Bold tailoring has become a signature style for the Princess of Wales but when she wants a more casual autumn look there's a trio she always comes back to. Chunky boots, skinny jeans and a thick jumper are Kate's go-tos in cooler weather and I can't help admiring one of these outfits from January 2019.

The future Queen visited King Henry's Walk Garden in London wearing her beloved See by Chloe combat boots in chocolate brown suede. Military styles are a big autumn/winter fashion trend for 2026 and though we're seeing this come through with jackets, combat boots tick that box too.

I have a pair from Dune in my collection and the cleated sole offers extra grip that is very helpful in cold, rainy weather. Mine are leather for extra durability though suede boots like the Princess's are a softer and more relaxed option.

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She styled hers with another wardrobe favourite - skinny jeans. Kate tucked the hems seamlessly into the top of her ankle boots and this is something you can only really achieve with streamlined silhouettes. I personally prefer looser, more comfortable jeans like wide or straight-leg styles and these can work as an alternative too.

They're flowy enough to completely drape over the top of your footwear without bunching up. The Princess of Wales likes her ensembles to feel polished and neat, so even though she has worn chunky boots with flares before, she picks skinny jeans more often.

Tucking them into the boots is also a clever way to create a leg-elongating effect and choosing a longline jumper and jacket adds to this and helps to balance out proportions. For her visit to King Henry's Walk Garden, Kate opted for a J.Crew mock-neck sweater with ribbed trims.

You could just see the neckline and sleeves peeping out from underneath her Dubarry of Ireland Bracken Tweed Jacket. The burnt-red tone couldn't have been more autumnal and it's one of the reasons I particularly like this version of her outfit formula.

If you tend to keep your outfits neutral then going for a slightly more colourful jumper is an easy way to add a seasonal twist. The texture of knitwear helps to soften a bold hue like red and it's only a small part of your overall outfit.

The Princess's khaki-brown jeans, brown boots and green jacket all mellowed things out and also allowed the burnt red to pop. Chocolate tones are an autumn/winter fashion colour trend and they complement the warmth in dark red particularly well.

Her tweed jacket finished off her outfit beautifully and the countryside design tied in with the chunkiness of the boots. I'm sure many of us have slightly more casual day-to-day styles and jeans, chunky boots and a thick knit would also work with a timeless puffer jacket instead.

The Princess of Wales showcased this combination when she took part in a land yachting session in St Andrews in 2021 and you could also go for a structured blazer or trench to bring an elevated edge.

As the royals gathered in Balmoral for their annual summer trip to Scotland, there was only one thing on the discussion list - the then-imminent return of the wayward Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

With King Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton all in one place for some downtime, I'm told that the surprise (and urgent) summit led to them coming up with an interesting - and potentially explosive - idea between them: the possibility of having a face-to-face meeting with Prince Harry.

My source tells me, 'William is extremely concerned about what Harry's return to Britain will mean for working members of the family. It may well be too risky for them to just sit back and let Harry make the next move.'

‘There are suggestions that they feel they have no choice but to ask the Duke of Sussex for a face-to-face meeting to discuss the future and lay down, or at least reiterate, some of the rules.

'Whether Harry will agree to meeting them all is up for debate, but it is felt that the King and William have little option but to try.'

I'm told that William feels he has been pushed into a corner and is now in a position where he has to invite his brother to talk about what's next, similar to the meeting Queen Elizabeth II organised at Sandringham in January 2020.

Cast your mind back and you will remember that Harry was told in no uncertain terms that not only could he and Meghan no longer use their HRH titles, but they could not expect to be half-in, half-out members of the family.

Arguably, they have flouted both conditions, with their titles still used on paperwork, and the pseudo-royal tours they have often made headlines with.

Effectively, the late Queen saw the dangers of Harry quitting life as a full-time working royal, yet still cherry-picking causes he could still promote without consulting the Firm.

Now that the Sussexes are back in Blighty, it's likely that King Charles and his heir will have major concerns about what exactly they are planning going forward. The damage they inflicted on the family from thousands of miles away was bad enough, but courtiers have warned that with them on home soil the dangers are far greater.

While a meeting may well be useful in rebuilding some kind of relationship between William and Harry, it would be fraught with risks.

If it goes badly, there is a real possibility that the Duke of Sussex may turn to his trusted media to reveal secret details about what went on, something I'm told understandably really worries William. Any meeting between the royal brothers is likely to be at the very least frosty, and at worst a full-on confrontation.

William remains angry with his brother for the string of high-profile interviews and a book that betrayed the family and the very institution that sought to protect him. In an ideal world, William would be able to use the meeting as a way of airing his disappointment, and get assurances from Harry that the days of dropping bombshells on the family are over.

For his part, Harry would benefit from building bridges with William, not least because of what revenge he could and may likely take once he becomes King.

My source added, 'Harry may be many things but he is not stupid. He knows that if he remains at war with his brother, when the time comes for William to take the throne the consequences for him could be severe.'

Some royal watchers have claimed that William may well strip his brother of the title of Prince when he becomes King, in the same way his father stripped Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor of his title. This would be a bitter blow for Harry and would surely hamper any efforts to make money out of his association with the Royal Family.

Then there is the issue of the Sussex children. Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet could become the innocent victims of any move by William to disassociate himself from his brother.

However, the fact still remains that the Sussexes' surprise move back to the UK has blindsided the family, and I understand they have real concerns about why the pair have made this move after making it clear how they felt about leaving.

Prince Harry is still involved with charity WellChild, of which he is patron, and next year he will hold his Invictus Games, for wounded servicemen and women, in Birmingham. These are both high-profile organisations that will deflect attention from the day-to-day work of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

William and Kate simply cannot risk Harry and Meghan being loose cannons, able to pick and choose engagements with impunity as if they were working royals in all but name.

And while the move back to the UK perhaps makes sense for Harry and his children, what about Meghan? After all, if she is to be believed, she was living her best life in the city where she grew up - so why the sudden change?

Either way, there is no doubt that with this surprise return, Harry could be forcing the hand of William, who hasn't spoken to his brother for a very long time, but may now. I predict interesting times ahead.

