Designer gets royal seal of approval

Irish designer Orla Kiely had every reason to be delighted when Kate Middleton stepped out in one of her shirt dresses yesterday.

Minutes after the duchess was spotted in the garment, there was a shopping frenzy on the London-based designer’s website.

The walnut-coloured wool Jacquard dress in a “birdie” pattern was sold out within minutes, as was the same garment in turquoise, a spokesperson for the designer said.