The Princess of Wales took to Instagram on 9 January 2026 to signal her birthday with a moving post. The brunette royal, who turned 44 on Friday, confessed that she was “deeply grateful” as she appeared in the final film of her Mother Nature series, which coincided with her big day.
Kate chose to wear a myriad of vintage pieces that she has had in her wardrobe for many years – her ‘Elfie’ jacket by Barbour, which was part of the Alexa Chung collaboration from 2019, and her Penelope Chilvers tasselled boots in ‘Conker’, which she first wore when she was at St Andrews University in 2001.
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The hat is regarded as an ‘It’ girl accessory that dominated cool-girl fashion agendas in the 2010s.
The retro silhouette is a core piece of English countryside fashion heritage, becoming popular in the 1800s and early 1900s. It was later adopted by the upper class for outdoor events like hunting or shooting. Kate was first spotted with a Baker Boy hat in 2013 and has often chosen the style when she has fronted events that take place outdoors.
Kate choosing to rewear her clothes is a sustainability goal
Seeing Kate rewear items from her wardrobe that she has treasured for many years has a positive effect on fashion in a big way. “It sends a quietly powerful message: that style doesn’t have to come at the expense of the planet,” fashion journalist and sustainable advocate Georgia Brown tells HELLO!. “With every outfit scrutinised, wearing something that has stood the test of time reframes sustainability as something aspirational, not restrictive.”
Jen Graham, a charity shopper who has presented second-hand fashion segments on This Morning, agrees. “When even the royals rewear, relove, and reshare, it sends the strongest message that sustainability is the future of fashion.”
Kate’s birthday message is different from past years
Traditionally, Kensington Palace releases portraits of the Princess on her birthday, but this year, they broke with tradition to share the moving film. “Even in the coldest, darkest season, winter has a way of bringing us stillness, patience, and quiet consideration,” Kate says in a voiceover. “Where the stream slows just enough for us to see our own reflection. To discover the deepest parts of ourselves.”
The 10-year-old princess was seen exiting St Mary Magdalene church on the royal Norfolk estate, wearing a new bespoke Catherine Walker coat dress in an oatmeal hue. The outerwear, which was made by her mother’s go-to British coat designer, featured a chocolate brown velvet collar to match the pockets, buttons, and cuffs in the same hue.
Princess Charlotte wore a Catherine Walker coat dress
Charlotte, who was seen walking with her father, Prince William, also wore the ‘Cap-Toe Ballet in Dark Cocoa’ by Tory Burch, as identified by Royal British Fashion on Instagram, and a pair of chocolate brown tights to match. Rounding off the look was an oversized bow in the princess’ hair.
Kate Middleton wore a similar look after officially launching the new RNLI’s lifeboat ‘Hereford Endeavour’ at Trearddur Bay, Anglesey
The look may feel familiar to long-time fans of the British royal family, as it felt reminiscent of one worn by her mother, the Princess of Wales, over 14 years ago. On 24 February 2011, Kate Middleton (as she was known until her royal wedding on 29 April 2011) was seen in Trearddur Bay in Anglesey, where she and William attended the dedication of a new RNLI lifeboat during Kate’s first official engagement in Wales.
Recommended videoYou may also likeWATCH: Princess Charlotte’s response to dad William as he calls her away from the crowds on Christmas Day 2025
For this outing, Kate wore a neutral wool coat dress by Katherine Hooker with a dark brown collar, cuffs, and pockets just like Charlotte’s. The soon-to-be royal bride also wore brown tights and slipped a deep red dress under her coat – just like Charlotte did on Christmas Day this year.
Kate and Charlotte’s lookalike moment
Though one was in February and one was in December, both Kate and Charlotte’s winter outfits prove the timeless appeal of a winter coat and brown tights. Brown is a hugely popular colour this season as it is a softer alternative to black that still looks put together.
Spot how Princess Charlotte wore a red dress like her mum did 14 years ago
Meanwhile, the wool used in both coats will always be a hit in the winter months as the fabric’s crimped fibres trap air, which keeps body heat in, a top priority for an outside engagement.