This feature first appeared in Woman magazine. Subscribe now and get your first 6 issues for £1.

Prince Philip was known for getting straight to the point and he didn't hold back when it came to his first impression of the Princess of Wales either. According to the late Duke of Edinburgh's biographer and friend Gyles Brandreth, he was "relieved" when Kate came into his grandson's life as a "potential bride" and shared his short verdict.

"The Duke of Edinburgh was, he told me, 'relieved to find her such a level-headed girl', Brandreth claimed in Philip: The Final Portrait. This was high praise from the formidable Prince, especially because he had apparently been "worried" about the late Princess Diana's reaction to popularity.

The biographer alleged, "One of the things that saddened - and worried - the Queen and Prince Philip about Diana, Princess of Wales, was not that she was popular, but that she allowed her popularity to go to her head."

Therefore Prince Philip's description of Kate as "level-headed" could be seen as an even bigger endorsement of her as Prince William's then-girlfriend and possible future Queen. His opinion was also massively respected by the rest of the Royal Family and counted for a lot.

"Different generations had leaned on him for personal guidance and his acceptance, or rejection, of others brought into the fold by marriage was seen as a moral compass by those navigating life within the confines of the monarchy," writes royal expert Russell Myers in William & Catherine.

The Princess of Wales clearly wholeheartedly accepted by the Duke of Edinburgh, though he also reportedly "warned" William against proposing too quickly. Myers suggests that he'd been influenced by seeing the marriages of three of his four children - King Charles, Princess Anne and Andrew - ending in separation and divorce.

He apparently "backed him in taking his time while he considered whether he had absolute confidence in his relationship with Catherine before making the biggest decision of his life."

In 2011 William and Kate tied the knot and she went on to forge a close relationship with her grandfather-in-law over the years. He's said to have sympathised with her as an outsider marrying into The Firm and one of his former aides told Myers that Philip was very "fond" of the Princess.

"[He] thought she was the best thing to happen to the Royal Family since he came along," the aide added with a smile.

It was also the Duke of Edinburgh who is understood to have given the future Queen a very valuable bit of advice about handling the press and photographers. As a "level-headed" person, Kate has never let this go to her head and according to Brandreth, Philip thought, "If you believe the attention is for you personally, you're going to end up in trouble.

"The attention is for your role, what you do, what you're supporting. It isn't for you as an individual. You are not a celebrity. You are representing the Royal Family. That's all."

As Britain's longest-serving royal consort Prince Philip knew what he was talking about and it's perhaps why you rarely see the Princess of Wales looking directly at the photographers or seeming to be even aware they're there.

While there are certainly many upsides to being a member of the Royal Family, this position also comes with a lot of pressure. For those born into it, like Prince William and King Charles, they have a lifetime to prepare. Others, like the Princess of Wales, have to find their own way - and fast.

In his book, Yes Ma'am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, royal historian Tom Quinn suggests Kate’s "very intelligent and intuitive" skillset as the reason that she’s become such an important asset to the monarchy.

According to him, a former Kensington Palace employee claimed, "Kate was always happy to accept advice both from the lower staff, with whom she got on very well, and from the courtiers, even though some of them were initially very snooty about her."

They went on to share how they see the Princess operating within the royal system, alleging, "Kate is someone who slowly and carefully absorbs the atmosphere of a place, the relationship between people and the rules."

"She doesn't jump in straight away and try to change everything to suit her way of thinking," the source added. "She bides her time and is very intelligent and intuitive about other people."

This skill could be a key reason why she’s become such an important figure to both the wider Royal Family and to Prince William. In the excerpt from the book, the source continued, "I don't know where William would be without Kate - she hasn't had everything done for her throughout her life, so she calms him down when he gets a bit fractious."

This is not the first time Kate’s ability to quickly adapt to the royal way of life has been discussed. Royal biographer Catherine Mayer previously suggested Kate has followed in the footsteps of the late Queen Elizabeth with how she conducts herself in public.

Speaking on HELLO!’s A Right Royal Podcast, she said, "She has done such a clever job of finding a way to adapt to the institution. That does not mean that I think she has it easy. [But she's done] very little speaking and almost no confessional spilling of anything about who she is. She's quite enigmatic."

This skill for fostering connections while not oversharing is something the late Queen was widely celebrated for throughout her 70-year reign. Her Majesty seldom shared her own personal viewpoints.

It’s perhaps telling, therefore, that Kate singled out this quality when talking about Her Majesty on the ITV documentary, Our Queen at Ninety. In it, the Princess said, "Everyone feels like they've had some quality time with Her Majesty and, also, a real personal connection and I think that's a real skill."

Body language expert Judi James has also noticed Kate “perfecting” the same sort of body language that Queen Elizabeth showed. As per The Sun, Judi shared, "Kate has spent years perfecting the body language of sustainability and is now at no risk of looking bored or showing any negative emotions."

Comparing this to that of the late Queen, Judi added that Her Majesty was "always able to present the sweetest of smiles under the most difficult of circumstances".

The Prince of Wales was once photographed heading to swanky London nightclubs but nowadays the dad-of-three's evenings look very different. We know very little about his and Kate's lives behind closed doors, but according to royal biographer Robert Hardman, there's a TV show that the couple can't get enough of.

"The King is the one who still enjoys sitting up writing letters into the night, whereas Prince William's idea of a fun evening, says one of his team, is to 'sit down with the Princess in front of The Traitors'," the author claims in Elizabeth II: In Private. In Public. The Inside Story.

Since it first started the Claudia Winkleman-fronted BBC series has become a cultural phenomenon and now it's got the royal seal of approval. It's hard to imagine the future King and Queen watching a reality show, but as the BBC notes - The Traitors is an "ultimate reality game of trust and treachery."

The show wouldn't be the same without the mind games and competition and if there's one thing William and Kate love it's being competitive. Watching other people taking on the challenges and outmanoeuvring each other isn't quite the same as doing it yourself, but it still probably appeals to their personalities.

