The Duchess of Cambridge wears a ￡795 Temperley dress for her first appearance since announcing her pregnancy

The Duchess of Cambridge has made her first public appearance since announcing that she is pregnant with her third child, arriving this evening for a reception at Buckingham Palace wearing one of her favourite labels, Temperley London.

Kate hasn’t been out of the house, on the record anyway, since 30th August, so her fashion fans on Twitter were keen to see how she would kick off round three of ‘The Duchess does maternity wear’. As such, her dress was identified within seconds of the first mobile phone-shot video clip emerging online, with accounts like @MiddletonMaven and @RegalFille declaring their findings to followers.

The answer was Temperley’s ‘Eclipse’ dress, a midi-length blue lace number with a high collar inspired by the types of ruffles you might see in an Elizabethan portrait. Priced at ￡795, it is still available in sizes 6-18 from Net-a-Porter.

 Eclipse dress, ￡795, from Temperley London at Net-a-Porter.com

This was a show of business as usual for the Duchess, who has been suffering with hyperemesis gravidarum, an extreme form of morning sickness. As with her first two pregnancies, she is clearly keen to adapt pieces from her existing repertoire of trusted designers, rather than go in search of brands that specialise in ‘maternity clothing'. The Eclipse’s waistband makes it a canny choice, in this instance, as it is high enough to sit just above the Duchess’s slight bump.

When pregnant with Princess Charlotte in 2015, and Prince George in 2013, Kate wore bespoke pieces by Alexander McQueen, Mulberry and Emilia Wickstead. Her style was absolutely consistent - the same knee-hitting dresses, satin occasion coats and nude heels - just with a little extra room for expansion around the middle.

Look back at the Duchess of Cambridge's best maternity fashion moments

Coincidentally on the other side of the capital, designer Alice Temperley was already celebrating this evening, as her new book English Myths and Legends is released this week. A tome documenting all of the thoroughly British things that influence her designs, she can now add classic lace, ruffle collars and china blue hues to the list of things that her London It girl clients perennially adore.