Oriona Robb, a luxury stylist with more than 20 years in the fashion industry, exclusively shared her tips with us for replicating the look if you are a mother with a young daughter.
The Princess of Wales wore a black hair bow to the Christmas lunch
“Choose bows that feel slightly oversized and tactile rather than tiny or rigid, as they photograph beautifully.
Keep hair styling relaxed; a simple half-up look with gentle waves feels polished without looking theatrical.
Remember, the goal is to make the bow a sweet finishing detail, not a costume, allowing children to move comfortably while still looking charmingly coordinated.”
The Princess of Wales is what one may refer to as a ‘respectable’ dresser. You won’t see the royal rocking risque items; she is very loyal to her working role and wears classic clothes that are stylish but not distracting. We’ve seen Kate sport dress coats, midi frocks, tailored blazers, high heels, and tailored trousers, all pristine and without much skin showing. When it comes to necklines, they tend to be timeless and never reveal too much; she opts for button-up blouses and favours the crew cut when it comes to her T-shirts and tops. That being said, we have seen her wear some necklines that are pretty daring over the years. Albeit not often, but they’re there! They tend to be on what one may call a ‘night off’, so during a premiere or party, not during a royal day visit.
Fashion rules and royal etiquette
It is thought that hemlines and necklines need to be monitored when it comes to dressing as a royal. With that in mind, we’ve seen Kate’s fashion transition over the years, from daring university student to a classic royal bride in 2011. Who can forget when Kate wore that black, knee-length sheer dress at university in 2001? Danielle Stacy, Hello!’s Online Royal Correspondent said of the style: “When the now Princess of Wales selected the sheer dress to wear at a charity show, I doubt she realised at the time how significant the garment would be in her love story with Prince William. Initially designed as a skirt, Kate styled it out as a dress and when she sashayed down the catwalk, it’s been widely reported that that was the moment where she really captured the Prince’s attention.”
Kate’s iconic dress caught the attention of a young Prince William in 2001
Meghan Markle’s thought on Harry’s family reunion
Kate’s daring necklines
As a fashion editor covering royal style for 15 years, I think she looks fabulous, and it shows that this type of look can be pulled off in an elegant, classy way, à la Prince William’s wife. Scroll on for inspiration…
Kate and her little sister, Pippa Middleton, were pictured at the Ham Polo Club in 2006. The brunette royal was present to watch Prince William compete in the Chakravarty Cup charity polo match, and she rocked a dazzling post box red halterneck frock that featured a plunging neckline. We love the polka dot detail, midi length, and ruching at the waist.
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When Kate and William got engaged in 2010, the world was introduced to the son of King Charles’s future bride and fell in love with her almost instantly. Kate chose to wear an incredible dress at the photocall, and it was universally considered iconic. Designed by UK brand Issa London, Kate’s striking navy wrap dress was the talk of St James’s Palace. The elegant silk style was designed in royal blue and featured a gentle V-neckline, which was a look that was very of the moment.
Kate loved the style so much that she actually wore it again a year later. During the Royal Tour of Canada in 2011, after she and William were married, the brunette royal opted for the same style by Issa, in another regal colour – deep purple. The mother-of-three accessorised the style with a simple clutch bag, high-heeled shoes, and a Maple leaf brooch, borrowed from the late Queen Elizabeth II.
When the leaves turn and the air sharpens, few people step sartorially into autumn quite like Princess Kate, and over on the The HELLO! Royal Club, The Royal Shopper, Leanne Bayley, has revealed nine of Kate’s best autumnal style tricks and how you can copy them affordably. Click on the button below to get Leanne’s expert advice now.
Kate’s most famous V-neckline of all has to be the style she sported in 2021. The Princess wore this showstopping, gold glittering gown at the James Bond: No Time to Die film premiere that year, and the look went viral. The Jenny Peckham dress featured shoulder pads and a flattering V-neck, with long, draped sleeves and a dazzling sequin finish.