Now I'm secretly hoping for two rather special guests on a future Celebrity Traitors series and if the rumours are true we could be just a few weeks away from the next instalment of the spin-off. Perhaps the Prince and Princess are already looking forward to incorporating it into their "fun evening" plans for autumn.

Having an unmissable TV show to watch together might also help take their minds off things as they adjust to everyday life without Prince George. The 13-year-old started at Eton on 8th September and Forest Lodge might feel very different for William, Kate, Charlotte and Louis now.

The Traitors isn't the only BBC programme that's a big hit in the Wales household though. Strictly Come Dancing will be kicking off soon (minus Claudia following her and Tess Daly's exit as hosts) and Kate once took Charlotte and Louis to the studio as a special treat, where they got to meet head judge Shirley Ballas.

Prince William has also seen Strictly before and told Claudia at a charity gala in 2019, "I have watched the show a couple of times. Catherine is a huge fan and my mother-in-law loves it."

Before long the Prince and Princess of Wales will also have a lot of films to add to their to-watch list too. William has been President of BAFTA since 2010 and he and Kate try to watch as many of the short-listed movies as possible before the awards every February.

At the 2026 BAFTAs, the mum-of-three also revealed that watching films with George, Charlotte and Louis can help to spark challenging but important discussions as a family.

"The children are starting to get interested in films and it's a really great way to have some of the hard conversations with them," she explained, adding that sometimes the movies are a tough watch for her too.

Although she found Hamnet "very powerful", as a mum Kate admitted it maybe wasn't the best choice of film for her (the plot includes the death of Shakespeare's son), saying she "ended up with very puffy eyes" from crying watching it.

The Princess of Wales would've chosen her outfit for Prince George's first day at Eton very carefully - not only because this is a big moment, but because she wouldn't want to overshadow the excited teen. However, I still couldn't help admiring her style and was surprised to see her ditching delicate necklaces for something more statement.

Kate wore the Laura Lombardi Portrait chain in gold and the chunky design was a fun contrast against her very sleek and formal dress. The frock was by Emilia Wickstead, one of her go-to British clothing brands, and it was a deep emerald green.

Traditionally silver jewellery is thought to work better with cool-toned colours and I generally stick to silver and green together. The Princess's duo was more of a contrast and proved that not only does gold and emerald look great together, but that we shouldn't worry about these "rules".

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The gold necklace was made up of delicate circle links and it immediately drew the eye, whilst the squared neckline of the dress framed the future Queen's jewellery perfectly. It's surprising how much of a difference a slightly bolder necklace can make.

As we head into colder weather and start wearing more knitwear with jeans and skirts, having a hint of sparkle adds some extra dimension and glamour. Dainty chains might tend to get a bit lost in layered looks so something chunkier like Kate's Portrait necklace is a clever choice.

The warm undertone of the gold brought warmth to the Princess of Wales's overall outfit in a way that cool-toned silver just wouldn't. It actually felt slightly more daytime appropriate too, as a bright silver statement necklace would catch the light even more.

Emerald and forest green are generally considered cool colours and the gold chain was a soft contrast against them. Because she already had one warm-toned element, Kate could also easily incorporate more of these shades with her other accessories.

Her shoes for George's first day at Eton were dark brown suede court heels. She has plenty of green heels in her collection that would've coordinated, though not going for a strict colour match made her overall ensemble a little less formal.

It also meant that the necklace wasn't the only warm shade in the look and since chocolate is a big autumn/winter fashion colour trend for 2026, I suspect many of us will be reaching for brown boots very soon. The Princess of Wales has shown that mixing different undertones together like she did on 8th September can be so beautiful - and not as tricky as we thought.

I've even been swayed to not stick so rigidly to silver with green and I think the key to mixing cool and warm colours in a Kate-esque way is to pick one as the focus and add in a few elements of the other. Gold jewellery is such an easy way to bring in warm hues and a lot of handbags have gold hardware to tie in.

Prince George might've hoped for slightly better weather for his first day at Eton College but the rain didn't look to have dampened his spirits. The thirteen-year-old was accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Wales on 8th September as he arrived wearing a smart suit and tie ready for his next chapter.

We shouldn't be surprised that this pivotal moment played out in front of the cameras. The Wales kids are used to their milestones being marked publicly and many fans will have been excited to see George as he prepares for the start of term.

He's following in Prince William's footsteps at Eton and the choice of school was seen as inevitable by many. However, royal expert Emily Andrews believes the key reason for William and Kate picking it was something rather surprising.

Back when it was first announced George was heading to Eton, Emily claimed to woman&home that "one of the deciding factors was that Eton is all boys". This seems totally at odds with their approach up to now, as the Prince and Princess of Wales have consistently sent their children to co-educational schools like Lambrook.

It's often been said that they've been very modern by choosing to have Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis educated together.

Eton College is a return to the royal mould and Emily alleged that "in the world of smartphones and social media" George being at an all-boys school "gives any nascent teenage angst a little more protection".

The future King and Queen are strict about their kids not having mobiles and are concerned about how smartphone use can lead to disconnection and isolation.

They might end up relaxing their rule now George is living away from home, though it's interesting that they could've partly picked Eton to protect their son's emotional wellbeing and minimise "angst". Protection in the more traditional sense is incredibly important too and it's likely that the media will take a similar stance as they did with Princes William and Harry.

While they were at school their privacy was respected in return for occasional, official pictures. Like his dad and uncle, George will also be boarding just a short distance from his family. Prince William famously used to go for tea with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at Windsor Castle during his time at Eton and the Waleses live close by at Forest Lodge.

Emily Andrews thinks that this was another huge factor that made Prince William and Kate pick the Berkshire boarding school.

Knowing his mum and dad aren't too far away might make the "big transition" for George a little less daunting as although he's been boarding at Lambrook during the week, this will be his first time permanently living away from his parents and siblings.

He looked confident and happy as he arrived and will soon be kept busy when term officially starts on 9th September. The sweet pictures of Kate, William and George together at Eton will inevitably become one of the iconic snapshots of the 13-year-old's life and could be one of the rare times we see him publicly during this new chapter.

