Kate Middleton wore this £4,950 gift from Prince William yesterday – inspired by Diana

Kate Middleton wore a stunning blue dress for her surprise visit to the Imperial War Museum in south London yesterday. 

The Duchess smiled as she was photographed outside the beautiful historic building.

She wore nude heels and held a matching bag as she arrived to view some of her old families letters.

Eagled-eyed fashion fans may also notice a rather gorgeous timepiece on Kate’s wrist.

Kate Middleton was wearing a Cartier watch on her left wrist.

The piece is the Ballon Bleu de Cartier Stainless Steel Bracelet Watch, a classic favourite.

Prince William is thought to have gifted Kate Middleton’s Cartier watch to her in early 2014. 

The prince appears to have inherited a love of fine watches from his late mother Princess Diana.

When Princess Diana passed away in August 1997, William and his brother Prince Harry had the option to take a piece of jewellery from her collection to remember her by.

William chose his mother’s gold Cartier Tank Francaise watch.

The piece has a square face and gold bracelet style strap, and retails at around £6,250.

Diana was given this watch by her father, and in keeping with family tradition gifted William his own engraved Cartier watch when he as a boy.

So, it is no surprise that romantic William would choose a Cartier watch as the perfect brand to gift his beautiful wife.

William also added a romantic touch, having a sapphire added to Kate’s watch.

This represents the sapphire in Kate’s engagement ring, which was once Diana’s.

How did Kate Middleton become a royal?

Early life

Kate Middleton, or Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, was born on 9 January 1982 at the Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading, England.

She was born to Michael and Carole Middleton, a former flight dispatcher and air hostess. The couple founded a party supplies company, Party Pieces, in 1987 – now estimated to be worth £30 million.

Kate has a younger sister Pippa Matthews, 34, and a younger brother James Middleton, 31.

Education

Kate and her family moved to Amman, Jordan, in 1984, where the future Duchess was educated at an English-speaking nursery school.

After moving back to Berkshire the family sent Kate to private school, St Andrews School. She went on to briefly study at Downe House before moving onto Marlborough College where she boarded.

For university the young Kate attended the University of St Andrews in Fife, Scotland. Here she was awarded an undergraduate MA (2:1 Hons) in history of art.

Relationship with Prince William

Kate met Prince William when they were both studying at St Andrews, and both living in St Salvator’s Hall. Famously, William reportedly took a fancy to Kate after she wore a see-through dress during a fashion show.

In 2003 the couple began dating and lived together during their second year of university.

The couple split in April 2007, however, in October they were back together.

Wedding

Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton with his late mother Princess Diana’s engagement ring in October 2010. The couple were holidaying in Kenya at the time.

On 29 April 2011 they married at Westminster Abbey with a whopping 26 million watching the event live.

Kate wore an Alexander McQueen dress worth a reported £250,000 on the big day.

Kate assumed the title “Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge” and also become the Duchess of Cambridge on the day.