Grace Kelly and Kate Middleton

 

Desingers and commentators have been pointing out the similarities in the gowns worn by Britain's Duchess of Cambridge in Apri of 2011 and Princess Grace of Monaco in April of 1956. (Credit: Getty Images)

(CBS) Before her wedding to Prince William, Kate Middleton was said to have admired the wedding gown worn by film actress Grace Kelly when she married Prince Rainier of Monaco in April of 1956.

The Sarah Burton-designed lace and satin gown that Middleton herself wore when she married Prince William on Friday, April 29, 2011, had some similarities to that Grace Kelly classic design.

Both gowns have the sleeves and shoulders covered with lace that ends in a tight bodice and then flows into a full skirt with long train. Both brides wore embroidered veils.

The similarity was not lost on many commentators and onlookers. Several designers have called it a modern twist on the Grace Kelly gown. Tim Gunn, of "Project Runway" fame, also acknowledged the resemblance but said Middleton's low-cut neckline gave it a modern look.


BK NOTES:

During the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton, it was repeatedly pointed out that America has no royalty, other than the symbolic royality often bestowed on the Kennedy family.

But America does have royality, in Prince Albert and Princess Caroline and Stephanie of Monaco, the son and daughters of Princess Grace, the former Grace Kelly of Philadelpia and Ocean City, NJ.

Of course we know Grace from her time in Ocean City, where her father built the Spanish Revival style home on the north west corner of 28th street in 1929, the year Grace was born. Grace Kelly spent parts of every summer of her life in Ocean City, except her last one.

Grace played on the beach in front of her house, and her father later built another brick house across the street on the beach, where members of the Kelly family lived into the 1990s. The last Kelly resident, Grace's younger sister Lizanne, recently passed away in Florida.

As they grew up, they often hung out at the Flander's pool, where Lizanne met her future husband Don Levine, a lifeguard.

Grace had her sweet sixteen party at the Seaview Country Club, where her father was partners with Sonny Fraser, the son of the former golf pro and State legislator who brought the first legal gambling to South Jersey by establishing the Atlantic City Race Track.

As a teenager, like other young girls in Ocean City, Grace worked as a waitress at the Chatterbox on 9th Street, where some of the old timers still remember her.

After her success as an actress on Broadway and in the movies, she met and married Prince Ranier of Monaco, who also visited Ocean City to ask John B. Kelly for the hand of his daughter.

John B. leased an ocean liner to take all of his family and friends from Philadelphia to Monaco for what was called "the Wedding of the Century," and one not matched until the marriage of Prince Charles and Diana.

Also See: The Princess Next Door. (Atlantic City Magazine)

GRACE KELLY & KATE MIDDLETON
Posted on Apr 29, 2011 3:04 PM by Kim Grundy

Kate Middleton’s wedding dress reminds us of another beautiful royal wedding gown -- Grace Kelly's beautiful gown. The Princess of Monaco had a similar design and silhouette when she married Prince Rainier.
Grace Kelly’s wedding dress has been given the honor of being one of the most copied wedding gowns in history -- and Kate Middleton may be one of them!

Grace Kelly married Prince Rainier of Monaco in 1956 and wore a wedding dress designed by MGM costume designer Helen Rose. Kate Middleton’s dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.

Both dresses have beautiful and feminine lace sleeves and a fitted satin bodice. The bodice of Kate’s gown was from English lace and French Chantilly lace that was sewn onto an ivory silk tulle, while Princess Grace’s gown was made from rose point silk needle lace and tulle. Both dresses have a full skirt and long flowing veils.

Both dresses contain a row of satin buttons, however, Kate’s were in the back whereas Grace had hers in the front. Kate’s v-neckline gave her dress a more modern look compared to Grace Kelly’s high neckline.

Designers have taken note of the similarities, with Mark Badgley of Badgley Mischka calling it a "classic Grace Kelly look."

"A combination just in between 1956 Grace Kelly and 1947 Queen Elizabeth dress," said Christian Lacroix. "I love the modest veil with the Queen Mother’s '30s scroll tiara and balanced volume of the whole gown."

Another similarity between the two worth noting: Both Kate Middleton and Grace Kelly were commoners that married into royalty.