The Crown’s Meg Bellamy recreates moment Kate Middleton caught Prince William’s eye in a sheer dress on the catwalk at university fashion show

It’s been more than 20 years since Kate Middleton first caught the attention of Prince William when she walked the catwalk in a sheer dress and black underwear at a charity fashion show at university.

But part two of the final series of The Crown will bring the key moment in the blossoming relationship between the now Prince and Princess of Wales to our screens.

Pictures have been released of Meg Bellamy, the 21-year-old actress from Wokingham who was plucked from obscurity to play Kate, recreating the royal family’s iconic look when she took center stage at the St Andrew’s Bay Hotel in 2002.

The first images show Meg wearing a replica of the Charlotte Todd-designed strapless dress with turquoise trim for the scene, with her hair in the same soft curls.

William is believed to have paid £200 for a ticket to sit in the front row of the show with friends and is rumored to have turned to one of them and said: ‘Wow, Kate is hot.’

It is said that this was the turning point in the couple’s relationship as they eventually went from being good friends to developing romantic feelings for each other.

The dress in question sold for a whopping £78,000 at auction after the catwalk show and became one of Kate’s most famous fashion moments.

The pair were studying at St Andrew’s University at the time and met last year, although Kate’s catwalk appearance is believed to have been the catalyst for romance.

Kate was studying art history, while William, who had initially enrolled in art history, had switched to geography.

Kate previously revealed that it took some time for the two to get to know each other.

“I think you said I went all red when I met you and kind of freaked out,” she told Prince William during their engagement interview in 2010. “(I was) very shy about meeting you.”

But as the couple spent more and more time together, they discovered they had a lot in common and enjoyed each other’s company.

The following year, a 20-year-old Kate took to the catwalk for the charity show ‘The Art of Seduction’ – which changed the course of her relationship with William.

In the final six episodes of The Crown, which will be released on Netflix on December 14, Ms Bellamy will be introduced as Kate alongside Ed McVey who plays William and Luther Ford as Prince Harry.

Another new photo from the series shows William and Kate sharing a heartfelt moment at university, while another captures one of William and Harry’s ski trips with their father, Prince Charles.

One scene, made all the more poignant by their current estrangement, shows a young William and Harry having a drink and a laugh together.

Imelda Staunton, 67, who plays Queen Elizabeth II, is seen waving to the audience during her 2002 Golden Jubilee in another scene.

Earlier this month, following the release of the first four episodes of series six, Netflix teased a clip of Meg Bellamy and Ed McVey recreating Prince William and Kate Middleton’s first kiss at a university event, in the trailer for part two of the royal show .

The final installment of the big-budget royal drama, which has drawn criticism for scenes depicting the lead-up to and aftermath of Princess Diana’s death in Paris, will focus on the young royals.

Storylines include Prince William trying to integrate into life at Eton in the wake of his mother’s death, while the monarchy must ride the wave of public opinion.

The show received new criticism this week for reinforcing negative stereotypes about private schools.

Independent Schools Council CEO Julie Robinson said Netflix’s portrayal of elite institutions in the drama series is influencing public perception.

Ms Bellamy won the role of Kate when she submitted a self-taped audition after producers set out an opening cast role for the role.

Announcing the casting on Instagram last September, she wrote: ‘Please pinch me… I’m so excited to announce that I will be playing Kate Middleton in series 6 of Netflix’s The Crown.

“It is such an honor to be part of the most incredible cast and crew and I will strive to do Kate justice.”

And since landing the role and becoming a rising star in the acting world, Meg has also become a hot property among designers; with some of the most prestigious fashion houses in the world trying to dress her.

She was seen on the front row of shows at Paris Fashion Week and made her own appearances on the red carpet in striking outfits from designers such as Stella McCartney, Cartier and Dior.

It looks like the 21-year-old is following in the footsteps of her on-screen character, the Princess of Wales, who is undoubtedly a style icon – but unlike Kate’s recent business-chic wardrobe, Meg is creating her own image.

She usually opts for sleek black outfits with an occasional touch of color. Most recently, she oozed glamor when she donned a daring black Stella McCartney cocktail dress to attend a premiere of The Crown in LA; with a deep neckline and diamond details.

The Ny Breaking recently revealed that Meg has signed a deal to become the new face of Dior, as she often shows off the French fashion house’s designs in public appearances.

A Netflix insider told the paper: ‘They’re lining up for Meg, she’s playing the most famous woman in the world in a globally famous television drama, so many labels and brands want some of that.

“She’s a total unknown, but she’s treated like Kate, an A-list princess.”