Admiration: The Queen talks with the Duchess of Cambridge as they view the wedding dress the Duchess wore during her April marriage to Prince William
The Queen today enjoyed a private viewing of the Duchess of Cambridge’s stunning wedding gown with Kate ahead of a public showing of the dress at Buckingham Palace.
More than half a million people are expected to view the dress as part of the Palace’s annual summer exhibition this year, but her Majesty was give her own tour by the Duchess.
The pair chatted as they admired the £250,000 Alexander McQueen dress which had the world enthralled when Kate married Prince William in April.
Viewing: The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at Buckingham Palace with Her Majesty, The Queen, to see the wedding dress and cake before both go on public display
Amid the pomp and splendour of a truly unforgettable day, The Dress was undoubtedly the star of the show.
But the ghost-like appearance of the headless mannequin used to exhibit the gown prompted her to describe it as 'horrible' during a private tour with Kate of a new Buckingham Palace exhibition.
The Queen and the Duchess were given a sneak preview of the exhibition, which opens to the public tomorrow.
One is spooked: The Queen was heard to describe the headless mannequin as 'horrible'
The monarch led the way and, with her hands clasped behind her back, strode into the Ballroom and stopped about 10 feet from the dress with Kate standing beside her.
As the pair chatted, the pitch of the Queen's voice raised and she said 'horrible' and then 'horrid'.
It appeared the mannequin's lack of a head may have perturbed the Queen, who added: 'It's made to look very creepy.'
Kate countered with her own view and said it had a '3D effect'.
Exhibition: The monarch, her hands clasped behind her back, led the way as she and Kate toured the displays in Buckingham Palace
And just like the most gracious stars, the Duchess of Cambridge’s stunning wedding gown is returning for an encore.
Those of us who admired it from the comfort of our sofas at home, can now see the Alexander McQueen dress right up close – if we can get our hands on what is rapidly becoming the hottest ticket in town.
The dress is to take pride of place at Buckingham Palace’s annual summer exhibition this year, ensuring we can bask in the afterglow of Kate and William’s wedding day just that little bit longer.
Style queen: The Duchess of Cambridge exuded elegance and poise as she walked around Buckingham Palace today
Fit for a Duchess: Kate Middleton's stunning wedding gown is going on display at the weekend, alongside other items from the big day
Showstopper: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, wearing the dress in all its glory, emerge from Westminster Abbey on their wedding day
Amid the pomp and splendour of a truly unforgettable day, The Dress was undoubtedly the star of the show.
And just like the most gracious stars, the Duchess of Cambridge’s stunning wedding gown is returning for an encore.
Those of us who admired it from the comfort of our sofas at home, can now see the £250,000 Alexander McQueen dress right up close – if we can get our hands on what is rapidly becoming the hottest ticket in town.
Fit for a Duchess: Kate Middleton's stunning wedding gown is going on display at the weekend, alongside other items from the big day
The dress is to take pride of place at Buckingham Palace’s annual summer exhibition this year, ensuring we can bask in the afterglow of Kate and William’s wedding day just that little bit longer.
While most brides carefully wrap their bridal gowns in tissue paper and store them away with their memories, Kate’s will be shared with the nation all over again.
Beauty in the detail: 58 gazar buttons run from the collar to the waist on the gown, while Kate's veil is made of soft ivory silk tulle and stitched with flowers
In fact visitors can relive every joyful moment of the day, with everything from the Duchess’s veil to her shoes and even the royal wedding cake on display.
Record demand means advance ticket sales are more than double on last year’s summer opening, with 600,000 people paying £17.50 per ticket to troop through the doors over the next ten weeks.
That would comfortably beat the palace’s previous highest attendance of 420,000 in 1994.
Here, the Daily Mail, which was offered an exclusive tour yesterday, can reveal the treasures in store for the first visitors this Saturday.
