While Kate Middleton is typically known for wearing coatdresses and transitional day dresses, royal watchers have taken recent notice of the princess’ recent selection of blazers and tailored suiting pieces. In September, she has been leaning toward power suiting from Roland Mouret and Alexander McQueen.
This recent style choice hasn’t come out of nowhere. The Princess of Wales has been photographed wearing blazers since 2011 when she first became a member of the royal family upon her marriage to Prince William. Here, WWD takes a look at some of the Princess of Wales’ blazer and suiting choices through the years.
2016
In 2016 for the final day of her royal tour in Canada alongside Prince William, the then-Duchess of Cambridge wore a white blazer and black tailored trousers, paired with a ribbed white undershirt underneath.
Kate Middleton arrives at the Cridge Centre for the Family Oct. 1, 2016, in Victoria, Canada.
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2017
Middleton donned another white blazer the following year after her Canada trip for her visit to the 1851 Trust Roadshow. She repeated the same block heels, but this time she wore cropped navy pants with gold statement button details. Middleton wore a white crewneck T-shirt underneath the blazer to complete the look.
Kate Middleton is welcomed by Keith Mills as she visits the 1851 Trust roadshow at Docklands Sailing and Watersports Centre on June 16, 2017, in London.
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2018
On a 2018 visit to Basildon Sporting Village, Middleton wore a gray plaid check blazer with black trim on the collar and peak lapels. She paired it with a black turtleneck, slim-fit black pants and black suede booties.
Kate Middleton arrives at Basildon Sporting Village on Oct. 30, 2018, in London.
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2019
Middleton’s gray plaid check blazer also became a go-to in her arsenal year-over-year, as she donned it again for the 2019 Shout’s Crisis volunteer celebration. This time around, the then-Duchess of Cambridge paired the blazer with a white T-shirt, cranberry pants and suede block heels.
Kate Middleton arrives at Shout’s Crisis Volunteer celebration event at Troubadour White City Theatre on Nov. 12, 2019, in London.
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2021
While she met with a local fisherman in 2021 alongside her Prince William, Middleton inspired an entire trend of wearing blazers with sneakers. The royal wore a black blazer with gold statement buttons, a black and white striped nautical-influenced sweater, black trousers and white Veja lace-up sneakers.
Kate Middleton and Prince William meet local fishermen and their families to hear about the work of fishing communities on May 26, 2021, in Fife, Scotland.
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2022
On a summer visit to the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, the then-Duchess of Cambridge wore a pink Alexander McQueen suit with a white undershirt underneath. She paired the suit with pink suede heels.
Kate Middleton smiles as she departs after hosting a roundtable with government ministers and the Early Years sector to mark the release of new research from the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood on June 16, 2022, in London.
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2023
September 2023 began a streak of blazers and suits for the Princess of Wales. As she transitioned from her role as Duchess of Cambridge to Princess of Wales and leaned further into her childhood development philanthropic work, Middleton further embraced power dressing. When she visited HM Prison High Down, she donned a blue Alexander McQueen suit.
Kate Middleton during a visit to HMP High Down on Sept. 12 in Sutton, England.
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