James Middleton has left his sister the Princess of Wales in no doubt about his trustworthiness and the signs are subtle but consistent. Unlike Kate, James is a free agent with his own personal Instagram account and whilst he does share family pictures, he's very careful about it.

He'll happily post sweet snaps of his wife Alizée and their son Inigo (without showing his face), but there are almost no photos of Kate - or their sister Pippa. James didn't share a photo for Pippa's birthday on 6th September or for Kate's birthday in January.

On the rare occasions he does post the Princess on his page, it's usually only after she's shared something similar herself like when she completed the National Three Peaks Challenge in June.

Kate undertook this challenge to raise money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and awareness of the importance of holistic healthcare. She was clearly happy for pictures to be shared if it would help towards either of these goals, so James posted several of the family congratulating her after finishing.

When the Princess first made her cancer diagnosis public in 2021, James also supported her publicly by sharing a throwback picture of the two of them with the caption, "Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too".

Once again, he followed her lead in sharing something and was incredibly respectful and minimal with what he said. There were no new details for people to analyse, just a special tribute to his big sister and the commitment to being there for her.

Other than these posts, the businessman has occasionally shared a snap of Carole Middleton for Mother's Day but that's about it. To me, it's a clear sign of how James is mindful of Kate - and their wider family's - privacy. Whilst she probably really appreciates this now, his discretion will be even more important when she's Queen.

Knowing who to trust is something the royals have to carefully consider and the Princess's brother has proved to her and the rest of the Royal Family that he isn't an over-sharer. The Middletons have kept some of William and Kate's biggest milestones entirely secret until they were ready to share - from the couple's engagement to the Princess's pregnancies.

Royal author Russell Myers claimed in William & Catherine: The Intimate Inside Story that Kate's family had "become a constant presence" in their lives and were particularly "crucial" when the kids were young. According to him, the Prince of Wales loved their sense of normality.

"William appreciated their involvement beyond measure, enjoying their company and the normalcy of the environment, whatever the circumstance," he claimed, adding that William apparently told an aide his in-laws gave them "more room to breathe".

"Michael and Carole enjoyed visiting the couple in Norfolk and would often stay for weekends, providing much-needed extra support for the young family," Myers continued.

Knowing that Michael, Carole, James and Pippa can be relied upon in a world where scrutiny and speculation follow the royals everywhere is no small thing for Kate and William. Whilst they have public-facing roles as Prince and Princess of Wales, their family helps the couple keep their personal lives blissfully private.

When they became parents, it was inevitable that Prince William and Kate would find themselves learning new things, but the Princess of Wales might not have thought she’d have to teach her husband quite a common childhood game.

Exploring the royal couple’s personal lives and just how they continued to learn new things about one another years into their relationship, royal author Tom Quinn claimed that Kate had to show Prince William what a piggyback was - something he rather sadly revealed he’d never experienced himself as a youngster.

In his book, Yes Ma'am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, Tom suggests a maid told him, "[Kate] had to show him how to give the children a piggyback, for example. William said very quietly, 'My father never gave me a piggyback.'"

He added, “Kate had to explain many of the things that parents outside the royal family do with their children as a matter of course.”

The insider went on to suggest, “I don't know where William would be without Kate - she hasn't had everything done for her throughout her life, so she calms him down when he gets a bit fractious.

"She said he sometimes has to be treated as her fourth child."

This isn’t the first time it’s been suggested that William experienced a whole other way of being thanks to Kate, and his in-laws. In fact, one royal source has previously suggested William was actually influenced by this less formal way of life he picked up from the Middletons.

Previously reported in the Daily Mail, a royal source claimed, "That the Middletons had to nip to the shop for food, ensure there was enough bread in the house, empty their own bins and put out the recycling on the right day were all refreshing".

They suggest that "William found the informality eye-opening" and something as trivial as “laying a tablecloth was a struggle” at first for the future King. But it was thanks to this that allegedly helped William and Catherine as they lived together for the first time in Anglesey. The couple were there during William’s time working as an RAF Search and Rescue Pilot.

When William was first sent to the supermarket “his first experience of a big shop following Carole’s detailed lists was apparently mind-boggling”.

Now, as a result, it could be why the pair have "introduced a lot of relative informality into home life” at their Windsor Great Park home, Forest Lodge. The couple are thought to make their three children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - do their own chores like any other children, and they enjoy a level of informality that’s closer to Kate’s upbringing than William’s.

Indeed, one rule that they are reportedly adamant on is no live-in staff at their home. Royal biographer Ingrid Seward has previously shared, "William and Kate have never wanted live-in staff; I think that’s the modern way.

“Since William was a little boy, he’s seen all the staff at the late Queen’s homes, and he never wanted that. It’s not something Kate grew up with either."

We're finally entering jacket and coat season, but it's still not cold enough to be bundled up in thick layers, making trenches our new best friend. They're lightweight, often water-resistant and the classic structured style instantly gives autumn outfit ideas an extra level of sophistication.

The Princess of Wales relies on them a lot and one of her most beautiful coats was her Burberry Littleton wool-blend trench from March 2011. She wore it for a rainy day of engagements in Belfast and with the forecast very showery in the UK for the foreseeable future, I'm definitely taking some inspiration from her.

Kate didn't let the weather dampen her spirits and she looked chic in this stone-toned coat, which had all the traditional details you'd expect.

Shop Timeless Trenches

It featured epaulettes on the shoulders, belted cuff straps and a gun flap on the front. All of these elements are what gives trenches their distinctive, polished look and the Princess's also had a frill on the bottom hem.

The contrast between the femininity and the structure was stunning and although Kate favours longline outerwear now, this coat fell to her knees.

She styled it with a black dress the same length, tights and knee-high boots. This was a clever move and the key to styling a trench coat with dresses is to try and roughly match the hemlines. For example, if you're wearing a midi or maxi-length frock then a longer coat will echo this streamlined, leg-elongating shape.

Shorter pieces tend to work better with shorter coats as everything again looks very cohesive. If you're someone who prefers wearing jeans or trousers then this isn't so much of a factor, as both cropped or long trenches pair well with them.

