Long live McQueen!

Official Royal Wedding portrait by Hugo Bernand. The couple with their bridesmaids and page boys

The fashion world breathed a collective sigh of relief on Friday when Catherine Middleton stepped out of that Rolls Royce Phantom in a Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen creation. Rumours of which designer the future princess would choose had been running wild for months and were all but confirmed when Sarah Burton was spotted going into Middleton's hotel, The Goring, on the eve of the wedding. A spectacular moment for British high fashion.

Catherine Middleton stepping out of the Rolls Royce Phantom outside Westminster Abbey

Catherine's dutiful sister, Pippa Middleton also donned an ivory Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen dress to serve as Maid of Honour.

Catherine's sister Pippa carrying her train into Westminster Abbey

To add to the British heritage of the dress, the ivory silk tulle featured hand-cut English lace and French Chantilly lace throughout the bodice, skirt and underskirt trim handmade by the Royal School of Needlework which is based at Hampton Court Palace. The lace sleeves and wasp-like silhouette have drawn obvious comparisons with one of the great royal wedding dresses of the twentieth century, Princess Grace of Monaco's - a magnificent inspiration if ever there was one.

The newly-married couple leaving the Abbey

Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III of Monaco

The couple appeased the eager crowd with not one but two brief kisses on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. The bride's 'something borrowed' was the Queen's Cartier 'Halo' tiara, given to her on her 18th birthday.

The couple kissing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace

For the reception, HRH Catherine Duchess of Cambridge again opted for a stunning Sarah Burton for McQueen dress that again highlighted her slight frame with a diamante-embroidered waist and a luxe angora cardigan thrown over the top. Perfection.

The Duchess of Cambridge at her wedding reception

A fresh-faced Duchess of Cambridge opted for a chic, floaty blue dress belted at the waist, a cropped blazer and summer-y wedges for a stroll through the grounds of Buckingham Palace the morning after the wedding. The newlyweds took a helicopter to an undisclosed location in the UK to spend the weekend together, they will reportedly return to their normal lives this week and take a honeymoon abroad at a later date.

The couple leave for a secret UK getaway for the weekend

More soon.