Kate Middleton's Official Portrait: The Thrifty Duchess Wears Silky Top From French Connection Sale

The top Kate Middleton is wearing in her official portrait has been identified as you guessed it, from the great British high street, as it is believed to be by French Connection. The navy silky tie top was for sale in three colours at £57, but has now gone into the sale for the reasonable price of £28.50. But before you get out your credit card, it has sold out in every colour but white. Oh Kate why do you always wear things we can't buy?

Of course we don't know when she bought the top, but we do know the thrifty Duchess is a big fan of a French Connection bargain as back in May she was spotted rummaging through the sale racks at the French Connection on the King's Road. On this particular trip we she picked up a Winter Silk Vest Top in Iceberg for £49 but perhaps the navy silky tie top also found it's way into her shopping bag.

So here we have more weight to the theory that the K Middy effect doesn't live up to the hype, as she tends to rewear items or wear old season clothes meaning that there isn't the boost in sales you would expect. The red Whistles dress she wore to the unveiling of the portrait was also old season, as it was from Autumn 2011, so wannabe Duchesses can't rush out and buy it even if they want to.

So it's unlikely that Kate wearing French Connection in her first official portrait will actually do anything for their sales. Whistles CEO Jane Shepherson said recently of the Whistles blouse Kate wore in her engagement photos: 'It didn't do anything for sales.' But of course she was overjoyed that the Duchess chose Whistles as she added 'It raises the profile, it’s great, we get known in countries we’re not known in. Fortunately, she looks great in it and it’s a great advert, but no more than that.'

She isn't the only one who has said the Kate Effect doesn't exist as remember Roland Mouret piped in and said Kim Kardashian sells more clothes than Kate (ouch). 'The kind of people who like Kate’s style are not the kind to rush out and copy her dress,' the French designer said. 'You don’t see hundreds of women running around looking like her.'

In other royal baby news, the palace have confirmed that Kate and Wills are expecting their first child in July and that she doesn't plan to be seen in public for several weeks. A St James' Palace spokesperson said: ‘Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are delighted to confirm they are expecting a baby in July. The Duchess’s condition continues to improve since her stay in hospital last month.’