The see-through dress that helped Catherine Middleton catch the eye of husband-to-be Prince William has sold for $A127,524, smashing the expected price for the risque garment.
The transparent black number, which Kate wore during a charity fashion show at Saint Andrews University in Scotland in 2002, went under the hammer at a packed sales room in central London.
The price, which included a buyer's premium of $A21,250, far exceeded the initial estimate of $A16,350 by Kerry Taylor Auctions.
A man at the back of the sales room who refused to give his name said he bought it on behalf of an individual he would only identify as "Nick from Jersey".
While speculation swirls about the dress Kate will wear for the royal wedding in Westminster Abbey on April 29, the most famous garment she has worn so far has spent years squashed in a wardrobe full of junk.
Middleton, then aged 20, strode down the catwalk wearing the knitted mesh slip-dress and black underwear during the student show nine years ago when she and William were students at the university.
William, second in line to the throne, paid $A330 for a front-row seat and soon afterwards their friendship blossomed into romance.
Some reports suggest he first tried to kiss her at a party later that evening.
The strapless dress was designed by Charlotte Todd, who was a fashion and textile design student in 2000 at the University of the West of England when she produced the garment for a project entitled The Art of Seduction.
It cost $A50 to put together and was intended as a skirt.
Two years later, she was invited to submit a garment for the annual Saint Andrews fashion show.
The piece was selected for Middleton, who wore it as a dress.
The sale also included two gowns worn by William's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