Something borrowed: This 1936 Cartier tiara was loaned to Kate by Queen and contains 1,000 glittering diamonds
Icing on the cake: The top three layers of the cake are replicas, with two saved for the couple's first child's Christening, as tradition dictates
The first cut: The mark made by the couple using a ceremonial sword is clearly visible on the bottom tier of the cake
Twinkle toes: The duchess's hand-stitched shoes were designed by Sarah Burton of Alexander McQueen and are size five-and-a-half
Bouquet of memories: A silk replica of Kate's flowers include sweet william, myrtle, lily of the valley and hyacinth
Little acorns: The Duchess's diamond earrings were a present from her parents for the wedding, and bare acorns as a nod to her family's new coat of arms
Spectacular: Pippa Middleton carries the train of her sister's gown, which was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen and described as being sized 'small' by the exhibition's curator
However, look closely among the sugary flowers on the bottom tier and you can see the mark left by the ceremonial sword the couple used to cut it – an unbroken link to a magical day.
The Royal Wedding Dress: A Story of Great British Design runs until October 3 at Buckingham Palace. Tickets are priced at £17.50 and can be obtained from www.royalcollection.org.uk or 0207 766 7300.
That's my boy! Prince William gives a speech at the job-fair, and it seems to go down well with his wife Kate who applauds
The royal couple's last event saw them attend a jobs fair at Sony Pictures Studio staged by Service Nation: Mission Serve.
The body is an umbrella organisation set up by the US government which brings together different service charities to support the re-integration of servicemen and women into civvy street.
The royal couple arrived in a motorcade with an escort of 17 officers from the Californian Highway Patrol - affectionately known as Chips - who had British flags fixed to the back of their large bikes.
Impressed: William warms up for his speech at the ServiceNation: Mission Serve event which helps get ex-servicemen into employment; he spoke of how he and Kate both had friends in the UK that could benefit from such a scheme
All smiles: The final leg of the royal visit saw William and Kate attend a job fair designed to get ex-servicemen back into work
The couple were greeted by Sir Howard Stringer chairman and chief executive of Sony Corporation and then led inside a building for a 25 minute-long private meeting with the senior staff from Service Nation: Mission Serve.
In Sound Stage 15, a huge 42,000 square foot open-plan building, dozens of business recruitment stands for the former US servicemen and women were set up.
Proud moment: William, who is a service officer, spoke highly of the workshop and hopes it can inspire veterans in their careers
Sets from iconic movies were built in the huge area from the yellow brick road from the Wizard of Oz to elements of the latest Spiderman movie and Sir Paul McCartney has used it as a rehearsal space.
The royal couple were cheered by the ex-servicemen and women and their partners who were attending the fair when they arrived, and the couple did a short walkabout.
Helping hand: William and his wife Kate help prepare care packages for military children
On stage with an enormous 60ft American flag in the background the Duke gave a speech.
The royal said: 'This is the last event on our tour of North America, but to my mind, it is one of the most important.
'This is because it is about men and women who - of their own free will - choose to put their life on the line for their country.'
He added: "Service Nation Mission Serve, and all the companies and employers taking part today, are providing opportunities which mean something very immediate and personal to us.
'Catherine and I both have friends back in Britain who could benefit from a brilliant initiative like this.'
William made the audience laugh by taking a swipe at his brother Prince Harry: 'I am delighted, therefore, that our Foundation – and in that I include my low-flying Apache very average brother – is a partner in today’s event.'
Packed out: William made the audience laugh when he joked that his brother, Harry, was a 'low-flying Apache very average brother
The royal went on to tell the audience 'how grateful we are to have been welcomed so warmly in the Golden State and the City of Angels. Thank you so much.'
The couple then filled boxes given to youngsters whose parents have been deployed to Afghanistan.
William and Kate were first shown a teddy bear called Cuzzie who was dressed in a scarf, goggles, jacket that was one of the main items.
The royal couple stood next to each other and filled the package with a journal for the children to jot down their feelings,
dogtags, so they can be just like mum or dad, a DVD that takes them through the issues around deployment, and postcards to send to the frontline.
When william picked up the popular American toy - Uno playing card - he said: 'I haven't seen these in ages, I used to play this a lot,' then put it in the box. The couple then left to catch their scheduled flight back to the UK.
