Viewers from across the world watched Catherine Middleton walk down the aisle to marry her prince last week, but for two Surrey embroiderers the moment was particularly poignant.

Sophie Long and Jenny Adin-Christie were called upon by the the Royal School of Needlework (RSN) to help hand-stitch the delicate lace on the bride’s dress.

The RSN graduates joined the team behind the dress, which included expert lace-makers aged 19 to 70 from across the world, who were initially kept in the dark about what the project actually was.

Mrs Adin-Christie, 33, is a freelance embroiderer and designer and lives in Moor Lane, close to West Ewell, with her husband and three-year-old daughter.

She said: “Everyone was totally overwhelmed it couldn’t have been better, the dress fitted her so well and it’s such a good example of British craftsmanship.

“I love working on a small scale on very fiddly fine work. The work on the dress was perfect for me, it was my dream come true really.”

Miss Long, 24, from Walton, spent hours stitching the dress’s lace motifs, stopping every 30 minutes to wash her hands to keep the lace and threads looking perfect.

She said: “I enjoy repairing wedding veils and love teaching fine embroidery so to work on Catherine Middleton’s wedding dress was a great opportunity and a fantastic experience.”