The royal wore this ice blue gown during the Platinum Jubilee tour
The Princess attended a reception in the Bahamas during the Platinum Jubilee tour in March 2022, and immediately turned heads wearing a crystal blue Phillipa Lepley gown. The royal looked simply stunning in the regal-looking satin gown. The ice blue shade looked amazing against her skin tone, and the V-neckline showed much more skin than normal.
There are few women in the world who can influence a wardrobe quite like the Princess of Wales. She just has a knack for turning polished classics into must-have staples. Her recent secret weapon? The tweed blazer – more specifically, the herringbone jacket. Season after season, Catherine proves that this heritage piece is not just for the hunting fields of the English countryside, but for school runs, charity visits, and even the red carpet-adjacent engagements that make up royal life.
So why does the Duchess return time and again to this quintessentially British tweed jacket? And more importantly, why should you consider adding one to your own collection?
The 43-year-old royal has been photographed in an array of blazers, but her tweed and herringbone choices always stand out. Think of her in Smythe’s iconic one-button jacket, in earthy tweeds by Alexander McQueen, or her beloved Holland Cooper double-breasted blazer in a sharply tailored herringbone. Each look is grounded in practicality yet elevated with that regal polish she nails every single time.
On a recent trip to the Natural History Museum the Princess of Wales opted for the Ralph Lauren herringbone wool blazer
Part of the appeal lies in tweed’s history. Woven in Scotland and synonymous with country estates, equestrian weekends, and windswept moors, tweed is basically as British as afternoon tea. And if you love the Traitors, you’ll be reminded of its appeal with Claudia Winkleman who looked seriously chic with her Traitors-core look throughout filming.
Claudia Winkleman is another tweed-fluencer with her Traitors looks
The enduring appeal of herringbone
Let’s pause for a quick fabric lesson, shall we? Tweed is the broader category: a rough, woollen cloth traditionally woven in patterns like check, houndstooth, and herringbone. herringbone, with its distinctive V-shaped weave, is the most refined of the bunch. It’s structured, slimming, and quietly elegant – the kind of pattern that doesn’t scream for attention but always looks considered.
Back in 2021, the Princess of Wales embarked on a boat trip in Lake Windermere wearing a herringbone blazer with black skinny jeans and boots
Why Princess Kate loves tweed jackets (and you will too)
Kate is a busy working royal, juggling engagements that take her from sports grounds to palace receptions. She needs clothes that bridge the gap between comfort and sophistication.
I reached out to royal fashion expert Samantha, the woman who’s responsible for the hugely popular Instagram account @royalfashiondaily. If anyone can add some expert knowledge on to this subject, it’s Sam! She said: “Kate loves her tweed herringbone jackets and blazers because they feel timeless and grounded. They gives her that easy, girl-next-door vibe while still nodding to classic British countryside style – a look that makes royalty feel warm, approachable, and relatable.”
Aged 22, the beaming Princess rocked a tweed co-ord and knee-high boots
Where to shop the look
If you’re looking to invest, heritage brands like Holland Cooper, Smythe, and Burberry offer exquisite tailoring with timeless appeal. For more accessible options, high-street retailers like Zara, Mango, and Jigsaw frequently carry excellent herringbone-inspired blazers. The beauty of this piece is that it doesn’t have to cost the earth to look regal.
While Kate’s Ralph Lauren blazer she wore recently was a past season buy, this is the new season version and there are matching pieces available. So chic.
I rarely use full length photos to illustrate jackets, but this model is wearing this blazer exactly the same way as I’d style it. It’s very cool girl coded. Want!
I think this blazer looks extremely expensive, and I was shocked to see the price didn’t reflect that. This is a regular fit, which is ideal if you’re not into the oversized look.
Nobody’s Child is going from strength to strength, and this blazer looks like a timeless addition to your wardrobe.
