DRESSING THE LITTLE ROYALS

Meet Amaia Arrieta, the designer whose timeless childrenswear is a favourite of the Princess of Wales

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The dream of any budding designer is to see royal clients wearing their creations. And for childrenswear designer Amaia Arrieta, that dream has certainly come true, with the youngsters of the Wales family frequently seen in her timeless outfits.

It was Lady Serena Linley, the former wife of David Armstrong-Jones, Earl of Snowdon, who introduced the Princess of Wales to Amaia’s designs when Prince George was a baby, she reveals.

A Christmas portrait of a rosy-cheeked, 16-month-old George in 2014 marked the start of a long-running relationship between the royals and the childrenswear designer.

The little Prince wore a pair of Amaia London corduroy shorts and knee-high socks as he perched on the steps of Kensington Palace.

Since then, George, now 11, has been seen in several of Amaia’s collared shirts, and a blue wool jacket has since been passed down to his little brother Prince Louis, who turns seven this week.

Meanwhile, Princess Charlotte, nine, has worn the label’s signature hand-smocked dresses to an array of royal events, including Louis's christening and Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.

She also wore a blue-and-white-striped Amaia jumper in the video in which Kate announced that she had completed her treatment for cancer.

Although Charlotte, who turns ten on 2 May, will soon be too old for Amaia’s ready-to-wear collection, the designer's classic creations could easily be given to future generations.

And the royal connection has certainly proved a boost for both Amaia and her brand. “It’s had a reputational impact – it gives you a seal of approval,” she says, speaking exclusively to HELLO!, when we chat over coffee in a café next to her London store.