A transparent dress which helped Kate Middleton to catch Prince William’s eye when the pair were students at St Andrews University is set to raise up to £10,000 when it goes under the hammer this week.
The see-though knitted lace dress which left the potential future King mesmerised will be sold at Le Galleria on Pall Mall in London on Thursday.
Miss Middleton strode down a catwalk wearing the dress and black underwear during a charity fashion show at the university in 2002.
Prince William was spellbound and the two students later became a couple.
They will marry at Westminster Abbey on April 29.
The dress, which cost just £30 to make, was designed by student Charlotte Todd. She revealed that it was initially created as a skirt but the show’s organisers decided it would be worn as a dress.
Ms Todd, who is now a retail manager at Bristol Aquarium, said she was delighted to have helped shape Britain’s most high-profile romance.
She said, “If it is true that my design helped to change the prince’s interest in Kate from platonic to romantic as has been reported then I am pleased to have played a part however minor.”
She added, “It was just pure luck that Kate, out of all those girls, wore it for a few seconds.”
Among other lots included in Thursday’s Passion for Fashion auction sale are two gowns worn by William’s mother, Diana, which are expected to raise about £80,000.