Styling advice: How to wear your herringbone jacket like a royal
Throw on a herringbone blazer and suddenly jeans and a T-shirt look intentional. Pair it with a silk blouse and pencil skirt and you’re boardroom ready. Over a knit dress, it adds structure without sacrificing softness. It’s the ultimate wardrobe transformer.
This & Other Stories blazer came straight home with me
Keep it Neutral, Keep it Chic
Catherine tends to favour earthy palettes – greys, browns, navy – because they go with everything. Invest in a neutral herringbone blazer first, then branch out into statement colours if you fall in love.
Pair with Slim Silhouettes
Tweed is a heavier fabric, so balance is key. Kate often teams her blazers with slim trousers, skinny jeans, or a streamlined midi skirt. This avoids looking bulky and highlights the tailoring.
Add a Touch of Femininity
To soften the traditionally masculine cut of a blazer, Kate often pairs hers with a silk blouse, delicate jewellery, or even a floral dress. It’s this interplay of structure and softness that makes her looks feel so wearable.
Belt It
Now this is one of the royal’s signature styling tricks. Cinching the waist not only flatters the figure but adds a modern twist to a heritage fabric. If your blazer is longline, try a leather belt over the top – it’s a subtle but effective way to elevate your look.
Boots are your best friend
Whether she’s wearing suede knee-highs or chic ankle boots, Kate knows footwear matters. Tweed naturally complements leather, so your herringbone blazer will always feel at home with classic boots.
Don’t be afraid of denim
One of the reasons tweed has shaken off its “country only” reputation is its pairing with denim. A herringbone blazer worn over a white tee and skinny jeans is no doubt Princess Kate’s off-duty uniform – and it works just as well for a Saturday coffee run as it does for the school gates.
Alexa Chung often teams her tweed blazers with denim jeans
Investment piece or trend?
While fashion is often fleeting, the herringbone jacket is a piece you’ll wear for decades. Buy well, and it will outlast trends, moving with you from one life stage to another. Princess Kate’s wardrobe choices highlight this point beautifully: her tweed blazers from a decade ago still look as fresh today as when she first wore them.
Think of it as part of the “royal effect.” Royals don’t dress for a single season – they dress with the future in mind. That’s exactly why Catherine’s tweed jackets have aged so gracefully, and why yours will too.
Princess Kate has wowed us with her red carpet style countless times over the years, but perhaps never more so than at the 2019 BAFTAs, when she stepped out in a billowing one-shoulder dress by Alexander McQueen. The fashion-forward number featured a fabulous floral applique on one shoulder and was so beloved by the future Queen that she wore it again to the 2023 BAFTAs, removing the floral detailing, which she replaced with a flowing tulle cape.
However, it transpires Princess Kate wasn’t the first to wear the style, with actress Anne Hathaway taking to the Venice Film Festival in 2007, wearing a strikingly similar gown. The Devil Wears Prada icon wore a near-identical dress to walk the red carpet with her co-stars Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci.
Though the dresses are extremely similar, Anne’s gown is in fact by Valentino, but features the familiar column shape, one-shoulder detailing, and waist detailing, making it a dead ringer for the Princess of Wales’ dress.
Anne’s dress was strikingly similar to the one worn by Princess Kate
Styling the dress
Both Princess Kate and Anne Hathaway opted to sweep their hair up and back to complement the dramatic shoulder detailing of the dress, with their long brunette hair looking perfectly coiffured in this style. That said, the second time the Princess of Wales wore the gown, she opted to wear her hair long and loose.
Accessories-wise, the two women also both added glittering drop earrings to their look, though for the 2023 event, Princess Kate opted for statement gold earrings, adding an of-the-moment on on-trend vibe to the timeless dress.
They even both wore strikingly similar cuff bracelets with the dress, juxtaposing the light, airy gown with a chunky accessory for an added edge. In addition, Anne and Princess Kate both held metallic clutch bags, so we assume it’s fair to say that the Princess of Wales was inspiratied by Anne’s style.
