Odds slashed on Alexander McQueen to design Meghan Markle's wedding dress

Does someone know something we don't?
AFP/Getty Images
Chloe Street20 February 2018

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will get married in Windsor Castle on May 19 in a ceremony that will be viewed by millions across the globe.

Within hours of the official announcement of the engagement, bookies started taking bets on everything from where Harry's stag do might be to whether it will rain on the day.

But of all the odds, none has caused such speculation as which designer will be tasked with the honour of creating Markle's dress.

A whole roster of names have been thrown in the ring, from Ralph & Russo to Victoria Beckham and Roland Mouret, with no clear frontrunners.

Until now that is, when Betfair was forced to suspend all bets on Alexander McQueen as the brand's odds halved overnight.

Alexander McQueen Sping 2018 show in Paris
Getty Images

Alexander McQueen founded his eponymous label in 1992 and remained creative director until he committed suicide in 2010. Since then Sarah Burton has been at the creative helm, receiving widespread praise for the direction in which she has taken the brand.

Alexander McQueen Creative Director Sarah Burton adjusting Kate Middleton's wedding dress
Getty Images

Katie Baylis, a spokesperson for Betfair said: “Just who will design Meghan’s dress has been one of the big talking points of the wedding of the year, with speculation rife. We previously had Ralph and Russo as the 2/1 favourites and there’s also been a lot of talk of Erdem as a big front runner. However, we’ve now suspended this market after seeing some interesting betting on Alexander McQueen this morning who went from 16/1 to 8/1 in a short space of time.”

Surprised? So are we.

Alexander McQueen certainly meets all the requirements for royal wedding dress designer: British, couture, and a specialist in high-fantasy frocks.

However, given the British brand was selected to create the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress back in 2011, many of us quietly assumed the honour would not be bestowed again so soon.

Kate and Pippa Middleton at the Royal Wedding in 2011
AFP/Getty

McQueen also designed Pippa Middleton's infamous figure-hugging bridesmaid dress that made her the most famous bridesmaid of all time.

That dress: Pippa Middleton at the royal wedding

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Following a show at Paris Couture Week that debuted a wedding dress fit for princess, British couturiers Ralph and Russo have, up until now, been considered a likely choice.

Ralph and Russo show, January 2018
AFP/Getty Images

Meghan also chose to wear a sheer black Ralph & Russo gown for the couples official engagement pictures, which fanned the rumours.

As a British designer widely loved by the royals, Erdem has also been mentioned as a possible candidate. Emily Sheffield, ex-deputy editor of Vogue, told the Standard back in November that she thought Moralioglu was the man for the job. "His designs are at a couture level of mastery and he will bring to life the kind of fantastical (but gently cool) creation most of us dream of come our wedding day," she said.

Princess Eugenie however chose to wear Erdem for her engagement photos, signalling she may be considering the designer for her big day later this year.

Jack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie announce their engagement
AFP/Getty Images

For our Acting Fashion Editor Hannah Rochell, New Zealand-born London-based designer Emilia Wickstead is another likely candidate. Before Betfair stopped taking bets this morning, its odds on the designer were 18/1.

Emilia Wickstead AW18 at London Fashion Week

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The spike in bets on Alexander McQueen is mysterious, and definitely implies that something has leaked.

Can we expect the big reveal soon? And who will it be?

Place your bets... oh hang on...

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