Art students stage performance dedicated to Kate Middleton

There are still 100 days to go until the big day.

Eleven art students - plus this reporter - paid homage to 29-year-old Kate Middleton by dressing head to foot in her engagement outfit and inviting bemused passersby to the wedding.

Wearing market-stall versions of the blue wrap Issa London dress, black court shoes and 18-carat sapphire engagement ring, the Royal College of Art students lined up outside the palace for a performance piece called "Kates".

When tourists asked what they were doing, they said together: "I'm Kate. It's wonderful to meet you. I'm very excited about the wedding."

The group had difficulty finding all the components for the outfit, but bought 30 rings for £50 after doing a deal with a trader at Dalston Market and found "bargain" shoes for £4 a pair at Primark.

The work is the product of artists Sarah Cockings, 28, from Hackney and Briony Clarke, 29, from Archway. Ms Clarke said: "We are of the age group that grew up wanting to be a princess and now we won't be able to be.

"We're all very excited about the wedding but also there's a feeling in our generation that's sad because it won't be us. We are doing this to explore that."

She added: "Kate's a really interesting icon. Already people are wanting to imitate her."

Tourists seemed puzzled but complimented the women on their dresses.

Kristin Boyd, 28, a bank worker from New York, said: "It's funny. People want to imitate Kate because they want to be part of the story."