Kate Middleton was still a middle-class lass when she caught Prince William’s eye while modelling in a fashion show at St Andrews University.
Now, it’s the aristocrats who hope to seize attention on the catwalk.
First to hit the runway at Dolce & Gabbana’s show in Milan at the weekend was Lady Kitty Spencer, 26, Princess Diana’s niece. Fittingly, she wore a tiara with her tight black frock.
Next up was Lady Amelia Windsor, 22, the Duke of Kent’s granddaughter, who sported a ruffled, polka-dot gown.
Looking wizard was Sabrina Percy, 27, kinswoman of the Duke of Northumberland whose ancestral home, Alnwick Castle, doubled as Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films.
She was followed by Frankie Herbert, 21, niece of the Earl of Carnarvon. She’s so grand Downton Abbey was filmed at her uncle’s family seat, Highclere Castle.
Fashion royalty! Princess Diana’s niece Lady Kitty Spencer dons a gold crown as she struts down the catwalk
By Molly Rose Pike for MailOnline
Lady Spencer wore a tight black dress for her strut down the catwalk and appeared to be flaunting her royal connections with a gold crown balanced on her golden locks.
Flaunting her hourglass curves, Kitty’s black dress was nipped in at the waist with a huge decorative bow.
The gown had chiffon sleeves and sat off the shoulder in a trendy bardot style, allowing the blonde to flaunt her toned arms.
Lady Kitty Spencer, 26, walked in the Dolce & Gabbana show at Milan Fashion Week on Sunday
Princess Diana’s niece appeared to be making light of her royal connections by wearing a crown on the runway
Kitty appeared to be flashing a bra strap as the dress was held up by a daring sweetheart neckline.
Her accessories made a nod to a royal connections as the model wore a gold crown on her golden locks.
Kitty wore a lot of jewelry, with large golden earrings matching her eye-catching crown.
Kitty wasn’t the only model in a crown but wore heavy jewelry to match with the glittering headwear
The dramatic make-up made the most of Lady Kitty’s English rose palour
Kitty has been in attendance of all the fashion calendar events, including London Fashion Week earlier this month
She wore a gold chain on her left wrist and a simple black bracelet on her right arm.
The socialite carried a simple black box clutch bag in one hand as she strutted down the runway.
Lady Amelia Windsor dazzles in a polka dot gown after being snapped up for the Italian fashion house’s campaign
By Rebecca Lawrence for MailOnline
Clad in a ruffled polka dot gown, 22-year-old Lady Amelia Windsor commanded attention as she stormed the runway at the exclusive show.
Shrouding her lithe frame, the glamorous ball gown featured layers of eye-catching ruffles that culminated in a floor-skimming hemline.
With billowing blouson sleeves and a square neckline, the dramatic dress ensured all eyes would be firmly on her for the evening.
Model moment: It came as no surprise to see Lady Amelia Windsor on the runway for the Italian fashion house’s secret show during Milan Fashion Week at Bar Martini on Saturday
Going dotty for the catwalk: Clad in a ruffled polka dot gown, the 22-year-old model commanded attention as she stormed the runway at the exclusive show
Sweeping her golden tresses back into a bun, the blonde beauty finished off the look with a slick of red lipstick.
Having already walked the runway for Dolce & Gabbana – and been hailed as the ‘most beautiful’ member of the royal family – Lady Amelia has become a firm fixture in fashion circles.
Ruffling feathers! Shrouding her lithe frame, the glamorous ball gown featured layers of eye-catching ruffles that culminated in a floor-skimming hemline
Turning heads: With billowing blouson sleeves and a square neckline, the dramatic dress ensured all eyes would be firmly on her for the evening
She already took up a prime seat in the front row at the Tommy Hilfiger show and also attended the Love Magazine x Miu Miu party at Mayfair nightclub Loulou’s.
The young royal, who is 36th in line to the throne, was picked to star in Dolce & Gabbana’s fashion campaign last year, where she fittingly donned a crown.
Sabrina Percy stuns the crowds in sequinned glam as she flaunts her enviable curves on the catwalk
By Alice Evans for MailOnline
Sabrina Percy flaunted her enviable curves in a striped bodycon maxi dress with rose petal detailing.
She wore an intricate floral headband that brought out the dazzling colours in the rest of the glam sequinned outfit.
The 27-year-old artist and illustrator is a relative of the Duke of Northumberland and was once Tatler’s Babe of the Month.
Sabrina Percy wore an intricate floral headband that brought out the dazzling colours in the rest of the glam sequinned outfit
However, in her younger years she could be found pulling pints behind the bar of a Chelsea pub.
She said at the time: ‘I’ve got a job at the Imperial Arms because I need the cash to get me through college.
She Lady lfaunted her enviable curves in a striped bodycon maxi dress with rose petal detailing
The 27-year-old artist and illustrator is a relative of the Duke of Northumberland and was once Tatler’s Babe of the Month
‘It’s expensive living in London, so I’m doing shifts at the pub. It’s hard work standing on your feet for hours, but I’ve had to knuckle down and earn money.
‘I’ve already had two gap years just doing my own thing and now I’m determined to complete my degree in fashion illustration at the London College of Fashion.’
Downton’s model niece! Frankie Herbert rocks a vampy semi-sheer gown finishing her look off with a slick of crimson lipstick
By Alice Evans for MailOnline
Frankie Herbert, the niece of the Earl of Carnarvon, had a real Downton Abbey start in life — it was filmed at her uncle’s Highclere Castle.
But as she traversed the catwalk the 21-year-old couldn’t have looked further from country estate life.
Frankie wowed the crowds as she rocked a vampy semi-sheer gown complete with tiered frills and a bodice-like central structure.
Frankie wowed the crowds as she rocked a vampy semi-sheer gown complete with tiered frills and a bodice-like central structure
She carried a simple yet stylish black and silver clutch and injected some colour into her look with a slick of crimson lipstick
Her 6ft 1in frame and good looks landed her a contract with Select Models, though she worries her height might make her dreams of becoming an actress unlikely
She carried a simple yet stylish black and silver clutch and injected some colour into her look with a slick of crimson lipstick.
Frankie — real name Francesca — prefers Brixton to Hampshire, where she lives with two friends, and runs round town in long, flowing gowns as part of her work for Debonnaire Von Bismarck who has a clothing company.
Her 6ft 1in frame and good looks landed her a contract with Select Models, though she worries her height might make her dreams of becoming an actress unlikely. Her father runs a racing syndicate.