Belted designs are great for accentuating the waist and also bring more of a formal edge. The future Queen's signature style is smart-casual anyway and she was undertaking engagements with Prince William, so wanted this elevated feel.

Kate's coat was made from a wool blend, though plenty of trenches are either fully waterproof or water-resistant and this is a practical feature worth keeping in mind if you're looking to add one to your collection. In Belfast, the Princess carried an umbrella when the rain started and she kept her trench fastened for warmth.

This stone colour is one of the most popular shades for trench coats alongside camel, though a plain black design is equally versatile. Neutrals go with everything and with jackets and coats, this is even more important because you want to be able to mix and match them with a variety of ensembles without worrying about clashing.

Minimalism is a big autumn/winter fashion trend and the Princess of Wales's 2011 trench fits this to a tee. The rest of her outfit was also pared-back, but you could also go for rich autumnal colours with a beige coat, like burgundy or olive green.

The Princess of Wales's popularity is at an all-time high, as she almost single-handedly provides the sparkle the Royal Family so desperately needs.

Blessed with stunning good looks and the ability to be elegant, whether in a ball gown or rolling up her sleeves to play table tennis with a group of underprivileged youngsters, Kate has cemented her place at the top table.

In recent years, she has enjoyed unrivalled popularity with the public both here and overseas. But her cancer diagnosis and the cruel way she was forced to silence the conspiracy theorists and online trolls about being unwell - and therefore out of the public eye - have simply served to prove that she's in a league of her own.

Having to sit down and calmly explain that she was being treated for cancer not only silenced her critics but also made those who love her reach a new level of infatuation.

Thankfully, she is in remission, but the moment anyone is told by a doctor, 'It's cancer,' remains one of the most frightening scenarios a human can face.

She might have married into the Royal Family, with all the trappings that come with that, but her relatability is just what's needed in this turbulent time for the Firm.

I first met Kate in 2005, when little - if anything - was known about the beautiful St Andrews undergraduate who had caught the eye of our future king. At the time, she had been told that if journalists or photographers approached her, she needed to simply smile and act as though she was pleased to see them.

My conversation with Kate during a ski trip in Switzerland that year was brief, and instead I ended up speaking to Prince William as she quietly slipped away.

But in our encounter I was struck by how sincere she seemed to be, and someone who had her head well and truly on her shoulders. For some, a royal encounter is too much to contemplate, but Kate has always taken it in her stride.

The truth is that Kate has turned out to be a natural. Someone the late Queen would have been extremely proud of and recognised as a huge asset.

In his recent book, the royal expert Russell Myers reveals something that, to me, simply shows what an exceptional person Kate really is.

Myers claims that Kate had instinctive and grave concerns about inheriting the title Princess of Wales. Not only were Princess Diana's enormous shoes to fill, but Kate was also concerned about detracting from the legacy of her husband's much-loved mother.

It was, according to Myers, something that she had even spoken to her husband and her father-in-law Prince Charles (as he was then) about.

In his book, Myers writes, 'Catherine had privately expressed to William and to Charles her reservations about taking over the title, conscious of the British public's exceptional feeling for, and connection to, Princess Diana even 25 years after her death.'

How incredible that someone about to inherit one of the most iconic titles in the world would be modest enough to raise her concerns. I would say that is a sign, if not proof, of Kate's star quality.

Kate, you are more than worthy of the title of Princess of Wales and will one day make a wonderful queen at William's side.

This feature first appeared in Woman magazine. Subscribe now and get your first 6 issues for £1.

Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle have officially moved back to the UK now, and are ready to enrol Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in schools ahead of terms starting next week.

The Sussexes return follows suggestions that things were improving between Harry and his father, King Charles, who met at Highgrove earlier in the summer. However, it’s suggested that not every royal is as optimistic about their return, with a source claiming it’s come as a "massive shock" to the Princess of Wales.

The source revealed she is prioritising "the stability of the family and the monarchy" over her personal feelings, but the fact that Meghan has "freedoms" to say what she wants in the press might be "bringing unresolved issues back to the surface."

Unnamed insiders revealed to Heat World, "Kate fears seeing the family dragged back into another cycle of accusations, briefings and public fallout. She can’t see how it’s all going to work, and it has left her reeling".

The unverified insider allegedly added that one of the biggest obstacles potentially preventing the Waleses and the Sussexes moving forward is the lack of trust.

They suggest, "So much has happened, and trust has been lost. How do you rebuild a relationship when you’re no longer confident that what happens privately will remain private?"

They continued, "Meghan also has freedoms that Kate doesn’t. Kate has protocol and a royal diary, whereas Meghan can give interviews, use social media and choose her own public appearances.

"Meghan can also speak out in a way Kate and William simply cannot respond to. There have already been serious allegations, which caused enormous damage and scrutiny, and Kate knows just how quickly another revelation could reopen all of that."

Since quitting life as working royals in 2020, Prince Harry and Meghan have made several allegations against the Royal Family and their staff - with many stories involving Prince William and Kate.

In his memoir, Spare, Harry wrote about "an awkward moment" between the pair when Meghan asked to borrow Kate’s lip gloss and she "grimaced"... an experience which "left a little mark."

In the book, Harry also pins the blame on William and Kate for his decision to wear a Nazi costume in 2005, when he was 20-years-old.

He recounted, "I phoned Willy and Kate, asked what they thought [about his costume choices]. ‘Nazi uniform’, they said. I rented it, plus a silly moustache, and went back to the house. I tried it all on. They both howled."

Other allegations have included Harry claiming William physically attacked him and Meghan suggesting Kate made her cry in a disagreement over bridesmaid dresses.

True to form for the royals, they’ve rarely responded. The only riposte came in March 2021, following the Sussexes explosive Oprah Winfrey interview. In a rare move, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II issued a public statement on accusations made against the family which declared, "Whilst some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately."

We're used to autumn/winter fashion colour trends featuring rich browns and burnt oranges but this year there's another huge contender in the mix - poppy red. This is good news for the Princess of Wales, as this fiery tone is one of her go-tos for outfits.

