Sophie Cranston to design Kate Middleton’s wedding dress?

Rumour has it, Kate’s chosen the little-known Libélula designer to create her big day gown

Ever since Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement, we've been dying to find out which designer name the bride-to-be would turn to for that all important gown.

Last month, Alexander McQueen successor Sarah Burton emerged as hotly-tipped favourite, with reports suggesting Kate had set her heart on the Brit label. But with just two weeks to go, a brand new frontrunner has emerged – little-known designer, Sophie Cranston.

THE ROYAL WEDDING: ALL THE DETAILS

Everyone from Daniella Issa Helayel to Brit design star Bruce Oldfield has been tipped to be in the running to take charge of the dress of the century, but now it seems the bride-to-be could finally have made her choice.

The rumour mill is abuzz with whispers that Sopie – who designed the black velvet coat Kate wore to the wedding of Harry Aubrey-Fletcher and Sarah Stourton earlier this year – is a hot favourite with Kate, and currently hard at work on the royal bridal gown.

The Brit-born designer set up her Libélula label just nine years ago, and counts Emma Watson, Celia Walden, and of course, the Middletons among her fans. And she’s fast becoming bookmakers favourite.

It’s thought Kate could have had a hand in designing the royal wedding gown herself, with reports suggesting the dress could have taken influence from the Renaissance period – using satin, lace and pearl buttons – and may even have been inspired by Princess Diana’s Emmanuels gown.

‘All we have been told is that the dressmaker is fairly unknown and from a relatively small design house,’ one friend told the Daily Mail. ‘But make no mistake, whoever’s name emerges on the day, this is very much Catherine’s dress.’

But despite rumours, it seems Kate’s designer of choice is destined to stay firmly under wraps until the big day.

Yesterday Clarence House declined to comment on talk, revealing: ‘We are not being drawn on any speculation on the wedding and cannot comment.’

The parents of the 34-year-old designer, who has boutiques in both London and Spain, also played down talk that Sophie could be creating the royal gown.

‘I'm sure it's not the case,’ her mother told the Telegraph. ‘Kate Middleton happened to wear one of Sophie's coats earlier in the year then we saw that the bookmakers had put my daughter at 16/1 as the designer of the wedding dress.’

Other have suggested Cranston has been given the commission, but will avoid attention for as long as possible, ‘to allow her the freedom to create the wedding gown of Catherine's dreams without additional pressures and distractions’.

All we know is that with just two weeks (and counting!) to royal wedding day, it’s not long before we’ll see the finished dress itself. Excited? Us?

What are your thoughts on Kate’s big day dress? Should Sarah Burton design the all-important wedding gown? Let us know your thoughts in the comments box below.

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