Huge Monsoon sale sees 'gorgeous' summer dress in Princess Kate-approved print drop by 50%
If there's one print Kate Middleton frequently reaches for, whether it's for her first appearance after the birth of her child or a day at Ascott, and everything in between, it's the polka dot. Typically sporting the blue with white polka dots look, Kate is a frequent wearer of this timeless pattern, proving its chic look can seamlessly transcend seasons and trends.
And if you're looking to steal Kate's staple design without a royal budget, look no further than Monsoon, where you can find an elegant and versatile midi dress in Kate's beloved blue and white polka dot print up for grabs for half its normal price, as Monsoon continues to roll out a massive sitewide sale.
Touted as the perfect dress for any special occasion, this Sicily Fit and Flair number has been coined by Grazia as the most popular style on the internet. It features a fitted, sleeveless bodice that accentuates and flatters the body, while the fit-and-flare skirt creates a timeless silhouette that looks good on everyone.
Falling at a midi to maxi length, this piece offers a classic and forever-chic style that can be endlessly styled for various occasions. Whether you're heading to a family event, a formal occasion, or a royal day-out, the square neckline and swooshy skirt paired with the figure-hugging fit are sure to suit any dress code. Plus, it adds the handy and discrete benefit of having those oh-so-important pockets that let you carry your essentials close by without the need for a bag.
Available in sizes 8 to 24 and in a range of colourways, this dress is so popular that sizes 12 and 24 have already sold out, and the black and white option is also no longer in stock. Normally retailing for £140, this piece is now up for grabs for half of that, placing it at £70 during this Monsoon sale.
One shopper who picked up this midi left a glowing 5-star review, which reads: " My favourite dress! The fit is fabulous even in a larger size, the material is really good quality, I receive compliments every time I wear it."
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I'm too young to marry at my age. 'I don't want to get married until I'm at least 28 or maybe 30.' In December 2006, Kate and her mother attended Sandhurst to watch Prince William receive his army commission, which sparked a frenzy of engagement rumours. Woolworths even commissioned its own range of memorabilia in anticipation of the event. These included traditional china plates, thimbles, mouse mats and even Wills and Kate shaped pick-and-mix sweets. Sadly, Woolworths went out of business in January 2009, before the engagement was announced. But according to Nicholl, it was senior royals who told William to take the relationship steady. She wrote: 'William had been having second thoughts and sat down with his father and his grandmother to have a frank discussion about his future with Kate. 'Both advised him not to hurry into anything.' After dating for nearly a decade, William finally proposed in October 2010, in a cabin roughly 11,000ft above sea level on the side of Mount Kenya in Africa. The wedding took place at Westminster Abbey with 2,000 guests and 2.6billion people around the world watching on television William had been carrying his late mother's engagement ring in his backpack for three weeks before giving it to Kate. True to his prediction, he would later marry Kate Middleton two months before his 29th birthday. They announced their engagement to the public on November 16, 2010, before tying the knot in April 2011. The wedding took place at Westminster Abbey with 2,000 guests and 2.6billion people around the world watching on television At the time, People called it the 'greatest and grandest royal affair' since Prince Charles and Princess Diana's 1981 wedding. Looking back now, that long, hot summer of 2009 must feel like a lifetime ago to Kate. Kate Middleton's pre-royal CV Before joining the Royal Family when she wed Prince William in 2011, the future Queen worked in a series of surprisingly normal jobs. Ahead of going to university, teenage Kate took on some 'back breaking work', earning a pittance as a deckhand in Southampton. And after leaving education, she famously worked in fashion, taking on a role as an accessory buyer for high street brand Jigsaw. Her final foray into the world of work ahead of joining the royals was working for her family business, Party Pieces. 'Back-breaking work' as a deckhand in Southampton One of the first jobs the now-Princess of Wales is known to have worked at sounds like a surprisingly hands-on role for the royal. Ahead of going to university in Scotland (where she famously met her husband-to-be ), like many others her age, Kate took on low-paid work. Over a four-month period, she worked as a deckhand at the Ocean Village Marina in Southampton. One of the skippers Kate worked under at the time, Cal Tomlinson, spoke to author Katie Nicholl for her biography Kate: The Future Queen. He said: 'It was back-breaking work. Kate mucked in and was very professional. She fitted right in, although she did stand out for being so pretty. 'She spoke well, she was very attractive, and she an air about her. She was competent and confident but very unassuming. 'She was polite and respectful to whoever was in charge of her and neat as a pin. She was never wore any make-up; she was naturally beautiful.' A 'terrible' waitress during her university days These days, Kate has the means to be waited on if she likes, but this was not always the case. Like many other students, Kate took on some waitressing while she was at university. It was during the 2019 broadcast of Christmas TV special A Berry Royal Christmas, that the princess opened up about her hospitality experience to show host Mary Berry. During one segment, Mary prepared a non-alcoholic cocktail, which she then passed to Kate to take over to guests. This prompted Kate to quip: 'Reminds me of my university days when I did a bit of waitressing.' When Mary asked if she was good at the job, Kate responded very honestly. She laughed, and replied: 'No, I was terrible!' First foray into the world of fashion After leaving university, Kate landed a job with a major fashion chain. At the age of 24, she took on a role as an accessory buyer for high street brand Jigsaw around the end of 2006. Speaking to confirm the appointment, a Jigsaw spokesperson said at the time: 'We can confirm that Kate joined our staff two or three weeks ago as an accessory buyer for Jigsaw and Jigsaw Junior. We can't comment any further.' According to reports, the future Queen had already helped out the brand at a fashion shoot, where she ran errands, fetching cups of tea and snacks. When Kate was hired by Jigsaw, it was owned by fashion tycoons John and Belle Robinson - close family friends of the Middleton's. At the time, the appointment was described as a major coup for Jigsaw, having the woman who was expected to marry the future king among its staff. Although she left the brand in 2007, to go and work for her family business Party Pieces, the Princess of Wales still appears to be a fan, and has been spotted wearing items of its clothing in recent years. Working for the family business After leaving her role at Jigsaw, Kate went on to work for her parents' business, Party Pieces. The party decoration supplier is owned by Kate's mother Carole Middleton. It was founded in 1987 when Carole was looking for inspiration for her daughter Kate's fifth birthday party. She realised there was a gap in the market and set up the company that offers time-pressed parents an easy choice of imaginative parties for their children. While it may have started as a tiny operation working from the Middletons' kitchen table, it is now a much larger business employing some 40 people and working internationally. The brand's best-selling Party Pieces Collection features products such as plates, napkins, cups, hats, balloons, treat stands and decorations. All three of her children have worked for it at some point, with Kate joining in 2007, after leaving her job at Jigsaw. Her role, according to reports, included working as a website designer and photographer for the business. She left Party Pieces in January 2011, ahead of her April wedding to Prince William.
