In her years in the spotlight, the Princess of Wales has become a master at diplomatic dressing, her every outfit selected in the knowledge that she will eventually take on the role of Queen. Careful consideration has gone into each and every look she has worn as a working royal—necessary given the constant scrutiny she is under, and the inevitable symbolism assigned to everything she chooses to put on. Following the coronation of King Charles III in May, the former Kate Middleton officially became a queen-in-waiting, making her position within the senior royal family even more significant. In addition to Kate’s expanded work in Early Years education and her more frequent—and high-profile—speeches, this year also brought about a subtle shift in the Princess’s public-facing wardrobe.
Of course, the updated line of succession was never going to lead to a dramatic overhaul of Kate’s style—she had already carefully assembled a wardrobe that supports British design talent, incorporates a splash of high street, nods to host nations on royal tours and avoids anything too trend-led or controversial. Plus, she is ever more conscious of the importance of being seen to rewear her gowns and tailoring. “What she wears has to be practical,” Vogue’s Sarah Harris wrote when Kate and Wills became the Prince and Princess of Wales.
That is still the case, but Harris was also keen to see Kate reaching for “more suits… in the shape of a wide-leg, high-waisted trouser with a long-line blazer,” “anything and everything all-white,” and for the royal’s jewelry to get “bigger and better, and a lot more precious, because who doesn’t want to see a princess wear the good stuff?” Could some of these recommendations have reached Adelaide Cottage? Much of Vogue’s royal fashion forecast has come to pass in 2023.