Princess Diana's wedding dress designer has praised Duchess Catherine for her thriftiness.

The duchess is often spotted in styles from the British high street and Elizabeth Emanuel says it is wonderful that Catherine's clothing choices are accessible to the general public.

She told the Daily Telegraph newspaper: "She wears clothes an ordinary girl can buy and that's the first time a royal has really done that, which is brilliant."

Elizabeth also defended Catherine against those who have blasted her for her conservative style, saying: "She doesn't need to be edgy. Everybody can look at her and go 'I can wear that.' She's paving the way for new royals."

However, Catherine - previously known as Kate Middleton - does sometimes choose designer outfits and Roland Mouret revealed he loved working with her to create her most daring gown to date, a full-length cream evening dress featuring a front split.

He said: "I think it was quite fantastic that there was a split up the front. That picture of a woman when you catch a little of the leg, that's what you want to see. It's that notion of privacy. It's something that should be for her husband and she just shows a glimpse of it and I think that is one of the more amazing moments of life. You feel happy when you see that.

"It was not too much. It was with a lot of respect. Yes, I think I did... quite well."