• Kate Middleton made a surprise appearance alongside her husband Prince William on September 8 at a royal engagement honoring the third anniversary of Queen Elizabeth’s death at 96 years old in 2022.
  • An eagle-eyed royal blogger spotted the sweet hidden tribute the Princess of Wales made to the late Queen through her Alessandra Rich dress worn on Monday.
  • The future queen is masterful at symbolic dressing and sending messages through her wardrobe without uttering a single word.

The world was so focused on Kate Middleton’s hair transformation—back to brunette after a brief stint as a blonde—at her most recent royal appearance that we all missed a hidden tribute to Queen Elizabeth on the third anniversary of Her late Majesty’s death in 2022.

On September 8, the Princess of Wales made a surprise appearance alongside her husband Prince William at a local chapter of the Women’s Institute, an organization the late Queen had been involved in for 80 years prior to her death at 96 years old. She was named its president in 2003 and served until her death, and Monday marked the third anniversary of her passing after a historic 70 years on the throne.

Kate Middleton on September 8, 2025.

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Paying homage to her grandmother-in-law—but in a subtle way—Kate wore a look from Alessandra Rich’s 2021 collection that features a large check print in gray, black, white, and a touch of hot pink, according to fashion site What Kate Wore. It also has an oversized collar with ruffle detailing and puffed short sleeves. She paired the dress with Hugo Boss heels, the site reported.

Kate Middleton.

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Prince William and Kate Middleton on September 8, 2025.

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Kate’s dress seems to be intentionally chosen to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth’s last photograph, taken on September 6—just two days before her death—at Balmoral Castle. Kate’s dress bears very close resemblance to the plaid skirt worn by the monarch in her final photograph as she waited to welcome then-U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss, a fact spotted by royal blogger @katemiddletonprincessofwalesuk. The blogger noted that Kate’s dress “paid a lovely tribute to the last pic of the queen” (via Hello!).

Referring to the passing of the Duchess of Kent at 92 years old on September 4, they added, “Of course, Catherine was respecting protocol considerations for the mourning period (because of the death of the Duchess of Kent) but, in addition, she chose a fabric which remembers one of the skirts that Queen Elizabeth wore for her last public appearance ever. A lovely way to remember Her Majesty.”

Queen Elizabeth on September 6, 2022.

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As Hello! aptly put it, when it comes to the Princess of Wales, “fashion isn’t just about appearance,” the outlet wrote. “Every look is meaningful, and every outfit is symbolic.”