Monday Memory: Kate's Trooping Ensembles Over the Years
We have seen a lot of the Prince of Wales and the King in the last several days, but nothing from Kate yet. Her children were on Half Term break from May 23rd to June 2nd, so they have been back in school a week now. William has been quite busy—he was in Monaco yesterday for the Blue Economy and Finance Forum at which he gave an address on saving the oceans. The Prince and Princess of Wales’ social media accounts were very busy promoting this event (and William’s appearance) over the weekend.
That is the sot of event Kate rarely travels for in the last few years, and she might just be giving William the spotlight. One event we know she will be at is Trooping the Colour, which will take place this Saturday, June 14th. Today, our Monday Memory is a longer one—looking back at all Kate’s beautiful ensembles for Trooping.
Because Kate and William married in April 2011, Kate made it to the June Trooping the first year she was married. The newly minted princess chose an Alexander McQueen coat with bold ruffles in front. She paired it with a Lock & Co. hat and her Kiki Grace studs. I remember being startled by the ruffles on this coat—startled in that the coat was out of my fashion comfort zone. I chuckle now, because it’s a fabulous coat and such a fun style statement. We all change, I guess (thank goodness).
In 2012, Kate turned to Erdem for her dress and paired it with a Jane Corbett hat. We were able to spot her clutch, which was a McQueen suede with a modified clasp (she had McQueen’s skull clasp removed). Kate wore her Links of London Effervescence Bubble Stiletto earrings, which we haven’t seen in some time.
In 2013, Kate was pregnant with Prince George, and wore a light pink maternity coat by Alexander McQueen with a Jane Corbett hat. I love this hat so much; I miss Jane Corbett and her fabulous hats. Kate was again carrying a McQueen clutch, and she chose Annoushka’s Baroque Pearl earrings with Kiki hoops for her jewelry.
In 2014, the Princess chose McQueen suit separates and a Jane Taylor hat. This was such a wonderful ensemble; I am surprised we haven’t seen it since. Kate was carrying a McQueen clutch and once again sporting her Annoushka pearls.
Kate was pregnant again in 2015 when she wore Catherine Walker’s “Astrid” dress with a Lock & Co. hat. I like this coat dress, although not everyone was on board with the sheen at the time, but the hat remains one of her most lambasted hats ever, and time has not softened the verdict. It was a big miss. Kate paired the look with her blue-stone UFO earrings that she has worn often and never been ID’d, to my knowledge. Or have they? One of the UFOs she wore often was ID’d in the last five years, and it was a big deal (to those of us who track). Was it this pair of earrings?
In 2016, Kate recycled the cream McQueen from Charlotte’s christening and paired it with a Philip Treacy hat. She was carrying a Mulberry Bayswater clutch in blush and wearing her Mappin & Webb Empress necklace and Balenciaga pearl earrings. This was a very pretty look (the hat in particular was a big win), but to me, it was, ultimately, a little forgettable.
Kate knocked her look out of the park the next year, though. In 2017, she chose a bubblegum pink dress from McQueen with a Jane Taylor hat. This is still one of my favorites. I love the pink of the dress and the paperbag detailing, which was so in style at the time. The hat, too, was fabulous, with those bold ribbons of bright pink. Kate added lots of sparkle with diamond teardrop earrings from the Queen’s vault, and she carried an Etui woven clutch. Loved it all!
In 2018, Kate wore a feminine, box-pleated dress by McQueen and a Juliette Botterill hat. She added sparkle with Kiki McDonough blue topaz and diamond earrings and Kiki’s “flower” necklace. This is another dress that I am surprised hasn’t gotten a rewear. This was in her postpartum period, so it is possible she has never gotten it tailored down.
In 2019, Kate wore another major favorite of mine. This buttercup-yellow McQueen dress and Philip Treacy hat were perfect. I love all pleating and folds of the dress—such a wonderful fashion moment for her. Kate injected whimsy with a McQueen clutch that featured a butterfly clasp. She added the Bahrain Pearl Drop earrings to the ensemble and wore her diamond cross necklace.
Trooping in 2020 was canceled, and, I had forgotten until drafting this round-up, 2021 was also canceled.
In 2022, Kate was back in a striking blue and white ensemble. The dress was, unsurprisingly, McQueen, which Kate paired with a Philip Treacy hat. She was carrying a navy Strathberry clutch. Kate wore a sapphire and diamond pendant necklace and Diana’s sapphire and diamond earrings.
In 2023, Kate attended her first Trooping at Princess of Wales in a completely new designer. This green dress with embellishments was by Andrew Gn, and Kate paired it with a hat by Philip Treacy that included on the back the same embellishment from her dress. This was her boldest Trooping look to-date, and it was, in my book, a smash hit. She completed the ensemble with L.K. Bennett’s “Dora” suede clutch, and Aquazarra heels in matching green. Diana’s sapphire earrings were the perfect choice to complement the blue embellishments and the overall pizzazz of the ensemble.
Finally, despite her cancer, Kate was feeling well enough in 2024 to make a few public appearances over the summer. Trooping 2024 marked her big return to the public eye, and she did so in a flawless Jenny Packham. The white dress with black detailing was perfectly complemented by a broad-brimmed hat from Philip Treacy. Kate was wearing Jimmy Choo heels and a Bayswater clutch. Her Cassandra Goad pearl cluster earrings completed the look. It was stunning.
Kate always brings her A-game to Trooping. It’s a major day for all the royals, and for the King, in particular. Kate’s attention to her ensemble underscores the importance of the events, and—that one hat aside—she has never disappointed. I am very excited to see what she has in store for us Saturday!
Kate wasn’t pregnant at trooping in 2015, she would have been 5 weeks postpartum with Charlotte whose birthday is in May!
As you say, we can hope for an A game appearance! My least favourite was the yellow - I thought the waistline was too high and the three quarter sleeves emphasised it. Loved the colour - her recent garden party dress in a similar hue was fabulous!
I think the jade green 2023 is my recent favourite, with her first appearance in the ruffled coat my favourite “early years” ensemble. Looking forward to Saturday!