In a nod to the local culture, Catherine wore the pink strapless dress on her Jubilee tour earlier this month after spotting it in her hotel room.
But the sentiment backfired when it was revealed that the dress was actually made 3,000 miles away.
A Clarence House spokesperson told E! News, "Items of clothing were left in The Duke and Duchess's hotel room as had previously been agreed with the Solomon Island Government. Given that the items were not of the same design as the Royal Household had been informed previously, the Duke and Duchess's staff undertook to check that the items of clothing were indeed the gifts of the Government and not a gift from any other individual.”
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Clarence House added that it was no fault of the Solomon Islands Government or the Royal Household.
"The original gifts (the shirts) are now with The Duke and will be kept by him for personal use, as a memento of his and The Duchess's wonderful time on Solomon Islands,” it stated. "It was understood that the Duke and Duchess intended to wear traditional Solomon Island clothes and this was appreciated. No offence was caused."
However, the Solomon Islands’ Government House is reportedly infuriated, stating, “We are incredibly frustrated that this situation has come about and see Kethie (the official who presented the item) as entirely to blame. It was completely inappropriate for her to go to Their Royal Highnesses’ room, which she filled with various things, causing confusion.”
But despite the fact that some media outlets are referring to the incident as “scandalous”, the public are overwhelmingly supportive of the Duchess, who was recently embroiled in a topless photo scandal.
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Over seven million Britons have reportedly viewed Kate’s topless photos online, but a YouGov poll reveals that three in four are against their publication.
“Poor Kate Middleton! There hasn’t been this much fuss over a topless Royal since they beheaded Anne Boleyn,” tweeted Joan Rivers.
