Kate Middleton: Inside The Duchess’ $50,000 Royal Tour Wardrobe

Well it appears as though Kate Middleton has shaken off her “Duchess of drab” title by giving royal watchers a whole week of extravagant and vibrant designs with a variety of complementary silhouettes while on her tour with Prince William in India.

As E! Online recalls, the Duchess’ wardrobe is nothing short of extraordinary with a price tag that’s even more impressive, when all ensembles’ costs are added up. And there were a lot of them, seeing as Middleton made a total of 18 wardrobe changes, wearing over 40 designers. The news outlet relays the specifics.

“According to our calculations, her latest tour wardrobe rings up to almost $50,000! On the trip Kate changed outfits 18 times, including for today’s special visit to the Taj Mahal, and wore pieces by 40 different designers or brands.”

In one day alone Middleton sported 4 different looks, when Kate wore “one dress to board their flight to Bhutan, another dress when she and Prince William deplaned at their destination, another to wield a bow and arrow and then yet another, this time for a double date with the King and Queen of Bhutan.”

The usual solid-colored fashion selections of the Duchess were replaced with vibrant patterns and bright colors. Her typical cinched-waist frocks and sheath, knee-length dresses made way for flowing fabrics and occasional ankle -length pieces. Her usual go-to designers, including Jenny Packham and Alice Temperley, were mixed in with her Bhutanese-inspired fashion choices while in India. Kate opted for pieces which paid homage to the nation she was visiting, yet used her reliable favorites for a number of events as well.

As the publication shares, it is not all Middleton’s doing that she was able to amp up her look a bit and shake off the “drab” title. Kate reportedly has a secret weapon that deserves a good amount, or maybe all of, the credit for making sure the Duchess brought her fashionista A-game to her tour of Bhutan.

“[T]urning her fashion cred up a notch might not have been all Kate’s doing. Rumor has it her assistant Natasha Archer is her new secret weapon and the real reason a little bit more spice has been added into her closet (by adding modesty linings and chaining up hemlines).”

Previous to the tour itself, it was reported that the Duchess had even sent her style team ahead of her to do some research as to designs and what it is she should be outfitted in for much of the visit. As E! notes, it therefore takes an entire team and a year’s wages to look like Kate Middleton was able to on her 7-day stay in Bhutan.

It is rather unlikely that Kate Middleton was expected to be held to the usual baggage restrictions at the airport with a wardrobe that sizable in tow. As for the showstopper pieces that wound up stunning onlookers during the royal couple’s visit, the Naeem Khan, with a price tag of $2,000 that she wore on her journey to the Taj Mahal, was absolutely stunning.

Additionally, the Tory Burch embroidered tulle gown, with a cost of $1500, was gorgeous and classy for Kate’s dinner with the Bhutanese King and Queen.

The Duchess looked lovely while she played cricket with locals on her first day on tour in a flowing and lively-patterned Anita Dongre dress, $236.

And she had a Kira made specially for her to attend an additional event which it “took two months and five people to make the fabric” alone for!

Kate Middleton’s team clearly met the hoped-for result. The Duchess looked stunning and gracefully paid homage to the nation by donning some truly extraordinary pieces. And, as the Mirror relays, a piece that can not have a price put on it that Middleton wore, included Princess Diana’s ring, while touring the Taj Mahal to recreate a photo made famous by Prince William’s late mother.

[Photo by Mark Large/Getty Images Pool]