Kate's Zara dress sold out in an hour

The Zara minidress worn by the Duchess of Cambridge at Gary Barlow’s Prince’s Trust gig in London was sold out online within an hour. She wore the thigh-skimming lace design at the London gig at 9pm on Tuesday and by 10pm there were no more left on the Zara website.

The Zara minidress worn by the Duchess of Cambridge at Gary Barlow’s Prince’s Trust gig in London was sold out online within an hour. She wore the thigh-skimming lace design at the London gig at 9pm on Tuesday and by 10pm there were no more left on the Zara website.

On Wednesday, shoppers desperate to get their hands on the Duchess’ 69 pound black-and-white tulip-print frock cleared every last one from the High Street, the Sun reported.

Some were still available that night on eBay but at prices up to 200 pounds as the ‘copy-Kate effect’ got in full swing. Fashion experts at Grazia magazine hailed her choice as ‘youthful yet sophisticated.’

Spanish chain Zara would not say how many had been sold. But High Street items worn by her in the past have seen a sales jump of up to 500 per cent.

The Duchess is known to be keen to promote High Street stores, carefully choosing outfits to mix affordable clothes with designer gear.

“She’s modern — and smart,” Anna Dello Russo of Vogue said.