Camilla left in stitches after being shown the point by needlework experts
THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL was left in stitches when she tried her hand at embroidery - and met the experts sworn to secrecy when working on the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress.
The Duchess of Cornwall visited the Royal School of Needlework
Camilla showed off her sewing skills when she visited the Royal School of Needlework (RSN) at its Hampton Court Palace headquarters.
The embroidery experts were hard at work when Camilla, who took over the RSN patronage from the Queen in January, arrived with the Duchess of Gloucester - the institution's president.
Mandy Ewing was part of the team that created the bespoke lace on Kate's wedding dress, veil and shoes designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.
Ms Ewing, who said the group had to sign a confidentiality agreement, added: "We knew who it was for, but it was very secret - we had net curtains up and cleaners were not allowed into the room and the code on the door was changed.
Camilla showed off the innovative and beautiful hand embroidery work
She had a look at some of the creations
I think I'll leave it to the experts
"The dress was all in the news, but nobody knew who was doing it. When you're working you just focus on it and try not think about what's in the news.
"But it was an exciting event and everybody loved working on it - it was a once in a lifetime opportunity."
Sarah Burton sourced a series of lace motifs to create a unique design, applied by the RSN and arranged to fit each part of the dress perfectly following her creative vision.
Camilla tried her hand at embroidery
She was joined by the The Duchess of Gloucester
They left with handmade gifts - Camilla, right, Birgitte, left
Each lace motif - some as small as a five pence piece - was applied with minute stitches every two to three millimetres.
During the visit, Camilla sat down and tried her hand at embroidery under the watchful eye of tutor Jacqui McDonald.
The Duchess put on a pair of glasses and peered closely at the needlework, which was part of a floral pattern - and after gently poking a needle through the material, she joked "I think I'll leave it to the experts".