Down-to-earth Duchess queues 'like an ordinary girl' at Topshop

The Duchess of Cambridge browsed Topshop's rails "like a normal girl" when she made a surprise visit to the Kensington branch.

Assistants today told how Kate astounded them - and shoppers - by nipping in half an hour before closing time on Monday.

She used the changing room before staff realised who she was. Dan Gill, 21, who served her at the till, said she "looked amazing" and "very relaxed" as she paid.

He added: "Her skin was flawless, it felt like I was looking at a picture. It was effortless, she just had a glow about her and smiled at me as she left.

"I had no idea it was her until she was in front of me. I had been thinking the girl in the queue looked a bit like Kate Middleton, but when I realised it actually was her, I was so nervous, I was shaking. I wanted to say, "OMG you're Kate," but I kept it professional. We get a lot of celebrities in the store, but no one of her magnitude."

The duchess bought a £38 green and black knee-length polka-dot skirt, a £65 royal blue cropped blazer, a pair of gold-coloured swirl earrings and left another pair of £8.50 earrings at the till.

A excited shopper later blogged about the visit, sparking a stampede as "copy-Kates" raced online to buy the same styles. Lou Ashman, 30, who works at the store, said: "No one noticed her until she got to the cash desk. When my colleague told us he had served her, none of us believed him.

"She had used the fitting room and queued like everyone else. She was shopping like an ordinary person. The skirt, jacket and earrings she bought have sold out."