That in turn is great news for those of us who maybe aren't as confident styling bright colours, as she's already shown us plenty of ways to do it. I particularly loved Kate's boucle blazer and ballet flats from September 2023 and even though the rest of her outfit was quite formal, we can easily take some tips from this look.

The future Queen attended a Portage Session for her Shaping Us campaign and the blazer was a Zara double-breasted design.

Shop Flats Like Kate's

Shop Poppy Red

Tailoring and bright colours might sound like a very bold combination, but a jacket like Kate's is also the focal point of an outfit. The rest of her clothing was entirely neutral and this kept everything in balance. She opted for a beige knitted top, plain black cigarette trousers and then black shoes from Boden.

The Princess regularly steps out in pieces by this British clothing brand, though she rarely wears flats. This is maybe why this particular look stands out to me so much and the pumps had pointed toes and a buckle decoration on the front. Pointed toe footwear creates a lovely leg-elongating effect and you can get a subtler form of this from almond-toed shoes too.

Square-toe flats are another great option and they feel a bit more contemporary and fashion-forward compared to rounded designs. No matter which shape suits you best, a pair of classic black flats like Kate's are so handy for autumn outfit ideas.

When it's mild like it is now, it's not quite the season for boots. However, trainers can be a bit too casual and ballet pumps or loafers are comfy yet elevated. The Princess of Wales wore hers with crisp trousers, though you could recreate a similar look with blue or black jeans and a red blazer would then finish things off with a pop of colour.

Alternatively, go for a poppy-red jumper, cardigan or shirt and this still brings in the trending shade but in a more relaxed way. The important thing is to stick to classic shapes and keep the rest of your outfit quite minimal.

This will help ensure that the bright red isn't overpowering everything else. We've often seen Kate do this when she wears scarlet to engagements like the Portage Session. There are occasions when she goes all-out in head-to-toe red, though she tends to do this more for ultra formal events such as the Commonwealth Day service or welcoming dignitaries for a State Visit.

Otherwise, this formula of picking one main red item is her go-to and she likes the contrast of red and black together. Black makes the poppy tone stand out and her black ballet flats are the kind of style that could be re-worn time and time again, compared to red accessories.

Late summer and early autumn outfit ideas often revolve around pieces that are easy to layer and the Princess of Wales's white shirt is an elegant example of this. She was pictured heading to Crathie Kirk during the royals' Balmoral holiday on 23rd August and wore a timeless, high-necked design from British clothing brand Holland Cooper.

The Audley blouse has a Victorian-inspired feel about it, with frilled cuffs and lace detailing. Kate is a fan of statement collars and traditional elements but even if these aren't for you, a white shirt is still hard to beat for versatility. There are so many variations to choose from and they're autumn's answer to a basic white T-shirt.

Shop Kate's Outfit

Complete The Look

As she was sitting in a car on the way to church we didn't get a glimpse of everything the Princess wore with her Audley shirt, but she did pair it with a tweed jacket. It looked to be a blazer and the structured silhouette complemented the crisp white blouse perfectly.

Neutral, checked designs are a great way to add some dimension to an outfit without going too bold with it. The future Queen matched her hat to the rich brown tones and re-wore her Lock & Co pillbox hat she's owned for several years.

Perhaps as a nod to being off-duty and on holiday, Kate sported large, multi-drop earrings rather than the more minimal pairs she usually reaches for when she's working. They added some sparkle and glamour, though all together, this was a very simple, chic look and the white blouse was the useful basic at the heart of it.

At this time of year you can put shirts to good use as a base layer. They look great worn under knitted vests or jumpers when it's cooler, especially if you have a collared or high neckline that can poke out the top. This gives a polished effect and we've seen the Princess do this multiple times over the years.

In October 2023 she stepped out for a visit to the Vsi Razom Community Hub in a white shirt with statement cuffs, a dove-grey vest and matching wide-leg trousers. Structured, oversized shirts tend to give a more contemporary feel to an outfit whilst designs like Kate's with lace or frills are an ultra-feminine alternative.

For the most classic, preppy look, I'd recommend going for a fitted white shirt with a neat collar and minimal detailing. No matter which style you're drawn to, they all have a place in an autumn capsule wardrobe and can be made more relaxed with blue denim or dressed up with tailoring.

The Princess of Wales usually sticks to wearing skirts or dresses when she's attending church with the royals, so even though we didn't see it, she was probably wearing a midi skirt - perhaps even a tweed one to match her jacket.

I personally prefer jeans with white blouses and this is how I'll be getting the most use out of this seasonal staple. It's a throw-on-and-go combination that works best for everyday and strikes the perfect balance between being smart and casual.

What’s in a name? Well, when it came to the spelling of the Princess of Wales’s name, it was enough to leave Prince William "fuming".

In his biography, Kate! The Courage, Grace, and Power of the Woman Who Will Be Queen, author Christopher Andersen details an alleged disagreement between the King and Queen after they requested Kate change the spelling of her name.

The reported furore over having too many royal cyphers beginning with the letter C - Charles, Camilla and Catherine - led to the request that the Princess change her spelling to Katherine. A request that William was quick to fire back about.

In his book, Christopher alleges, "Charles and Camilla each had a royal monogram that consisted of interlocking C’s beneath a crown, and they expressed concern that a third royal cypher with a C was overkill".

This led to a strange request. He wrote their majesties asked, "Would Kate mind if she changed the spelling of her full name from ‘Catherine’ to ‘Katherine.'"

He continued, "Offended by yet another command from on high essentially aimed at placating Camilla, a fuming William replied on his wife’s behalf." The Prince of Wales is reported to have called the request "insulting, not only to Kate but to her entire family".

It’s important to note that this is all alleged and the palaces rarely, if ever, comment on claims made in royal books.

The author spoke about the alleged incident in more detail when he appeared on Fox News Digital, where he shared the dispute speaks volumes about how the monarchy treats branding and can often think like a business.

