Catherine Walker

Catherine Walker (27 June 1945 – 23 September 2010) was a French-born fashion designer based in London.

Early life Walker was born Catherine Marguerite Marie-Thérèse Baheux in Calais, France, Walker is known for having supplied over a thousand garments for Diana, Princess of Wales.

Walker studied aesthetics and philosophy at the universities of Lille and Aix-en-Provence and achieved a master's degree. While studying for a PhD she moved to London and lived in Earl's Court.

Notable clients Many European royals and high-profile individuals have worn Catherine Walker because her very formal designs in a range of colours for daywear and embroidered evening wear closely match the requirements of formal events.

Diana Spencer, Princess of Wales: Catherine Walker became one of the Princess of Wales' favourite designers. Her professional relationship with Diana began three months after Diana's marriage to Prince Charles in 1981, and lasted until Diana's death sixteen years later, during which time Walker provided the Princess with many of her most iconic garments.

Walker created the dress and lace veil which Diana wore at the Apostolic Palace during a Pontifical audience with Pope John Paul II on 29 April 1985, the same dress Diana was buried in along with a personal rosary gifted to her by Saint Teresa of Calcutta.

Catherine, Princess of Wales: Walker's designs are also chosen by Diana's daughter-in-law, Catherine. Catherine Walker has become one of the current Princess of Wales favourite designers and she chooses to wear the designer's creations for formal engagements.

Prince William had a few coats made by Catherine Walker as a child.

The Duke of Kent's daughter, Lady Helen Taylor (née Windsor), wore a Catherine Walker design for her 1992 wedding to Tim Taylor.

Katharine, Duchess of Kent has worn many designs by Catherine Walker, including a dress to attend William, Prince of Wales's wedding in 2011

Lady Gabriella Kingston has been wearing CW designs since her teenage years and has stayed loyal to the brand. She wore the designer's coatdress to the memorial service for Catherine Walker in 2010. She almost always wears the designer's pieces to the formal royal events, most recently the coronation of King Charles III at Westminster Abbey, London.

Sophie Winkleman formally Lady Frederick Windsor, the sister-in-law of Lady Gabriella Kingston is also a fan of the Catherine Walker fashion house. She has been seen in CW outfit for many formal royal events

Carole Middleton, the mother of Catherine, Princess of Wales wore Catherine Walker for numerous public occasions.

Mette-Marit, Crown Princess of Norway wore a classic Catherine Walker coatdress in red during a Nobel Peace Prize ceremony.

Marie Chevallier – wife of Louis Robert Paul Ducruet (son of Princess Stéphanie of Monaco and Daniel Ducruet), has chosen a Catherine Walker coatdress to attend a Catholic Mass at the Monaco Cathedral during the celebrations marking Monaco's National Day in Monaco, on 19 November 2019.

Judi Dench has worn a bespoke Catherine Walker piece for British Vogue -Ask a legend interview in 2020.

J.K. Rowling wore a Paddington coat dress to receive her insignia as a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in 2017.

Death Walker died on 23 September 2010 in a hospital, after being found unconscious by a neighbour at her home in Sussex, England. She had suffered breast cancer, and was a founding sponsor of the charity Breast Cancer Haven. Walker was survived by her second husband Said Ismael Cyrus and two daughters, Naomi and Marianne, from her first marriage.