It’s been almost five years since the royal wedding, but a designer is stepping forward claiming that Sarah Burton, creative director at Alexander McQueen, stole her bridal designs for the Duke and Duchess’ nuptials. Christine Kendall, a designer based in Hertfordshire, has filed a claim against the fashion brand at the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court in London for a breach of copyright, alleging that her “design was unfairly taken and copied.” According to Kendall, Kate Middleton’s dress was inspired by sketches she made and submitted to the palace five months prior to the wedding, adding that Middleton saw the designs and sent her a note of thanks.
In the claim it was noted that the lawsuit “is not against the Duchess and there is no allegation of wrongdoing against the palace.” Nevertheless, a spokesman for the Duchess claims that she had never seen the sketches before her marriage to Prince William. Alexander McQueen responded to the allegations saying that Kendall first approached the house about the design four years ago, but believed her claims to be “nonsense.” “Sarah Burton never saw any of Ms. Kendall’s designs or sketches and did not know of Ms. Kendall before Ms. Kendall got in touch with us—some 13 months after the wedding,” they said in a statement. “We do not know why Ms. Kendall has raised this again, but there are no ifs, buts or maybes here: This claim is ridiculous.”
