Bride comes before it all for Parvin

Stewart Parvin, who has created outfits for the Queen, below, is now tipped to be the dress designer for Zara Phillips at her wedding to Mike Tindall

However, Stewart Parvin, the Queen's own couturier whom it's been widely accepted is the creative mind behind her granddaughter Zara Phillips' wedding gown is, instead, losing himself in Greece.

While tourists are already flocking to the gates of the Canongate Kirk, where the ceremony will take place this weekend, and police patrol the scene, inspecting drains and sealing up bins for the big day, the man who will make Zara look like a princess - even if she has no such title - has left the country.

His office is also keeping schtum about whether he is Zara's chosen designer - but then so did Sarah Burton who it turned out was the brains behind Kate Middleton's gown - or even if he's been invited to the second royal wedding of 2011.

If he is, Mr Parvin will undoubtedly be glad to be back in his old stomping ground. A BA Honours fashion student of Edinburgh College of Art, the Capital is where he first showed the flair and talent which has led to him being dubbed "the new Hardy Amies" - he's been designing for Her Majesty since 2002, with his royal warrant being awarded in 2007 - as well as one of the most successful bridalwear and couture designers the city has produced.

Indeed, the 44-year-old is as enthusiastic now about his time in Edinburgh as he was when he graduated in 1989.

"I chose to study at the ECA because I thought that there would be fewer temptations in Edinburgh than in London," he has said. "Edinburgh was a great place to be a student and the ECA a great place to study.

"We felt like we were at the heart of everything, and as students we felt like an important part of the city, something you don't get in London.

"My approach was always very commercial, even at college, and I was lucky in that I was encouraged to explore that at the ECA, (as were] my friends who were more creative and edgier. A lot of colleges are either one or the other, creative or commercial, but we had a good mix."

He's incredibly proud of the success he and his friends have had. "I had three friends who graduated with me, and all of them have made good," he added. "We were very lucky to be in such a competitive year, pushing one another all the time - the same is true now - only it is slightly more competitive and the stakes so much higher."

Those fashion friends are Graeme Black, former assistant of Georgio Armani, who went on to become head designer at Ferragamo and exhibits his own, eponymous label at London Fashion Week; Joanne Jong, who worked in Milan for 14 years for MaxMara and Armani and is now a consultant for various Italian fashion houses such as Missoni; and Lynn Mackie, who has her own label, I, and who has dressed Victoria Beckham, Christina Ricci and Cat Deeley.

"It was a big class that year and there was a great amount of competition that pushed everyone on. We all inspired each other," said Mr Parvin.

Son of a property entrepreneur from Berkshire, on graduating from ECA Mr Parvin went to work in London with Donald Campbell, the Canadian-born society dressmaker. He then spent three years as an eveningwear designer for high-street chains such as Debenhams, C&A and Miss Selfridge, which means you might just have a Parvin design lurking in the back of your wardrobe.

"I worked for all the multiples. I became an expert at the heavily-beaded polyester frock, priced between 49.99 and 149.99," he said. "It was great fun. I used to travel all over Europe and every six weeks I would do a new collection, ranging from sexy little dresses for 16-year-olds, to things people would wear for weddings, or formal occasions."

But then he sold his flat to fund the opening of his own business in Knightsbridge where he rapidly built up an impressive clientele, including the Queen of Norway and Asma Assad, the Syrian president's wife. His number is on the speed-dial of many a television presenter and Hollywood star, and other clients include European tycoons' wives, ladies who lunch, Park Avenue princesses and the Palm Beach set.

He admits that his clientele tends to be on the older side, which is why his order book bulges in the run-up to Royal Ascot every summer.

It cannot be denied, though, that having royal approval shot him from rising star to stellar designer. It was in 2001 when he was approached by the Palace and he said he was "very flattered".

"We produced some sketches for them which, fortunately, they were very happy with. I don't actually know why they approached us. I don't know whether they'd seen my work, and we haven't actually sought to find out because we were so flattered to be asked."

After producing that portfolio he was added to the Queen's list of preferred designers and four outfits were selected for her Jubilee visit to Jamaica in 2002. One of those was a heavily-beaded, pale blue evening gown with draped georgette at the waist, pictured right - a dress which was seen in newspapers around the world as she wore it to a banquet when there was a power cut.

Parvin's name was also linked to Kate Middleton as the possible designer for her dress but while he wasn't chosen, he did seem keen on the idea. "Kate is a breath of fresh air, " he said. "She's young and glamorous; what more could you ask for?"

Zara Phillips perhaps? So if he is her designer, what can we expect of her dress? After all, his bridal designs are classic but younger in feel. For proof, see that worn by Lisa Armstrong when she married Ant McPartlin five years ago.

More than likely it will be classic with a twist and not too much flesh on show. "Most of my very grand brides don't wear strapless dresses," he has said, while Catherine Westwood, editor of Wedding magazine, thinks his skills will result in "an elegant, timeless wedding dress".

Rachel Scott, of Rachel Scott Bridal Couture in Dundas Street, who has regular business meetings with Mr Parvin, said: "He does something spectacular with figures and the silhouettes he creates are out of this world. His dresses are unusual but not in a flashy way."

Mr Parvin's connections with Edinburgh - and especially the art college - remain strong. He sponsors two cash prizes for students on the fashion design course of 250 for Best Third Year Fashion Student and 500 for Best Final Year Fashion Student. He was even made an Honorary Fellow of the ECA four years ago.

No doubt his career inspires many graduates - after all, dressing the Queen means his work is always in the news.

Indeed, when the Queen arrived in Dublin in May, commentators said her choice of outfit may have sealed the success of the historic four-day trip. It was one of Mr Parvin's designs - an emerald coat and hat described by some as a "deliberate act of diplomacy in wool and feather".

He said: "Whenever I see the Queen in one of my outfits I feel really pleased. I feel immensely privileged to be part of creating her look."

No doubt he'll feel the same if, as expected, Zara Phillips marries Mike Tindall in the most important wedding gown of his career.