Meghan Markle's wedding veil makers washed their hands every 30 minutes to keep the fabric clean

Everyone knows wedding dresses are precious and should be treated with the upmost care.

So much time and effort goes into making them absolutely perfect.

Well take all of that pressure and times it by a thousand, and that’s what the embroiders at Givenchy were up against.

In a recent interview with French magazine, Paris Match, artistic director of Givenchy, Clare Waight Keller talked exclusively about the process of making Meghan Markle’s wedding dress and her spectacular veil.

Five meters of silk tulle and covered in hand-stitched flowers, each representing a country in the common wealth, plus two of Meghan Markle’s personal favourites, the veil was incredibly delicate and easily stained.

This meant the embroiders at Givenchy had to wash their hands every 30 minutes so as not to smear the silk.

Clare Waight Keller also describes how she and Meghan worked very closely on the dress to ensure it was exactly what the bride wanted, whilst also looking like a Givenchy dress.

“Meghan knows what she wants,” says Claire Waight Keller. “I wanted a modern and fresh silhouette, whilst respecting her style.”

In order to make that dream come true, there were eight fittings between January and the big day on 19th May, when all the hard work paid off.

We all saw the look of wonder and emotion on Prince Harry’s face when he saw his bride walking down the aisle, and he was quick to thank Claire Waight Keller following the ceremony.

“Prince Harry came to tell me and said, ‘Oh! My God. Thank you. She is absolutely magnificent.’ I am very proud,” the designer stated.

Whilst many have fawned over Clare Waight Keller’s design and applauded Meghan Markle’s choice of designer – the subtle nod to feminism in choosing the first female designer at the helm of the historic French couture brand, others have been quick to criticise.

Katy Perry didn’t hold back when asked about the dress by Entertainment Tonight whilst filming American Idol, saying she thought the Duchess of Sussex should have had “one more fitting”.

There were also ripples of unrest following the wedding when prominent New Zealand designer Emilia Wickstead allegedly made claims that Clare Waight Keller had copied one of her own designs.

Wickstead has recently stated that she doesn’t think the dress is a copy, and wished the young couple a happy life together.

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