Kate’s designer in new £388k debt

JUST a few months ago the Duchess of Cambridge’s favourite bohemian designer, Alice Temperley, was celebrating the survival of her business, which had gone into administration last year.

Alice, 46, (right) held a lavish party at the Mandarin Oriental hotel in Knightsbridge to mark the 22nd anniversary of Temperley London with a gathering of close friends including top model Laura Bailey.

‘It’s time to raise a toast to the first 22 years of Temperley London and everything still to come,’ she said at the bash, after Temperley London had faced unpaid debts of £31million before winning fresh investment.

However, I can reveal that another of her companies has now gone into liquidation, owing, according to the statement of affairs, £388,000.

The debts of Bictem, a clothing retail business, include a huge £331,000 in intracompany loans to two of her other businesses — £174,000 to Temperley Holdings, and £157,000 to TLBRUT Limited, which was dissolved last September. Plus more that £20,000 to HMRC and £35,000 to unsecured creditors. Former Met Bar waitress Temperley, who is the granddaughter of celebrated mathematician Neville Temperley, grew up on her parents’ cider farm in Somerset. She was awarded an MBE in the 2011 New Year Honours for services to the fashion industry.

Her dresses are hugely popular with the royals, in particular Catherine and her sister Pippa Middleton.

She designed the striking gown that led to Pippa being dubbed ‘Her Royal Hotness’.

She’s also a favourite of famous figures including Madonna, Beyonce and Halle Berry, and a friend of Hollywood star Amber Heard.

After Heard did well in a bitter High Court showdown with ex-husband Johnny Depp last year, she celebrated with Temperley at the Groucho Club in Soho.