Kate Middleton: Pretty in recycled pink

It may be the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, but all eyes were on Kate Middleton at the Diamond Jubilee garden party yesterday afternoon.

The party was held on the Buckingham Palace grounds - Kate's first Buckingham Palace garden party - and hosted 8,000 guests in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations that kick off this week.

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Prince Charles, Prince William and Camilla Parker-Bowles were among the guests who enjoyed tea and cakes in preparation for the weekend.

Kate's pastel pink Emilia Wickstead dress was noticeably pricier than her usual high street ensembles, costing $1,900.

However, in true "High Street Kate" style, it was the second time the Duchess had worn the outfit - debuting it at the Royal Sovereign's lunch in honour of the Queen's Jubilee at Windsor Castle two weeks ago.

Famous for recycling her outfits and sharing clothes with her mum Carol and sister Pippa, Kate's love of the twice-worn has gained her popularity around the world - even with Queen Elizabeth herself.

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Historian Sir Roy Strong claimed Kate's love of wearing her official outfits more than once is one of the reasons she gets on so well with the Queen, who grew up in an age of austerity.

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He told the Mail on Sunday newspaper: "That's something that's stayed with the queen all her life, and I think that's partly why she likes Catherine, who's not afraid to wear the same dress twice."

Among the items Kate has worn on multiple occasions is a white dress she donned for her engagement photographs and a tour of Canada, her first official state visit abroad.

Her fashion choices have led to a slew of copy-cat designs based on outfits she has previously worn and high street brand Reiss found their website had crashed just moments after she was pictured in one of their dresses while meeting US President Barack Obama and wife Michelle Obama.