Sarah Burton: Designing Secret Wedding Dress 'Experience of a Lifetime'

Luke MacGregor/Landov; PA/Landov

She denied she was making the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding gown ? but only because she had to.

Now that creative director of Alexander McQueen Sarah Burton's big secret has been revealed she is speaking out ? and expressing gratitude to the bride and her talented design team in a statement released Friday:

"It has been the experience of a lifetime to work with Catherine Middleton to create her wedding dress, and I have enjoyed every moment of it. It was such an incredible honour to be asked, and I am so proud of what we and the Alexander McQueen team have created. I am delighted that the dress represents the best of British craftsmanship.

"Alexander McQueen's designs are all about bringing contrasts together to create startling and beautiful clothes and I hope that by marrying traditional fabrics and lacework, with a modern structure and design we have created a beautiful dress for Catherine on her wedding day.

"The last few months have been very exciting and an incredible experience for my team and I as we have worked closely with Catherine to create this dress under conditions of the strictest secrecy. Understandably, Catherine has been very keen to keep the details of her dress a secret, which is every bride's prerogative, and we gave an undertaking to keep our role confidential until the day of the wedding.

"Catherine looked absolutely stunning today, and the team at Alexander McQueen are very proud of what we have created. The dress was just one component of a spectacular day, and I do not think it is appropriate to comment any further beyond saying that I personally am very grateful and honoured to have been given the opportunity to work on this project, and I wish TRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge every good wish for the future."

Burton, 36, took over the British fashion label after designer Alexander McQueen committed suicide in February 2010. A retrospective of looks from the famed fashion house will be on display at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art beginning Wednesday; the exhibit officially opens Monday night during the star-studded Met Costume Institute Gala.

� Reporting by SIMON PERRY

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