For centuries, royal weddings have been the focus of public fascination, both for the high-profile nature of the guests and the glamour that is often associated with them.
Though the fashion choices of the bride often outweigh and outshine those of the wedding guests, attention is often divided when royalty are present.
One royal who drew focus at weddings even before she became an official member of the family was Princess Kate. Over the course of her relationship and 13-year marriage to Prince William, she has attended a number of weddings, several of which have been those of royal family members.
Here, Newsweek looks at what Princess Kate chose to wear for those appearances, from chic coat dresses to elegant gowns.
Wedding of Lady Rose Windsor and George Gilman, 2008
Kate’s first royal wedding experience was in 2008, while she was dating Prince William.
The future royal attended the marriage of the prince’s distant cousin, Lady Rose Windsor, the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, to businessman George Gilman.
The ceremony was held at the Queen’s Chapel at St. James’s Palace in London and Kate attended without William, wearing a printed chiffon day dress in shades of blue. She added a pale blue blazer and accessorized her look with a black feathered fascinator hat and matching suede shoes and handbag.
Wedding of Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall, 2011
Kate’s first wedding attended as a member of the royal family was in July 2011, just three months after her own nuptials at Westminster Abbey.
Kate attended the wedding of Zara Phillips (the daughter of Princess Anne) to England rugby player Mike Tindall at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland, on July 30, 2011.
The princess wore a gold coat dress by the Copenhagen-based brand Day Birger et Mikkelsen, paired with a floral hat by milliner, Gina Foster.
Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, 2018
For the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018, Kate pulled a classic primrose-colored Alexander McQueen coat dress from her royal closet for the occasion.
Kate re-wore the piece with a sculpted floral hat by Philip Treacy. The princess had given birth to Prince Louis less than a month before the big day.
Wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, 2018
In 2018 there was a second royal wedding held at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, this time for the daughter of Prince Andrew, Princess Eugenie, who married businessman Jack Brooksbank on October 12.
For the wedding, Kate opted for an Alexander McQueen dress in an autumnal shade of deep pink, featuring a pleated collar and pleated skirt detail. She paired it with a hat by Philip Treacy, matching suede shoes and clutch handbag, as well as a pair of heirloom diamond earrings which were loaned from the collection of Queen Elizabeth II.
Wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Rajwa Al Saif, 2023
The year 2023 saw Kate and Prince William attend their first royal wedding overseas, traveling to Amman for the marriage of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan to Rajwa Al Saif on June 1.
For the ceremony, Kate paid respect to the modest style of dressing adopted by the women of the Middle East, opting for a floor-length gown in layered blush-pink chiffon, with a high neckline and long sleeves, designed by Lebanese fashion designer, Elie Saab.
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek‘s royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about Charles and Camilla, William and Princess Kate, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email [email protected]. We’d love to hear from you.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
The post What Princess Kate Wore to Royal Weddings appeared first on Newsweek.