How Lady Kitty Spencer became high fashion’s golden girl

Lady Kitty Spencer has just been announced as Global Ambassador for luxury label Dolce&Gabbana – and could be set to make a cool £500, 000 a year from the signing, according to a branding expert. 

Princess Diana‘s niece, 29, who has inherited her aunt’s love for fashion and is also the ambassador for jewellery brand Bvlgari – could make a total of up to £1million-a-year from all of her secure lucrative contracts with fashion brands combined.

Speaking exclusively to FEMAIL, PR guru Nick Ede says that being both an aristocrat and Diana’s niece makes the South-African born model an exceptionally good fit for the luxury brand.

‘For this kind of ambassador role she would be looking at half a million,’ he commented. ‘And with her roles with Bvlgari as well, she will be making a cool million from these endorsements.’

‘Not only is Kitty a beautiful woman but with the connection to Diana and an aristocratic heritage having her as the face elevates brands and immediately associates them with sophistication, heritage and elegance.’ 

Taking to Instagram, the socialite, who is the daughter of the former British model, Victoria Aitken, and nobleman, Charles Spencer, the younger brother of Princess Diana, shared stunning snaps from her photoshoot with the designer.

Alongside a photo where she can be seen wearing a black dress and gold jewellery, she penned: ‘I am truly honored to be @dolcegabbana’s Global Ambassador. Domenico and Stefano celebrate life’s wonders and working with them is always a unique opportunity to rediscover Italian culture, art, savoir-faire and lifestyle.’

Alongside another snap, she wrote: ‘Thank you Domenico and Stefano for the opportunity to be officially yours… I have loved you and the @dolcegabbana brand so much and for so long. 

‘I am VERY excited for the memories we are going to make together! I hope to make you proud.’ 

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana commented: ‘We are delighted to welcome Kitty into our big family. 

‘Her charisma and radiance struck us right away: seeing her wearing our creations, and interpreting them with her style, is always a great feeling for us’. 

And branding expert Nick Ede believes that Lady Kitty Spencer becoming the new face of D&G is not only a great move for the brand, but also for her as a fashion icon.

‘The brand is synonymous with luxury and style,’ he said. ‘And although the owners have courted controversy in the past, to sign her for their latest campaign does exactly what you want from a brand ambassador – which is create column inches, newfound interest in the brand and perfect positioning too.’

Kitty boasts 520,000 followers on Instagram, where she posts endless photos showcasing her glamorous modelling career and glitzy social life.

In previous years, she’s certainly notched up the engagements after turning up at a never-ending reel of celebrity parties, appeared front row at fashion shows including Cartier and Jimmy Choo, not to mention a flurry of society weddings.

Most notably, the socialite hit the headlines when she arrived at Prince Harry and Meghan’s big day at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018 donning a custom dress from Dolce & Gabbana, which featured hand-painted floral detail.

In 2017 year, Kitty made her catwalk debut for D&G in Milan as part of their ‘Millennials’ campaign, and has starred in various magazine shoots – including for Vogue Japan and Elle Russia. 

She’s not the only one with royal connections to feature in campaigns for D&G, with Lady Amelia Windsor also previously modelling for the brand. 

And in May 2018, the aristocrat cemented her status as fashion’s new IT girl when she was announced as an ambassador for luxury jewellery brand Bvlgari.

Lady Kitty appeared in her first ad campaign for D&G that spring, alongside Sabrina Percy and Frankie Herbert. 

She also took part in the Italian fashion house’s ‘Secret and Diamond’ show during Milan Fashion Week in the February, donning a tiara for the occasion.  

And Lady Kitty Spencer most recently led the fashion pack as they descended on Florence for a busy schedule of dinners, dancing and haute couture runway shows to showcase – and sell – Dolce and Gabbana’s latest designs to their wealthy clients in September 2020. 

Fashionistas flew into Tuscany to enjoy at least three different events hosted at exclusive venues across the city.

The Alta Sartoria show – literally translated to mean ‘high-level formalwear’ – saw models donning intricate kaftans and flowing bottoms as they strode through Palazzo Vecchio, the hulking 12th-century fortress which sits at the heart of Florence.    

Lady Kitty Spencer grew up in South Africa, reading psychology, politics and English at the University of Cape Town. 

She is on warm terms with William and Harry, and is an ambassador for homelessness charity Centrepoint (of which William is patron), but is not in their inner circle.