Reuters, London: A dress worn by Prince William's fiancée Kate Middleton at a university fashion show in 2002 which reportedly sparked the royal's interest in his bride-to-be fetched 65,000 pounds ($105,000) on Thursday.
Including commission, the see-through mesh slip dress designed by Charlotte Todd sold for 78,000 pounds ($126,000). It had been expected to fetch 8-10,000 pounds.
Todd, who was in the saleroom at auctioneers Kerry Taylor, said she planned to put the proceeds of the sale toward buying a house with her husband.
She also told Reuters that the success of the dress at auction made her think she may return to designing.
Earlier, Todd had said: "If it is true that my design helped change the Prince's interest in Kate from platonic to romantic as has been reported, then I am pleased to have played a part -- however minor.
"I never would have imagined as I sat knitting this piece that one day it would be so important."
The buyer was in the saleroom but did not give his name.
Middleton and William, who met at St. Andrews University in Scotland in 2001, are to marry in London's Westminster Abbey on April 29.