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Remember when the Princess of Wales dropped $40K on a DIY craft tiara for the coronation in 2023? That is still one of the most bonkers royal-style moments of the past decade. The headpiece designer made a big deal about how amazing the piece was and how Kate is so stylish and it was so smart for Kate to wear that crafting project on her head. Well, no more. No more talking about Kate’s expensive headpieces or her attempts to homage Diana by wearing Royal Collection jewels. No more talk of buttons or Meghan cosplay or flag-dressing. From now on, Kate demands that no one talk about her clothes or her style. I’m sure this will go over well with the Keen fans.
As one of the most recognised women in the world, the Princess of Wales’s fashion choices have always been closely scrutinised and analysed. Now, in a move signalling her wish for the focus to be on her work not her wardrobe, Kensington Palace will no longer release details of her outfits.
Since Kate, 43, became a member of the royal family when she married in April 2011, Kensington Palace has routinely issued details of the clothes she wears on public engagements to some members of the media. But that will stop now the princess is continuing with her gradual return to work after completing her treatment for cancer last year.
A palace source said: “There is an absolute feeling that it [the public work] is not about what the princess is wearing. She wants the focus to be on the really important issues, the people and the causes she is spotlighting. There will always be an appreciation of what the princess is wearing from some of the public and she gets that. But do we need to be officially always saying what she is wearing? No. The style is there but it’s about the substance.”
Buckingham Palace routinely issues details of the Queen’s outfits for all her public engagements.
The move by Kensington Palace will be seen as part of a shift in Kate’s approach to her public work since being diagnosed with cancer. In a video message in September, confirming the princess had completed a course of preventative chemotherapy, she spoke of how her cancer journey had given her “a new perspective on everything” and the importance on reflecting on the “simple yet important things in life”.
It is understood that the palace may still occasionally issue details of significant outfits or jewellery worn by the princess for the most important family and state events, but not for her other public engagements.
I’ve been covering Kate long enough where I remember when she tried to make this into a thing many years ago, before Prince Harry even met Meghan. Kate – or someone at Kensington Palace – tried to complain about how much focus there was on Kate’s style over her substance. I believe KP has tried to not ID her clothes before as well. The thing is, all of that was quietly walked back long ago because… there’s not a lot of substance to talk about, and because even Kate’s biggest fans want to talk about her fashion over her “work.” Kate enjoyed those conversations back in 2017-2019, because she was telling everyone that only *she* got to wear Royal Collection jewelry (and not Meghan!) and she had the fashion contacts (Meghan was trying to get them!) and that she could style herself just like Meghan but better than Meghan (because Kate is white!).
This new insistence on “no fashion IDs” reads, to me, like Kate and her people severely misunderstanding her appeal to her biggest fans. It’s also an admission that Kate isn’t a fashionista, which has always been the case. Anyway, this will actually hurt the British fashion industry, even if the “Kate Effect” was always overhyped nonsense. The mass-market labels did get a genuine boost from Kate wearing their clothes, even if the couture houses rarely wanted Kate to wear their stuff.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
William – The Prince of Wales and Catherine – The Princess of Wales arrive for the Coroation at Westminster Abbey, London, England, UK on Saturday 6 May, 2023.,Image: 774187119, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Please credit photographer and agency when publishing as Justin Ng/UPPA/Avalon., Model Release: no, Credit line: Justin Ng / Avalon
The Princess of Wales at The Coronation of King Charles III at London”s Westminster Abbey 06 May 2023,Image: 774252025, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Mark Stewart / Avalon
The Princess of Wales at The Coronation of King Charles III at London”s Westminster Abbey 06 May 2023,Image: 774252171, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Mark Stewart / Avalon
Tennis : Wimbledon 2024 – Kate Middleton Princess of Wales dans la Royal Box – remet le trophy au vainqueur Carlos Alcaraz,Image: 889701160, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Chryslene Caillaud / Panoramic / Panoramic / Avalon
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Image Licensed to i-Images Picture Agency. 10/11/2024. London, United Kingdom. Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales , at the Remembrance Sunday service at The Cenotaph in London.,Image: 932704778, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Licenced to i-Images Picture Agency. All Rights Reserved. UK copyright law applies to all print & online publications. i-Images space rates apply to all images.
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The Prince and Princess of Wales attended a ceremony to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day and.the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau in London. The event brought together faith and civic leaders as well as survivors of the Holocaust and more recent genocides.,Image: 958095700, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Arthur Edwards/Avalon/Avalon
Catherine, Princess of Wales, visits Ty Hafan, a childrenís hospice based in Sully, near Cardiff, which supports families in Wales to ensure that children with life-shortening conditions live fulfilling lives.,Image: 958888628, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Richard Pohle/Avalon/Avalon
AMMANFORD, WALES – JANUARY 30: Catherine, Princess of Wales during a visit to Corgi, a family run textiles manufacturer focused on the production of socks and knitwear on January 30, 2025 in Ammanford, Wales. During her visit to South Wales, The Princess of Wales she highlighted the work of longstanding organisations that prioritise community at their core. The Princesses focus was on the wellbeing of children and families, as well as celebrating the excellence of Welsh textiles manufacturing.,Image: 958961908, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Rebecca Naden/Avalon/Avalon
Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey
Featuring: Catherine Princess of Wales
Where: London, United Kingdom
When: 06 Dec 2024
Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages
**NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
The Princess of Wales during a ceremony at London’s Guildhall, to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau
Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales
Where: London, United Kingdom
When: 27 Jan 2025
Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages
**NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
The Princess of Wales attends a ceremony at London’s Guildhall, to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day and the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau
Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales
Where: London, United Kingdom
When: 27 Jan 2025
Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages
**NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
