Cut price Kate: Duchess shops at Topshop... and hesitates over £8.50 pair of earrings

By Lauren Paxman

Last updated at 7:47 PM on 28th September 2011

Duchess of the High Street: Kate Middleton shopped at High Street Kensington's Topshop on Monday night

The Duchess of Cambridge has almost direct access to The Crown Jewels. She wore the Queen's Cartier Halo tiara on her wedding day, and borrowed her grandmother-in-law's maple leaf brooch for her official trip to Canada.

But refreshingly down-to-earth Kate is not yet past hesitating over buying a pair of £8.50 earrings.

The young royal shopped at Topshop on High Street Kensington, West London on Monday evening. And although she splashed out more than £100 on three items, she left an extra pair of earrings with the cashier at the last minute.

That extra £8.50 obviously seemed just a little too decadent.

It is the first time Kate has been spotted in her local Topshop, which is just a couple of minute's walk away from her London residence, Kensington Palace.

And although the staff were discreet while the Duchess browsed the rails, as soon as she left the cashier made an announcement to inform the staff that they had just served their future queen.

Kate mega-fan, and gushing fashion blogger Ashlin, from getwhatkatewore.com, was behind the Duchess in the queue for the tills.

She said: 'I was so starstruck that I was shaking and I had to ask myself “am I alive?”.'

Kate, who had a wallet through of rewards cards, splashed her cash on a trendy teal spot pencil skirt (£38) that was seen on dozens of fashionistas at London Fashion Week.

She also bought a more classic cobalt-blue velvet trim boucle jacket (£65) and a pair of golden roundish earrings with a feather motif.

The pair of earrings the Duchess changed her mind about at the last minute were large oval golden studs

Kate's newest skirt and earrings are already sold out, and the Topshop jacket is now only available in size 14.

Keeping it local: The young royal visited Topshop on High Street Kensington

Reality TV star Kendra Wilkinson might be the first to recreate the look. The former Playboy bunny is so keen to dress like the young royal she has hired UK stylist Nikki Pennie, who is credited with having introduced Kate to Issa.

Ashlin, who had just popped into Topshop to return a dress, said: 'According to the cashier, Kate was actually in the store for a bit browsing and even went into the fitting rooms to try her clothes on.'

The salesman was also impressed by how down to earth Kate was:

By royal appointment: Topshop's cobalt-blue velvet trim boucle jacket (£65) and teal spotted pencil skirt (£38)

Earrings from Top Shop bought by the Duchess of Cambridge

To buy or not to buy: The Feather-like earrings that Kate purchased (left) and the ones she left behind

'She was low-key and casual – she seemed so normal,' the Topshop staffer who served her told People magazine.

'She was really chilled out despite some customers in the queue behind her saying, "Oh my God it’s her" and pointing – she didn’t seem fazed by it all and she was really sweet.'

Kate will step out on a more official engagement tomorrow, when she opens a children's cancer center at the Royal Marsden Hospital with her husband, Prince William.

Perhaps it will be the first outing for that lovely teal skirt?

LAST-MINUTE RUSH TO SEE KATE'S WEDDING DRESS

On display: The Duchess' wedding dress has helped raise £9million for the upkeep of the palaces

Long queues are forming outside Buckingham Palace as visitors try to catch a last glimpse of the Duchess of Cambridge's wedding dress.
All advance bookings for the Palace's summer opening, which ends on Monday, have been sold, and there are only 1,000 day tickets left.
Kate's Alexander McQueen wedding dress has been held responsible for the 20 per cent increase in visitors since last year.
Visits are expected to top 500,000 for the first time since the Palace opened to the public in 1994.
Ticket sales are expected to raise £9 million for the Royal Collection which is responsible for the upkeep of the royal palaces.
The dress is displayed alongside the Queen's Cartier Halo tiara which Kate also wore on her big day.
Her handmade shoes, diamond earrings and replicas of the bouquet and cake are also on show.