Stylish: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge cut a stylish appearance as they arrived in Santa Barbara for a charity polo match today
There may have been stars of stage and screen at the charity polo event in Santa Barbara today but all eyes were definitely on the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Catherine stood out from the crowd in a pretty 'De Gournay' silver and marble grey hand-painted chinoiserie silk dress by Jenny Packham with taupe L.K.Bennett 'Sliver' sandals and a gold clutch bag as she waved at supporters while arriving at the event, held in aid of the American Friends of the Foundation of Prince William and Prince Harry, beside her new husband.
Meanwhile, William looked smart in white trousers, a navy jacket, white shirt and brown suede loafers.
Smiles all round: The Duke and Duchess certainly appeared to be in good spirits as they strolled across the green to the polo match
Other celebrities to make an appearance at the event, an unofficial welcome to Hollywood for the royal couple, included Rosario Dawson, who wore a cute black dress and model Molly Sims, who donned a stunning cutout lace dress.
Jennifer Love Hewitt was also there, was said she was delighted to rub shoulders with real-life royalty. She said: 'They are so fresh, so elegant. I'm a huge fan and watched the wedding over and over again.'
Her Royal Highness is wearing a 'De Gournay', silver and marble grey hand-painted chinoiserie silk dress by Jenny Packham.
Fresh-faced: Catherine kept her make-up simple and left her long brown hair loose and tumbling
The charity match took place at the exclusive Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northeast of Los Angeles.
Those who were keen to meet the royal couple and watch William lead his fellow polo players into the match could purchase a ticket for $4,000, while others could be given access to the grandstand, a box lunch and a souvenir program for $400. Any proceeds from the tickets will go to charity.
Californian tans: Both the Duchess and Duke appeared to have picked up a tan and sported some slight colour as they arrived for the match
What's that? Catherine laughs at something William says as they walk towards the event. William looked smart in his white trousers, shirt and navy jacket
Security at the pre-match lunch was very tight and everyone accessing was scanned twice and sniffer dogs checked even the smallest of designer handbags.
Guests will enjoy a three course menu of California chopped salad with parmesan frico and marinated giant shrimp, followed by sweetcorn lasagne with blistered tomatoes and roasted asparagus, and strawberry meringue trifle or tarragon merlot truffle and toffee truffle for dessert.
Travelling in style: The Duke and Duchess arrived at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club in a helicopter
In his speech, William joked to his celebrity audience that he wouldn't be returning to the polo club unless he won in his upcoming polo match, He said: 'In terms of coming back, that depends on the result out there today. I'm not a good loser!'
The Duke also admitted his family were very jealous when they heard he would be playing at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club.
He continued: 'My father, The Prince of Wales, and my brother, Harry, were as green as that grass outside when I told them I’d be here today.'
Stylish: Catherine teamed her Jenny Packham floral dress with taupe L.K. Bennett heeled sandals and a gold clutch bag
Greetings! William waves at the crowds as he and his wife touch down in Santa Barbara
Posing up: The couple looked excited to be part of such an occasion at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club
The Duke and Duchess arrived in California on Friday after a nine-day trip to Canada, their first foreign excursion since getting married in April. Within minutes of landing, the couple headed to their first event, a technology summit in Beverly Hills aimed at promoting U.S. investment in British tech firms.
After the polo game, the duke and duchess will head to downtown Los Angeles to attend a black-tie event at the historic Belasco Theatre, where they will be guests of honour at a British Academy of Film and Television Arts dinner honouring 42 young British filmmakers.
Celebrities expected to attend the exclusive event include Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman, Quentin Tarantino and Judd Apatow.
Taking to the field: William looked delighted as he played in the Foundation Polo Challenge match at the club
Pre-match wish: Before William started playing polo, wife Catherine popped behind the scenes to wish him luck
The newlyweds have a busy schedule ahead of them in the U.S., which will take them from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood to the poverty of Skid Row.
Speaking shortly ahead of their arrival, Sir Nigel Sheinwald, Britain's ambassador to the US, said: 'They have had a fantastically successful trip to Canada and they will have a great welcome in California.
'They will meet a huge range of people from the governor to people working in the projects of Skid Row. They will get a good snapshot of life in this part of California.'