He said, "The entire nature of Charles and Camilla’s request - that Catherine was adding too many C’s to the royal crests - shows just how much image and branding means to members of the royal family. The monarchy really is a giant game of one-upmanship".

He added that this was just one more example where "William has gone to war for Kate", with the royal biographer referencing times the future king has made protecting his wife a priority ever since she joined the Royal Family.

Bringing up the invasion of privacy that saw topless photos of the Princess taken during a holiday in 2012, Christopher said, "He angrily ordered Palace lawyers to sue and even wanted to see those involved prosecuted criminally under French privacy laws.

"When they started a family, it was William who made sure that Kate was not forced to take on too heavy a royal workload if it meant that she would have to spend too much time away from their children.”

As for the family dispute over royal cyphers, things didn’t escalate for the family, who still remain deeply “fond” of one another. Christopher said to Fox, "Besides, it wasn’t long before they were having to deal with their simultaneous cancer diagnoses, which put everything else in stark perspective."

Summer isn't over yet but if - like me - you're already starting to think about autumn outfit ideas then it doesn't come much more chic than the Princess of Wales's knitted co-ord. She wore this cream, ribbed set for a visit to Nottingham Trent University in 2023 and although it quickly sold out, it's been brought back ahead of the new season.

Not only that, but it's also included in Sézane's archive sale in the same light oatmeal shade. Knitted skirts and light knits are a perfect duo for milder days when it's cool but not freezing cold. Kate didn't need a coat or jacket with this co-ord in early October and yet you know that they'll work under thicker layers when the time comes.

Shop Kate's Cosy Outfit

Styled together, the Princess's top and skirt resembled a streamlined jumper dress - but with twice the versatility. Separates can be mixed and matched with a bigger range of pieces than a frock and the more neutral the colour, the easier this becomes.

The future Queen chose the Sézane set in the "natural", which is a light beige. It would complement a massive range of other shades, from chocolate brown to burnt orange or deep red. The jumper was slightly cropped and neatly met the top of the skirt for a seamless, polished finish.

For a more casual look, go for a longline or oversized jumper instead, but I'd recommend sticking to a sleeker skirt with it and balance it out rather than a flared design.

Kate's skirt fell to just below the knee and was a subtle A-line shape, with a comfortable elasticated waist. The ribbed detailing running all over both pieces - and the buttons on the sleeve cuffs - finished them off so elegantly.

She kept the rest of her ensemble simple, pairing the autumnal co-ord with tan Gianvito Rossi heels and a Tusting Mini Holly Bag in taupe. Top handle bags and court shoes are incredibly timeless and they're styles the royals rely on when they want to elevate an outfit.

I'd personally make things a bit more casual and go for white trainers or brown loafers right now, before switching to boots in autumn/winter. Knee-high boots look stunning with longer skirts draped over the top and they create a lovely, leg-elongating effect because both pieces flow into one another.

Knitted skirts like the Princess of Wales's are particularly useful because they aren't as smart as crepe or tailored options and often have a good amount of stretch to them. This makes them an easy piece to throw on with a jumper when you want to feel comfy and still look put-together.

Kate's signature style is smart-casual so her Sézane co-ord fitted this perfectly and she finished off her outfit with pearl drop earrings. The Princess was visiting Nottingham Trent University to learn more about their mental health support system as part of her and Prince William's engagements marking World Mental Health Day.

We've only ever seen her in this knitted set publicly then, but since Kate loves re-wearing items, this could just mean she prefers keeping it for off-duty days.

The Princess of Wales doesn't overcomplicate her outfits and she wore a simple but stunning trio of pieces to the Commonwealth Games on 1st August. The last time we saw her publicly she wore a summer dress at Wimbledon but in Glasgow where things have been slightly cooler, Kate styled a knitted top, pleated skirt and blazer.

This is a tried-and-tested formula for her and it's an easy one to adjust to wear in the heat or in colder weather. The Princess's ivory top was actually sleeveless and had deep navy stripes and a high crew neckline. These kinds of designs can be worn as they are, or layered over blouses and skirts for a preppy, polished look.

Recreate Kate's Outfit

At the Games we didn't really get a glimpse of it, as Kate kept her Ralph Lauren blazer on over the top. This is a new piece for her and the green tone felt very autumnal, though we shouldn't be afraid to start mixing some deeper colours into our late summer outfits.

The trick is to brighten them up with the rest of your clothing and the future Queen did this by reaching for her favourite white pleated skirt. Pleated skirts and blazers are a go-to for her and this skirt looks to be the same one she wore with a mint green jacket to Wimbledon in 2023.

It fell to midi-length and the pleating gave it such a flowy, feminine shape. This contrasted against the very structured, sharp blazer and the light colour balanced out the dark green and made the Princess's ensemble feel more summery.

The white also tied in with her top and her pearl drop earrings. To make a blazer, knit and pleated skirt more cold weather-appropriate you can go for a long-sleeved jumper and thicker fabrics instead. Pleated skirts look wonderful with knee-high boots and create a leg-elongating effect.

Alternatively if it's even hotter than it was in Glasgow, I'd recommend a linen or linen-blend jacket for breathability and a thinner top or cotton vest instead. Kate finished off her own outfit with her neutral slingback heels from Camilla Elphick and a white tote by Anya Hindmarch.

The woven texture of this bag was another nice way she made the outfit more seasonal - and a little more relaxed. She, Prince William and their children attended the Commonwealth Games as sports enthusiasts but they also visited the Team Wales athletes at Wales House, so it wasn't a totally off-duty day for them.

That meant that the entire family dressed smart-casual and the Princess of Wales's blazer, knit and skirt worked perfectly as an elegant, low-key combination. Depending on the colours you're working with you could do the opposite of Kate and wear an autumnal toned skirt with a lighter blazer and the silhouettes can be adapted to suit different signature styles too.

I'm a little surprised that we didn't see the Princess wearing any red in honour of Wales, though green and white also feature prominently on their flag so this could've been a nod to the country.

Betrayed and possibly even humiliated. That, I understand, was the reaction of Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales following King Charles's olive branch meeting with the Sussexes.

