The Designer Duchess: How Kate ditched chain store chic to embrace high-end fashion (and she couldn't have done it without her generous father-in-law Charles)

Once a reluctant style icon, the Duchess -who famously wore a blue Zara dress the day after her wedding - is now almost exclusively choosing high-end gowns, coats and shoes.


Much of her working wardrobe is paid for by the Prince of Wales, who funds William, Kate and Harry's official activities. Royal accounts published last week show Charles's 'other expenditure', which includes money spent on Kate and his sons, rose 9.5 per cent in a year to £3.2 million - although aides refused to specify how much of that went on Kate's wardrobe.