It’s no secret that Kate Middleton’s approach to fashion is changing in her continued effort to make it less about what she’s wearing and more about the causes she’s supporting at royal engagements.
It’s a conscious effort, royal style expert Miranda Holder told Hello!, telling the outlet that Kate “has literally been rebranded in line with her new level of authority as the Princess of Wales and her position as our future queen,” referring to the role she took on in September 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth.
Kate Middleton on March 17, 2025.
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Kate Middleton on February 4, 2025.
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“Kate has remained faithful to the same ‘fashion formula’ with her tailoring—choosing neutral colors, which feel less frivolous than the prints and bright hues of the past,” Holder added.
Lately, Kate has been wearing monochromatic looks—like this month, where she wore green to the Irish Guards’ St. Patrick’s Day parade on March 17 (understandable, given the occasion) and bold red to the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on March 10. With the red look in particular, color expert, personal stylist, and fashion commentator Marina Thomas said that Kate is channeling another royal style icon—and a former Princess of Wales herself.
Referring to Kate, Thomas told Hello!, “The Princess of Wales often wears red to high-profile events, as did her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.”
Kate Middleton and Prince William on February 26, 2025.
Prince Charles and Princess Diana on April 23, 1985.
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“One reason Kate may be choosing to wear red is due to it symbolizing courage, willpower, and sacrifice,” Thomas continued. “Wearing red certainly portrays confidence and a willingness to be seen and noticed.”
As she continues to return to public life following what her husband Prince William called a “brutal” 2024, her biographer Robert Jobson (who wrote the book Catherine, The Princess of Wales, released last year) told Hello! that “the princess has shown remarkable resilience since her recent health challenges” adding that she is “achieving a greater authenticity and the public’s confidence.”
Kate Middleton on March 10, 2025.
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“This year, she appears more focused and open than ever, embracing both the lessons of the past and the promise of the future—a true reflection of her evolving role within the royal family,” Jobson added. “In many ways, she is the glue that unites the royal family and is setting an inspiring standard of grace and leadership.”