Meghan's £200k gown was identical to one of mine, says designer who is a favorite of the Duchess of Cambridge

They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. 

Designer Emilia Wickstead — a favourite of the Duchess of Cambridge — claims the Duchess of Sussex’s wedding dress is identical to her own £7,000 gown.

Created by Givenchy’s Clare Waight Keller, Meghan Markle’s £200,000 dress was kept under wraps for months until the big day. 

Meghan Markle in her £200,000 Givenchy dress
Designer Emilia Wickstead's £7,000 gown

Meghan Markle in her £200,000 Givenchy dress (left) and designer Emilia Wickstead's £7,000 gown (right)

‘Her dress is identical to one of our dresses,’ says Wickstead. 

‘Apparently a lot of commentators were saying, “It’s an Emilia Wickstead dress.”’

The designer went on to have a bit of a dig at Meghan’s look. 

Emilia Wickstead, who claims Meghan's wedding dress is identical to one of her dresses

Emilia Wickstead, who claims Meghan's wedding dress is identical to one of her dresses

She says: ‘If you choose a simple design the fit should be perfect. Her wedding dress was quite loose.’

And she didn’t approve of the bride’s relaxed hair style: ‘I was like, “Hold the wisps [of her hair] back — it’s a Royal Wedding for God’s sake.”' 

 

Sarah, Duchess of York, flew back from the U.S. yesterday to attend a memorial service for the man who was once her boss, art dealer William Drummond.

Drummond ran the Covent Garden Gallery and counted Jackie Kennedy among his clients. 

Among several applicants for a job as his gallery assistant was one Sarah Ferguson.

Before he had decided who to employ, he ran into a fellow dealer who remarked: ‘I hear Fergie’s coming to work for you.’ 

Drummond had not made any such job offer, but thought it showed commendable chutzpah.

The Duchess, who was at the service at St James’s Church, Piccadilly, told me: ‘At 21 I went to his Covent Garden Gallery and said I would like a job. 

'He said, “I would like someone 28-plus as my PA.” 

'I said, with a huge smile, “Great, I can start on Monday.” ’ 

 

Even though she’s a vegetarian, Felicity Kendal sounds a note of caution about children converting to more exotic diets. 

‘I don’t think vegan in young people is a good idea,’ says the 71-year-old Good Life actress. 

‘It’s been proved that you need the calcium for your bones to be set in the bone and the marrow.

‘If you’ve got the calcium set in, you can recover later in life, you can build it back up again, but not if it’s lost in teenagers. 

'I’m all for vegan, vegetarian, whatever you want, but I don’t think it should be encouraged in young girls.’ 

 

Where did you get that (£541) hat...

His great-grandfather, Earl Mountbatten, had 500 servants at his disposal as Viceroy of India, but Caspian Hicks, born four months ago, is happy with just one — mum Kata.

Fashionista Katalina Sharkey de Solis, 36, Texan second wife of interior designer Ashley Hicks, godson of Prince Philip, wore an oversized straw hat to offer her toddler protection from the sun while visiting France.

Fashionista Katalina Sharkey de Solis, 36, Texan second wife of interior designer Ashley Hicks, godson of Prince Philip, wore an oversized straw hat to offer her toddler protection from the sun while visiting France

Fashionista Katalina Sharkey de Solis, 36, Texan second wife of interior designer Ashley Hicks, godson of Prince Philip, wore an oversized straw hat to offer her toddler protection from the sun while visiting France

‘Luckily a Jacquemus hat will cover both mother and child,’ writes Ashley, 54, who posted the snap. 

Yes, but at a princely sum of £541.