Dresses that show Kate Middleton is a true queen in waiting

Kate Middleton: Sloane... to style queen

Royal duties: In a move away from the clichéd country look she previously sported,

Kate ditched the frumpy brown tweed suit for an on-trend pillar-box red suit

by Italian ready-to-wear label Luisa Spagnoli. Although the knee- high boots have

become a trademark feature, the addition of a girly bow belt displayed her ability

to have fun with fashion as well as that tiny high waist and brought

the look nearer to her 29 years.

Evening wear: The frumpy black and gold floral number on the left, twinned with

a lumpy faux fur stole and old-fashioned peep-toe heels does little more than

add years and pounds to the usually svelte Kate. Move forward to the

fabulous pink dress above. Its clever draping not only highlights this English

roses slim high waist and skinny ribs, but also shows us the start of something

beautiful between Kate and British designer Issa.

Engagement/Lunch: Its no coincidence that the newly engaged Kate wore

royal blue to perfectly match her engagement ring when it was announced

to the world she was marrying her prince. In another Issa dress that would

go on to be the most- copied and lusted-after dress of 2010 and sell out worldwide,

the happy bride-to be looked elegant and a worthy candidate to be our future queen.

Although not so jaw- dropping, she adopted a less-is-more approach when lunching

with Camilla in a printed dress and a simple camel jacket, left.

Wedding wear Drawing both gasps and applause from the fashion crowd,

the future royals cleavage-exposing outfit, above, was simultaneously sexy and demure

and in black,a bold statement for any wedding guest. The sheer panel of fabric

protects her modesty and the elegant velvet frock coat is cinched with a pretty brooch.

The outfit is topped off with a witty fascinator. It shows that Kate has come along way

since the friends wedding she attended in this insipid, ill-fitting ensemble on the left,

with a dated pattern and odd headgear.

OFFICIAL VISIT: THE finest example of the Kate Effect so far and proving

her style credentials, Ms Middleton stepped out in this classic Burberry trenchcoat

and the highest heels to date for her latest appointment. Echoing the rush on her

engagement dress, its no surprise Burberry sold out within a day. The fashion world

applauded her for the massive improvement on the dark, oh-so-predictable country

style she had worn previously and its a huge relief to see that shes ditched that dodgy

trilby on the left. She has certainly found her style niche. Good girl.

As a girl about town, even one on the arm of the future King of England,
Kate Middleton was famous for stepping out in high street fashion.
Top Shop, French Connection, Reiss and Whistles were some brands favoured by Kate, 29.
And in recession-hit Britain, it seemed the right message to send out. She may be the
daughter of millionaires, but Kate is a commoner and when it came to fashion she
appeared to be just one of us. Except for the Kate Effect: when every outfit she
was pictured in flew off the shelves.But now Kate has raised her game. Since the ring
went on her finger, the heels are getting higher, the skirts are getting shorter and the
designers are becoming more high-end – and British. This week, on a trip to Belfast
with William, Kate flipped pancakes in a cream belted Burberry trenchcoat. Within hours,
the £650 coat had sold out everywhere.