Kate Middleton's 'forgotten' second wedding dress that only 300 people saw

Only a select group of 300 were fortunate enough to witness Princess Kate's second wedding dress at a private reception after the royal couple tied the knot. The world watched as the Princess of Wales was escorted down the aisle by her father 13 years ago, with many admiring the exquisite hand-crafted gown designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.

The luxurious French Chantilly and English Cluny lace creation reportedly cost a staggering £250,000. However, the second dress was only seen by a chosen few.

A Royal expert suggested that this dress was selected by the Princess as she "truly wanted to express herself", with the British fashion powerhouse once again enlisted to bring it to life. The Palace chose Alexander McQueen "for the beauty of its craftsmanship and its respect for traditional workmanship and the technical construction of clothing."

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Two years post-wedding, a video of the Duchess descending a staircase during the Clarence House reception became a TikTok sensation, showcasing the stunning A-line gown with its sweetheart neckline and glittering waist detail.

She also sported a white fluffy cardigan that accentuated her slender waist. The video, shared by the Royal watching account @allacortedi, garnered over 38,000 likes, reports the Mirror.

Commenters lauded the princess's fashion sense, with one remarking: "So beautiful. Our Queen."

Another chimed in: "She looked SPECTACULAR in this! ! 100X better than the first one! It complimented her amazingly athletic body."

Miranda Holder explained that some royals opt for a second wedding dress post-ceremony, allowing them to shed "formalities" and "fully express" themselves. Speaking to The Express, she said: "Having a second option allows these blushing brides a moment to fully express who they really are, how they want to look – and more importantly feel – once the initial formalities of the ceremony and official photographs are over."

While the Princess of Wales 'continued the formalities' with her second look, she had "scaled down in terms of grandeur and lost her enormous train."

She described the evening dress as "Simple and sweet," and the cardigan as: "Very pretty," but added: "It feels like she didn't have the opportunity to relax on this occasion."

However, she did note that a Royal wedding dress can often be part of a bigger agenda. Often on these occasions, the first bridal gown is a formality, a family heirloom, a political statement, or part of the larger PR machine that surrounds them," she said.