We can safely conclude it’s been a big week for Kate Middleton. Not least because of one rather unsavoury holiday scandal but now, as Kate and Prince William finish their 9-day Jubilee tour of the Far East, because all eyes have been on her Asian-centric wardrobe which, we’re told, was worth £13K. This means she spent £13,000 on 18 outfits in 9 days. That’s almost £1500 per day. On clothes.
 
Now in light of this week’s Tottenham Court Road opening of Primark – a seminal event in budget retail as far as we’re concerned – that figure may well smart with the general public, not to mention draw unwanted attention to the ongoing recession (5 years old this summer – happy anniversary!). And it’s not the first time Kate has been criticised for ‘over-spending’ on her wardrobe.

Just a few months back, it was reported she had spent £35,000 on “work related” clothes since she joining the royal family in April 2011. And when you think that’s almost the same amount as her husband’s salary as an RAF pilot, well, the mind boggles.
 
But is it really that bad? Arguably not. Kate Middleton is one of the most, if not THE most photographed woman in the world. Her sartorial choices cause tills to flounder, the high street to collapse under the weight of shoppers. What she looks like is of paramount importance, not least when she’s abroad working as an ambassador. If she stepped out in something low-rent, unflattering or inappropriate then the paps would be all over it. Again. And while there was a touch of high end - the Jonathan Saunders dress, the Mulberry dress, the slew of Temperley numbers - her canary yellow Jaeger dress was perhaps the talking point of the trip. What’s more, she plumped for British designers above all others, flying the flag for British fashion in a continent with whom we have important trading relations. She was also unafraid to recycle the wedges which have been seen, with admirable frequency, over the summer. No mean feat.
 
In light of recent events, Kate Middleton’s appearance is under close, unpleasant scrutiny. A brave face is and has been key to her riding the current media storm. And as we all know, while Primark will certainly do the job on a low key level. For daytime, private time, photographer-free, Anglesey –time. But does it scream stoic? Sadly not. £13k is a lot, yes, but when  you’re Kate Middleton, it’s not.

by Morwenna Ferrier

To see the Duchess of Cambridge's greatest outfits, check out Grazia's Kate Middleton Look Book.

On Day One in Kate championed local talent Prabal Gurung in Singapore. He told Grazia Daily 'This is the ultimate honour. I had been hoping that she would wear one of our dresses but for it to happen while she's visiting the part of the world I was born in and right in the midst of New York Fashion Week, is an absolute dream come true.'

To see the Duchess of Cambridge's greatest outfits, check out Grazia's Kate Middleton Look Book.

On Day Two Kate was back to her failsafe Brit brand: Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. She chose an elegant white skirt suit by the designer of her wedding dress for today’s activities, which began with a visit to Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay. 

To see the Duchess of Cambridge's greatest outfits, check out Grazia's Kate Middleton Look Book.

Later on Day Two the DoC wore these snazzily-printed silk separates - a sleeved blouse and pleated knee-length skirt - by RAOUL, which is a Singaporean label.

To see the Duchess of Cambridge's greatest outfits, check out Grazia's Kate Middleton Look Book.

On Day Two Kate attended a British High Commission reception in Singapore wearing her third outfit of the day - a white and blue print Erdem dress.

To see the Duchess of Cambridge's greatest outfits, check out Grazia's Kate Middleton Look Book.

It's strike two for Jenny Packham on the Duchess of Cambridge’s Asian tour! Kate visited a war memorial in Singapore wearing a bespoke duck-egg blue shirt-dress.

To see the Duchess of Cambridge's greatest outfits, check out Grazia's Kate Middleton Look Book.

And another for Sarah Burton! The Duchess of Cambridge attended at an evening event at Istana Palace in Kuala Lumpur wearing a floor length Alexander McQueen gown.

To see the Duchess of Cambridge's greatest outfits, check out Grazia's Kate Middleton Look Book.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paid their first ever visit to a mosque in Kuala Lumpur where Kate wore a dress by Beulah London, a label she was also seen wearing in June for the wedding of close friend Alice St. John Webster.

To see the Duchess of Cambridge's greatest outfits, check out Grazia's Kate Middleton Look Book.

Kate attended a tea party at the British High Commission in Kuala Lumpur on Day Four wearing a beautiful blue and white lace Alice Temperley dress and her hair is pulled up in an elegant bun

To see the Duchess of Cambridge's greatest outfits, check out Grazia's Kate Middleton Look Book.

There wasn't a pair of nude L.K.Bennett court shoes in sight as Kate transformed from fairy tale princess to dressed down Duchess for a visit to the Borneo rainforest. She wore a pair of khaki trousers and a simple blouse with sturdy hiking boots to navigate the forest floor and treetop walkway.

To see the Duchess of Cambridge's greatest outfits, check out Grazia's Kate Middleton Look Book.

Tropical colours and a punchy print… Yep, we reckon the Duchess of Cambridge couldn’t have arrived in the exotic Soloman Islands in a better dress. It helps too that it’s designed by one of the best British design talents of the moment, Jonathan Saunders.

To see the Duchess of Cambridge's greatest outfits, check out Grazia's Kate Middleton Look Book.

Kate's pink and orange batik dress came from a shop on the Solomon Islands which is rather aptly named 'Print'. She changed out of her Jonathan Saunders dress just an hour before the banquet after the locally designed garment was given to her as a gift by her hosts for the evening

To see the Duchess of Cambridge's greatest outfits, check out Grazia's Kate Middleton Look Book.

Kate's colourful wardrobe reign continued as she wore a yellow dress by Jaeger and her trusty nude L.K.Bennett Sledge pumps to meet the Prime Minister and members of the cabinet in Honiara, the capital of the Solomon Islands

To see the Duchess of Cambridge's greatest outfits, check out Grazia's Kate Middleton Look Book.

As she exited the aeroplane in Marau on the penultimate day of the tour Kate looked city chic in a full sleeveless dress in 'Nightshade Blue' Broderie Anglaise from Mulberry’s Spring Summer 2012 collection.

To see the Duchess of Cambridge's greatest outfits, check out Grazia's Kate Middleton Look Book.

The Duchess of Cambridge arrived at the airport in Honiara in order to depart for Tuvalu wearing a yellow dress by an independent dressmaker with her Stuart Weitzman Minx wedges and Kiki McDonough Citrine Drop earrings.

To see the Duchess of Cambridge's greatest outfits, check out Grazia's Kate Middleton Look Book.

On the final leg of their royal tour Kate and William gamely donned grass skirts in order to take part in a tribal dance. When Kate removed her skirt she revealed a stunning floor length vintage inspired dress by one of her favourite designers, Alice Temperley.

To see the Duchess of Cambridge's greatest outfits, check out Grazia's Kate Middleton Look Book.