Kensington Palace has broken its silence on an aspect of Kate Middleton’s personal life – her dress sense. A report by The Times earlier this month claimed the Princess wanted to shift attention to her philanthropic work.
As a result, the Palace would no longer provide details about Kate’s wardrobe choices during Royal engagements, the report said.
It was claimed 43-year-old Kate finds it “frustrating and difficult” when her dress sense overshadows her charitable efforts. Now, Kensington Palace has finally addressed the controversy surrounding the media’s focus on Princess Kate’s outfits.
Since joining the Royal family in 2011, the Palace has consistently released information about Kate’s outfits during public appearances. However, a Royal insider claimed that Kate wants the focus to be on the important issues and causes she supports, rather than her clothing.
The source stated: “There is an absolute feeling that it [the public work] is not about what the princess is wearing. She wants the focus to be on the really important issues, the people and the causes she is spotlighting.”
While some fans may still appreciate Kate’s fashion choices, the Palace allegedly believed it unnecessary to officially announce her outfits.
However, in a recent statement contradicting the initial report, a Kensington Palace spokesperson clarified that there has been no change in policy.
A spokesperson spoke to The Mirror and set the record straight on recent discussions about The Princess of Wales’s fashion disclosures.
They stated: “Over the last week, I have received numerous questions about a story regarding The Princess of Wales’s clothing and how Kensington Palace shares information about her outfits. To clarify, the comments that appeared in the article were from me, not The Princess of Wales.”
They emphasised that the reported remarks should not be attributed to The Princess, adding: “The comments that were reported should not be directly attributed to The Princess of Wales.
“To be clear, there has been no change in our approach to sharing information about Her Royal Highness’s clothing.”
Kate’s friend told the Sunday Times in 2022 about her “frustration” over the Royal fashion focus, saying: “When she goes to the Bond premiere or is at Trooping the Colour, of course she puts on the ‘uniform’ of the role.
“But what was enormously frustrating and difficult for her, especially in the early days, was she was going out and doing the work she was interested in and was hugely important to her, and people just talked about what she was wearing.”
Known for her mix of upscale designer creations and accessible high street fashion, Kate’s outfits are admired the world over. The Princess has seen a significant evolution in her style over the years.
Initially, Kate often opted for fitted and flared floral dresses, but she has since developed a new fashion formula that has elevated her style credentials even further.
The mother of three now typically favours a tailored trouser suit, paired with a T-shirt or blouse and pointed court shoes. This outfit is considered an ideal choice for a modern-day Princess; it’s polished and formal, yet relaxed and understated due to the addition of a more casual top.
According to several experts, this shift in Kate’s style sends a clear message. “I think it marks a new era in her royal life,” Bethan Holt, fashion director at the Daily Telegraph, told PEOPLE magazine.
“It shows her confidence is growing and that she’s willing to take more risks and do something that might not have come naturally to her. She’s transforming before our eyes.
“She might not be able to say to us, ‘Look, my life is now completely different, me and my husband are one step closer to the biggest job of his life,’ but she is saying that through her fashion choices.”