Stunning: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Rosario Dawson and model Molly Sims were among the first celebrities to arrive at the polo match
Stunning: Jennifer Love Hewitt, Rosario Dawson and model Molly Sims were among the first celebrities to arrive at the polo match
Here come the boys: Joe Jonas donned a cable knit red cardigan for the event while Billy Zane opted for a smart grey suit
In contrast to the high society events, the royal couple will also go to Skid Row to see how a community arts organisation is helping youngsters in the socially deprived area of down town LA. Inner-City Arts uses visual arts and performance to give homeless and poverty-hit youngsters a creative outlet.
'People just want a glimpse of the Duke and Duchess,' said Los Angeles resident Christian Kang. 'There's so much compassion in both of them. I know they're going to Skid Row, and I think that's very good to see from someone in his position.'
The royal couple's final event before jetting back to the UK will see them attend a jobs fair at Sony Pictures Studio staged by Service Nation: Mission Serve.
Light and bright: Zoe Saldana, Nicolette Sheridan and Alice Eve all opted for neutral tones as they posed for photographers
The body is an umbrella organisation set up by the US government which brings together different service charities to support the re-integration of servicemen and women into civvy street.
Though Prince William has been to America before, it is Kate's first trip to the U.S.
A source close to Catherine told gossip website HollywoodLife.com that the Duchess was 'excited' about the trip but was worried about remembering people's names.
The source said: 'When I spoke with Catherine this morning, she said she is tired and worried about remembering everyone’s names. I told her she was doing well and gave her some tips on how to write them down. She said she’s excited for the day though. She goes to bed early, which is good.'
Gearing up: A slightly nervous-looking William waits to make his speech as Kate looks on
What a joker! William filled his speech with jokes and humour, as well as mentioning his father Prince Charles and brother Prince Harry
But Kate needn't worry about how they are being perceived by people during their nine-day tour of America and Canada, as the royal pair have already been dubbed the 'most polite celebrities ever' after turning down an on-air interview with US radio presenter Ryan Seacrest.
In anticipation of the high-profile visit, the American Idol host had asked his producers to request an interview with the Dike and Duchess to welcome them to Hollywood.
However, shortly after reaching out to them, Seacrest says his producers received what may go down as the 'most pleasant' response to a guest booking ever.
Delicious: Guests were served California chopped salad with parmesan frico and marinated giant shrimp to start followed by Sweet Corn Lasagna with blistered tomatoes and roasted asparagus
Reading out the email he received from one of the couple's representatives, Seacrest relayed: 'It's very kind of you to offer the Duke and Duchess on Ryan's radio show.
'I'm very sorry to say, however, that the couple will not be undertaking any interviews during their tour of Canada and California, or before or immediately after it.
'This is normal practice for members of the royal family when an official overseas visit occurs. Furthermore the Duke and Duchess actually very rarely take part in interviews at all. Sorry to be sending a disappointing response, but hope you enjoy their visit to California.'
Though Secrest had his hopes up for a visit from the Duke and Duchess, he later admitted: 'I knew there wasn't a chance in hell.'
Quick change: Earlier in the week, Catherine was seen wearing a lavender dress by Serbian-born designer Roksanda Illincic (L) before swapping it for a green-belted dress by American designer Diane von Furstenberg
Fashion icon: During the couple's royal tour of Canada, the Duchess wore a variety of colourful outfits, including a quirky cowboy-inspired outfit to watch the rodeo
Prince William and Kate on the Red carpet before charity polo match in Santa Barbara
Admiration: The Queen talks with the Duchess of Cambridge as they view the wedding dress the Duchess wore during her April marriage to Prince William
Viewing: The Duchess of Cambridge arrives at Buckingham Palace with Her Majesty, The Queen, to see the wedding dress and cake before both go on public display
One is spooked: The Queen was heard to describe the headless mannequin as 'horrible'
Exhibition: The monarch, her hands clasped behind her back, led the way as she and Kate toured the displays in Buckingham Palace
Style queen: The Duchess of Cambridge exuded elegance and poise as she walked around Buckingham Palace today
Fit for a Duchess: Kate Middleton's stunning wedding gown is going on display at the weekend, alongside other items from the big day
