Royal tailor: ‘If there was a fight between the Princess of Wales and Duchess of Sussex over bridesmaid dresses, I didn’t see it’
The tailor who fixed the bridesmaid dresses said to have sparked a row between the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Sussex has said he did not see any argument between them.
Ajay Mirpuri, who runs Mirpuri Bespoke tailors in London’s West End, was called in by Meghan and the Duke of Sussex four days before their May 2018 wedding to mend six ill-fitting Givenchy dresses.
Initial reports had suggested Kate was in tears over the incident, but Harry’s account in his memoir Spare says it was Meghan who was left “sobbing on the floor”.
But Mr Mirpuri said simply: “I did not see it.”
He added: “Any wedding, on whatever level, is always stressful – especially the lead up to it – and this was no different. But everyone was very friendly, very co-operative, and it was an honour to be asked to serve.”
Mr Mirpuri has vented frustration about why the alterations and the surrounding supposed argument have become the focus, rather than how “fabulous” the dresses looked on the wedding day.
All smiles for the official wedding photograph released by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex
He and a team of three others worked for three consecutive days at Kensington Palace and Windsor Castle until 4am each morning as they mended the dresses, which had been hand-sewn from measurements taken at a single fitting.
“The issue was the sizing, but I don’t know anything prior to that. Givenchy is a fantastic brand, and I can’t say anything about what had happened before. We were just brought in to try to fix a challenge, and that’s what we did.”
Harry’s book adds extra detail to the Sussexes’ Oprah Winfrey interview in 2021, when Meghan claimed it was Kate who made her cry, not vice-versa.
The duke writes Kate texted Meghan four days before the wedding to say her daughter Princess Charlotte was crying because her dress was “too big, too long, too baggy”.
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Meghan reportedly replied Mr Mirpuri had been “waiting all day” at Kensington Palace to make adjustments, adding that Kate and Charlotte should go there for alterations.
Kate is then said to have responded, “No, all the dresses need to be remade”, before then giving in to Meghan’s continued insistence she saw Mr Mirpuri.
Meghan told Oprah that Kate apologised the following day with flowers and a card.
“She did what I would do if I knew that I hurt someone. To just take accountability for it,” she said.
Large groups of youths have been throwing fireworks, bricks and bottles at police in Edinburgh, during a night of disorder across the city.
Video posted online shows officers responding to Bonfire Night incidents in the Sighthill, Niddrie, Gracemount and Gilmerton areas.
Riot police have been seen on the streets of Edinburgh, wearing helmets and carrying shields, as fireworks were lit and exploded around them.
Footage from Gilmerton, a suburb in the southeast of the city, also showed burning debris in the street as youths rode on bicycles.
Police in Edinburgh were deployed to several areas, including the suburb of Gilmerton
Police were given extra stop and search powers in certain areas following “intelligence” about planned disorder and firework-related crime.
Superintendent Neil Wilson said: “We are currently responding to incidents of disorder involving large groups of youths throwing a range of objects, including fireworks, bricks and bottles, across Edinburgh.”
A helicopter was also deployed as part of Operation Moonbeam, aimed at supporting local police in tackling fireworks-related offences.
Officers used shields to take cover from fireworks
Meanwhile Lothian Buses withdrew all services from the Niddrie area for safety reasons.
Niddrie was also the scene of disorder on 31 October, when police and public transport vehicles were pelted with fireworks and bricks.
Youths rode on bicycles near officers, as debris burned in the street
On Tuesday, officers in Glasgow seized a “significant quantity” of fireworks from a van in the Drumchapel area which it is alleged were being “sold to the general public, including children”.
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Scotland’s first fireworks control zones (FCZ) are in place in parts of Edinburgh and Glasgow from 1 to 10 November.
Those convicted of setting off a firework within a FCZ face a fine of up to £5,000 and up to six months in jail.
Meanwhile, it appears the famous Lewes bonfire night celebrations in East Sussex went off without incident after police urged people not to attend because of overcrowding concerns.
Effigies of Nigel Farage and Paula Vennells were burnt in Lewes Pic: PA
The so-called “bonfire capital of the world” is famous for burning effigies of controversial politicians and celebrities.
This year they included former Post Office chief executive Paula Vennells and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage.
The Queen is unwell with a chest infection and has withdrawn from her engagements this week, Buckingham Palace has announced.
A palace spokesperson said Camilla’s doctors “have advised a short period of rest” and added that “with great regret, Her Majesty has therefore had to withdraw from her engagements for this week”.
They added the Queen “very much hopes to be recovered in time to attend this weekend’s Remembrance events as normal”.
“She apologises to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result,” they said.
It is understood the Queen is currently resting at home and is under doctor’s supervision.
Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester, has stepped in on Camilla’s behalf to attend the annual opening of the Field of Remembrance at Westminster Abbey on Thursday.
The Queen has also withdrawn from a Buckingham Palace reception for Olympic and Paralympic athletes hosted by the King on the same evening.
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Camilla recently returned from an overseas tour of Australia and Samoa. No further details regarding her illness or treatment have been released.
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