Princess Beatrice, the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, was wearing an ensemble of Valentino couture and gloves by Cornelia James with Treacy hats that rose like a modernist building from her hair.
Her sister, Princess Eugenie, was wearing an outfit by Vivienne Westwood with an equally dramatic hat. The two sisters love playing with fashion, trying out cutting edge styles many of their aristocratic peers would be too nervous to wear.
Victoria Beckham wore a dress of her own design: the dark tones of the smock-like maternity gown had a slightly funereal look. Her husband David wore a top hat with tails and the medal signifying that he is an officer of the order of the British empire.
Maid of honor Pippa Middleton wore a simple cream column dress also with a deep neckline, and naturally styled hair. Her bridal tones and sashaying walk down the aisle behind her sister caught the eye of several commentators.
"Her dress was exceptionally fitted, and it was basically white," said Mark Niemierko, a wedding planner who has organized some of London's most extravagant nuptials. "For a bridesmaid that's always been a no-no but I think the idea could really catch on
Pippa's dress had the same button detail and lace trim as Kate's wedding gown, according to PopSugar. In addition to looking beautiful, Pippa also did an excellent job with the young bridesmaids and took good care of her sister's train.
The flower girls also were decked out in cream dresses with full skirts and flowers in their hair.
Queen Elizabeth II looked stately yet cheerful in a primrose Angela Kelly dress and matching hat.
Carole Middleton, the bride's mother, wore a sky blue wool crepe coatdress with matching satin piping over a sky blue silk shantung day dress. Both were designed by the Catherine Walker label. Middleton's hat was created by British designer Jane Corbett.
Middleton often dresses youthfully like her daughters, but on wedding day she looked very much the matriarch.
The duchess of Cornwall wore a champagne silk dress and a duck egg blue and champagne coat by Anna Valentine, along with a Philip Treacy hat and Jimmy Choo shoes. Anna Valentine designed Camilla's dress for her 2005 wedding to Prince Charles.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg's wife Miriam Gonzalez Duantez — a Spanish attorney — sent tongues wagging with a body-hugging dress draped with lace and a red hat but most guests were more conservative, wearing simple suits and knee length dresses in pastels and blues. Jewelry was understated, too — small earrings and strings of pearls.
Prime Minister David Cameron's wife, Samantha, broke with tradition: she wore a sparkly hair clip instead of a hat. Her dress was a tight Burberry teal affair set off by a striking necklace by Erickson Beamon for Erdem.
"Her dress and jewelry were great, but I was disappointed she didn't wear a hat," said Niemierko. "She could have easily carried one off."
Zara Phillips, the queen's granddaughter who will also get married later this year, was wearing Paul Costelloe. The couple's friend, Tara Palmer Tomkinson was wearing Deborah Milner.
Socialite Tara Palmer Tomkinson
A handful of Italian designers are making appearances. Prince Harry's on again off again girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, chose two custom-made Alberta Ferretti looks — an aqua green satin dress for the abbey and an asymmetric, midnight blue satin gown for the evening.
Irish designer Treacy made most of the hats for royals attending the wedding — 36 in all that included creations for Prince Charles' wife, the duchess of Cornwall, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Princess Michael of Kent, Queen Anna-Marie of Greece and Princess Mathilde of Belgium.
He also designed a hat for Hollywood royalty: Victoria Beckham wore a midnight blue Treacy hat. And dozens of less famous guests wore his creations — many resembling architectural works meant to elongate and frame the face.
Other guests.....
Prince Albert of Monaco
Queen Margrethe
Members of the congregation
