte
Kate and Pippa Middleton’s fans can breathe a sigh of relief. Kate did, after all the speculation, hold Pippa’s wedding dress train almost as Pippa did for Kate six years ago. As the younger Middleton sister waited in the doorway of St Mark’s church, the Duchess of Cambridge bent to adjust her train in a last pre-wedding sisterly gesture.
As future Queen of England, Kate was worried about taking the attention away from Pippa on her wedding day and reportedly didn’t want to play the starring role that the younger Middleton filled at the royal wedding in 2011.
The Telegraph wrote that the tableau of Kate smoothing out Pippa’s wedding dress “was reminiscent” of the famous 2011 photo outside of Westminster Abbey. On that occasion, over a million people gathered to catch a glimpse of the future Duchess of Cambridge, and Pippa shot to stardom when the world saw the photos of her striking, close-fitting white bridesmaid dress.
Kate Middleton wore a quieter outfit for Pippa’s wedding in her continued determination not to steal the spotlight from her sister on her big day. News.com.au wrote that in her carefully chosen, simple pale pink gown and matching fascinator, Kate was elegant but low-key.
@allthingsregal #PippasWedding The pic w/Kate w/Pippa smoothing out dress is so reminds me of Pippa at Kate's wedding.
— Lady Cecily Neville (@LadyCecilyNevil) May 20, 2017
The older Middleton sister made herself useful in other ways too, just as she promised she would. With both her children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, in the wedding party, Kate had her hands full helping all the little bridesmaids and page boys remember their wedding manners.
Before adjusting Pippa’s wedding dress, the Duchess took the children into the church where they had to wait quietly for the first notes of the wedding march. As People wrote, Kate was “every mom shushing the kids” as she put her finger to her lips while reaching out to take Prince George’s hand.
The tiny bridesmaids and young gentlemen of the wedding party were filled with excitement as Kate sought to arrange them in the flower-decked doorway of the church. Eventually, Middleton had them all lined up, hand-in-hand, to walk down the aisle with Pippa.
Kate had previously expressed some anxiety over how the children would behave under pressure, especially since they would be in company with several other nervous little ones not accustomed to the limelight.
Pippa middletons wedding pictures are out and they are beautiful! Kate and the children look so pretty too ???
— davidmcconvilleortho (@mcconvilleortho) May 20, 2017
At Queen Elizabeth’s first garden party of the year at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday, May 16, Middleton chatted with guests about her sister’s wedding. The Duchess told them that “she was a bit worried about how her children might behave,” and although Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s mom was “hopeful that they would be good,” she noted that “you never know at that age.”
It must have been a nostalgic moment for both Middleton sisters. Memories of Pippa holding Kate’s wedding dress train and helping sort out the little ladies and gentlemen of the royal wedding party were awakened for many onlookers when they saw the Duchess helping her sister.
Other royal guests at the wedding ceremony included Prince William, Prince Harry, and Princess Eugenie, the Duke and Duchess York’s daughter. There were repeated rumors that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle would attend the ceremony together as well as the reception, but the Mirror reported that Prince Harry was solo at the church.
The world is waiting with baited breath to see if Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s engagement will be announced once Pippa Middleton’s wedding is over.
If the couple decides to get married, they will have a much bigger wedding than the Middleton-Matthews celebration, but Meghan and Harry will also have to decide what role Prince William and Kate Middleton will play on the big day.
[Featured Image by Justin Tallis/AP Images]