Kate Middleton is Kanye West's Style Icon

After two weeks of seeing her semi-naked body revealed in magazines around Europe, Kate Middleton has finally had some good news - Kanye West thinks she's hot.

US rapper West, famous for his jewellery and ostentatious lifestyle, views the Duchess of Cambridge as a fashion icon, and wants his reality star girlfriend Kim Kardashian to follow her elegant English style.

"Kanye has been urging Kim to tone down her make-up and style her hair in a more conservative style, like Kate," a source told The Daily Star.

"And it's not just Kate's regal look that Kanye wants Kim to mimic. He's also told her that she could learn a thing or two about poise and sophistication from Kate."

As well as criticising his girlfriend's hair, make-up and lack of sophisitication, West also appears to have attacked Kardashian's wardrobe, branding some of her clothes "ghetto trash."

Most surprisingly of all, the 'Mercy' singer wants Kardashian - famous around the world for her hour-glass figure - to slim down.

"He [West] suggested Kim drop 20 pounds, arguing that Beyoncé has a similar shape and she proved you can get that supermodel body using her lemon juice, cayenne pepper and maple syrup diet," an insider told OK! Magazine.

"He says he wants her to be the face of his clothing line... but to do that she has to fit into the clothes. It's really unbelievable - her shape is what made her name.

"He has a long-term fantasy of turning them into the new Beyoncé and Jay-Z power couple, but getting Kim to starve isn't the way to do it."

West's rather extensive demands appear to have been noted by Kardashian's makeup artist Rob Scheppy, who also seems to be in thrall to Middleton's classical grace.

"Kate Middleton has influenced [Kim's] look while in London. Kate's amazing. We watched her wedding and we thought it was beautiful. Kim's style icon is Sophia Loren," Scheppy previously told the Daily Star.

"Kanye does like to get involved with Kim's look. He actually has a lot of input, he has amazing style so we take his opinions to heart and I say: 'OK, I'll try it.'

"Kanye's not afraid to say what he likes. He definitely likes the less-is-more look. Everyone wants to look good for their man, so Kim will listen and say: 'OK. I'll go with what my boyfriend says.'"

News of West's Middleton obsession comes just days after the Duchess of Cambridge and husband Prince William won a landmark legal battle against French magazine Closer, which first published photos of the Duchess relaxing topless at a private chateau in Provence.

The photos have also been published by magazines in Italy, Sweden and Denmark, as well as the Irish Daily Star tabloid.