Sarah Burton, Kate Middleton’s Wedding Dress Designer, Will Step Down from Alexander McQueen After 26 Years

When Kate Middleton tied the knot with Prince William on April 29, 2011, she tapped designer Sarah Burton of British fashion label Alexander McQueen to create her wedding dress. Burton, the brand's creative director, ended up constructing a timeless gown for the bride—which featured handmade lace, floral appliqués, long sleeves, a deep V-neck, and an eight-foot train—that made history. Now, after 26 years, Burton has decided to step down from the fashion house's helm.

Burton announced her decision to leave the company in a recent statement. “I am so proud of everything I’ve done and of my incredible team at Alexander McQueen,” Burton said. “They are my family, and this has been my home for the past 26 years.” She continued by thanking François-Henri Pinault, chairman and CEO of the brand’s parent company, Kering. In the statement, Burton also expressed her gratitude for Lee Alexander McQueen, the British fashion designer and couturier who founded Alexander McQueen in 1992; he passed away in 2010. “He taught me so much, and I am eternally grateful to him,” she said.

According to the statement, Burton’s Spring/Summer 2024 fashion show during Paris Fashion Week, which spans from September 25 to October 3, 2023, will mark her last venture for Alexander McQueen. “I am looking forward to the future and my next chapter and will always carry this treasured time with me,” she concluded. Although the release didn’t reveal any information about who will replace Burton, the fashion label shared that a “new creative organization for the house will be announced in due course.”

Burton first started working for Alexander McQueen as an intern in college when she attended London’s Central Saint Martins. She officially joined the company as an assistant after graduating in 1997. Three years later, she was promoted to the head of womenswear. Within that role, McQueen created dresses for celebrities, such as Lady Gaga and Gwyneth Paltrow. Following McQueen’s death in February 2010, Burton succeeded the designer as the new creative director in May 2010. That October, she presented her first fashion show in Paris.

In April 2011, Kate Middleton wore a custom wedding dress that Burton created. The designer worked in complete secrecy to ensure the gown was a surprise on the royal bride’s big day. “It was made for her and has a lot of personality in it,” Burton told People at the time. The designer also produced Pippa Middleton’s maid of honor gown. That year, Burton was named British Fashion Council’s designer of the year and went on to create ensembles for Michelle Obama, Beyoncé, Zendaya, and more.

After the now-princess of Wales said “I do,” she continued to support Burton by wearing many of her designs, especially at noteworthy events. Most recently, Kate wore a long-sleeved white silk gown with embellishments by Burton for King Charles III’s coronation in May 2023. The princess also sported a piece—a black coat dress—by the designer for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022.