Kate Middleton’s Royal Wedding Dress: Sophie Cranston?

By Anne Chertoff 04/17/11 at 01:00 AM

Photo: Getty Images

Prince William and Kate Middleton in their Mario Testino–shot official portrait

A new name has surfaced as the rumored designer of Kate Middleton’s Royal Wedding dress: Sophie Cranston of the Libélula label, reports the Huffington Post.

According to the site, Cranston was hired months ago, but Buckingham Palace required that her identity remain a secret to keep the press away from the designer, her staff, and her family so she could complete the gown without additional pressure and distractions.

It wouldn’t be a total shocker: Middleton did wear a black velvet coat with a diamanté clasp (the Dulwich) by Libélula back in January.

Cranston is reportedly creating two identical dresses in case something happens to the first—David and Elizabeth Emanuel did the same for Princess Diana in 1981.

So who is Sophie Cranston?

The 34-year-old won the Designer of the Year Award at London’s Graduate Fashion week in 1999, then worked for Alexander McQueen—whose creative director, Sarah Burton, has been a recent favorite to design Kate Middleton’s wedding dress—before co-founding Temperley London with Alice Temperley in 2000.

In 2002, while taking some time off in Spain to pursue her interest in flamenco, Cranston was inspired to launch her own label, Libélula, which means "dragonfly" in Spanish.

Her designs are known for their femininity, luxurious fabrics, bold use of colors and prints, as well as their figure-flattering silhouettes. In addition to a ready-to-wear line, she offers wedding gowns and bridesmaids dresses.

Libélula’s celebrity clientele includes Kate and Pippa Middleton, Emma Watson, and Jerry Hall.

The plot thickens ...

And for all things Will and Kate, check out our Royal Wedding Watch.