Anne Hathaway wore a dress just like Princess Kate’s in 2006
Princess Kate’s best look
The Princess of Wales’ white gown is widely regarded as one of her best ever looks, with iconic British fashion designer Amanda Wakeley OBE telling HELLO! of the gown: “The beautiful white chiffon was just so classic and elegant – it was regal yet fresh and commanded attention without showing off.”
The world was delighted to see the simply stunning Princess of Wales on Thursday in Southport. The royal stepped out alongside her husband, Prince William, where she met first responders, the families of survivors, and survivors of the horrific knife attack in the city on July 29 at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class.
WATCH: Princess Kate confirms she’s completed chemotherapy in moving family video
Kate, 42, wore a stunning chocolate brown coat by her wedding dress designer, Alexander McQueen, high heel shoes by Gianvito Rossi and the most fabulous polka dot dress by high street favourite Whistles, which she previously wore back in 2018.
The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived for a visit to Southport Community Centre
The pretty dress was designed in the colour of the season, burgundy, and cost £149 at the time of purchase, almost six years ago.
On close inspection, we realised that the royal made the dress look almost brand new with one clever hack. You will notice the dress appears to have a neck tie attached. Well, this is actually the detachable belt which comes with the dress! So smart; and a great way to reinvent the style for a new occasion.
The appearance at Southport was Kate’s first official working visit since completing chemotherapy. The community was shaken by the harrowing knife attack in July, where three children lost their lives, and ten others were seriously injured. It’s understood that William and Kate wanted to visit today to show their support to the three bereaved families, the first responders and the community of Southport.
The royal couple spoke with emergency responders and asked about the mental health support which had been available, with Kate remarking: “For you to witness that, you need support yourselves.”
Referencing the earlier meeting with the families of those who died in the attack, the Princess said: “I can’t underestimate how grateful they all are for the support you provided on the day. On behalf of them, thank you.”
WATCH: Everything You Need To Know About Carole Middleton
The mother of the Princess of Wales looked impeccably stylish as ever, donning a stunning white floral dress, which she teamed with a white blazer and low block heel pumps, as well as chic shades.
Carole Middleton looked amazing at Wimbledon wearing a Cefinn dress
The mother-of-three’s dress actually came from Cefinn – Samantha Cameron’s fashion brand. Samantha – who many affectionately refer to as Sam Cam – is married to David Cameron, who served as the UK prime minister for six years from 2010. He, of course, was the head of the Conservative Party.
Was it poignant that Carole chose to don this dress on July 4 – UK election day? Who knows!
Cefinn is a hugely popular designer brand and one that Carole has worn before, just like her daughter, so it may just be a total fashion coincidence.
Carole and Kate twinning
Carole often wears brands that her royal daughter covets. Last month during Royal Ascot, the 69-year-old looked fabulous in a dress by Self-Portrait. Kate has consistently been wearing that brand for many years, so it’s a great choice for the wife of Micheal Middleton.
Carole at Royal Ascot wearing a Self Portrait dress
As well as having a penchant for the same brands, the pair have actually worn the same dresses on a few occasions, too. One of Kate’s most well-known pink dresses was a stunning shirt dress by ME+EM she first wore back in 2021, and again at the Chelsea Flower show in 2023. The pretty style was a pleated number that featured a cinched waist and buttons all the way down the front.
Kate wearing the same pink ME+EM dress as her mother Carole
The year after the royal first wore it, Carole headed to Royal Ascot in 2022 and put her own spin on the sophisticated look as she chose the same frock but switched it up with completely different accessories – dressing it with a fancy black fascinator and matching handbag.
Twinning is winning!
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Sure, Kate Middleton's wedding dress was iconic, but her wedding guest wardrobe is just as stunning. The Duchess of Cambridge donned a recycled a dress for Meghan Markle's wedding, and went for blush pink at sister Pippa Middleton's. Ahead, see the royal's best looks as a wedding attendee—and get inspired for the next time you watch a friend say "I do."
© Kensington Palace / Will Warr
© Kensington Palace / Will Warr
© AFP
© Getty