Of course, why wouldn't they be? They have been humiliated on more than one occasion by both Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and seeing them swan back to the UK must, I’m sure, sting. And let’s not talk about betrayal - the pair who have repeatedly bemoaned the Royal Family and made awful accusations.

Sure, the family reunion at Highgrove House (Harry's childhood home) may only have lasted for a short time. A couple of hours I was told - perhaps just long enough for Archie, seven, and Lili, five, to play in the garden tree house that Charles had built for William as a boy.

It was confirmed by Buckingham Palace within hours of the visit (although they didn’t give any more details or release a photo) and it appeared to announce a policy of appeasement to the Sussexes.

Despite what they may say or do, despite the vitriol levelled against the British judiciary, British government or even the monarchy itself, they will not be cast out.

It must feel like a humiliation for William and Kate, who are believed to want nothing to do with the Sussexes, and are thought to have urged the King to do the same.

They have been hurt and betrayed by Harry’s departure from the monarchy, and his subsequent outbursts - across Oprah, Netflix and memoir Spare - must still be painful. I understand that William believes the couple should not have been rewarded with a family meeting, however private, with the King.

His father has gone ahead, while William is the one carrying an ever-growing share of the actual work and popularity of the monarchy.

Charles' first duty is not to the spare. It is to the heir and his wife. That is the deal Queen Elizabeth II understood and honoured for 70 years: the institution comes first, sentiment a distant second.

Because this meeting looks like a triumph for Harry and Meghan.

Giving all the appearance of working towards this for the past 18 months, their intentions have seemed clear: re-establish themselves in Britain and back inside the family, which could only boost their brand.

Only time will tell whether this marks the start of more regular visits to the UK.

And if it does, then it will be the undoing of Megxit. As surely this would be the half-in/half-out that the late Queen explicitly forbade.

And what can William and Kate do? Not much, if we’re honest, until William is King.

He rarely speaks of Harry in royal circles nowadays, I’m told, but this capitulation by his father is sure to sting.

After all, just three weeks before the visit, the Palace was calling Harry’s refusal to bring his children to the UK until he got the security he wanted ‘emotional blackmail’.

Following the Highgrove reunion, the tone completely changed.

Charles ‘will never shut the door on the possibility of spending time with his family because, despite all the trouble, blood is blood’ said a close source.

There is still huge mistrust between the Sussexes and Buckingham Palace.

It was meant to have been a joyful week for Harry - where he combined his work with repairing relations with his family.

And it’s clear he wants to spend much more time here in the UK.

But it’s also clear that Kate and William will not forgive him for Spare. It is little wonder, then, that my Palace sources tell me our future King and his wife held crisis talks about the latest movements.

They are united on all fronts, but their relationship with Harry and Meghan seems to be broken forever.

This feature first appeared in Woman magazine. Subscribe now and get your first 6 issues for £1.

Even during the heatwave I've been keeping one eye on new-in autumn pieces and whilst we're not quite done with our summer wardrobe yet, the temperatures have finally started to drop. After weeks of dresses and comfortable sandals it's refreshing to be able to wear a bigger variety of pieces and the Princess of Wales's cropped trousers and short-sleeved knit are a great transitional combination.

She wore them when she hosted the inaugural Kings Cup regatta in August 2019 and the trousers were flowy and high-waisted, with contrasting buttons on the front. They fell to just above the ankle and the relaxed silhouette was breezy for a sunny day.

The last thing you want to wear in the heat - in summer or autumn - is tightly fitted, restrictive trousers.

Shop Kate's Look

Going for something more lightweight is going to keep you cooler and cropped designs showcase your footwear beautifully. Although this length is more popular in spring/summer, you can also repurpose them in the colder months by styling them with ankle boots.

High-rise ankle boots and cropped trousers offer a contemporary look, though the Princess wore her LK Bennett ones with her favourite white trainers from Superga instead. The deep navy tone of the trousers was a softer alternative to black tailoring.

Navy has a reputation for being tricky to style and you could always go for a similar shape in another soft shade like camel or chocolate brown. However, I think this shade is more versatile than you think and can be worn with neutrals, as well as with red or orange for a pop of colour.

Kate's short-sleeved peplum knit from Sandro combined orange, red, white and navy and was a lovely contrast. The peplum itself was small and it draped elegantly over the waistband of her trousers.

These kinds of styles are massively on trend for 2026 and woman&home's Digital Fashion Ecommerce Editor Caroline Parr has some top tips for how to wear them.

"A peplum top works wonders for anyone wanting to create some shape in their silhouette. They're also brilliant if your tummy is an area you worry about," she says. "Styling them is much easier than you think, too - stick to simple straight-leg jeans or trousers to allow the peplum to make the statement."

This is exactly what the Princess of Wales did for The King's Cup and although her top was quite bold, Caroline explains that "choosing one colour for the whole look will make it flow". She adds, "I'm a fan of colour blocking. Go minimalist, too, here, as prints can feel a little too much."

Stripes are a relatively minimal print, though a plain navy peplum knit would be pared-back and chic with trousers like Kate's. If you've got high-waisted trousers, go for a slightly more cropped top and it'll sit nicely over them without covering you in swathes of fabric.

The future Queen loves peplums more generally and has a big collection of peplum dresses, though starting with a top is a little less daunting if you're not used to wearing this frilled style.

The Prince and Princess of Wales's marriage has often been compared to those of other royals but the way their relationship began sets them apart. In his book, The Four Wives of Windsor, royal correspondent Simon Vigar focuses on Queen Camilla, Princess Diana, Kate and Meghan and, according to him, the only one who "had anything close to a normal romance" was the future Queen.

"As undergraduates at St Andrews University, the friendship between Catherine and William was able to develop slowly and ­naturally - or at least as normally as possible given the fact that Scotland Yard's elite Royalty Protection Department were ever-present," he explains.

In contrast, he claims that both Princess Diana and Meghan "with varying degrees of failure" were "fast-tracked into the Royal Family". Prince William and Kate were friends for years before they got together and weren't rushed by speculation over when he was going to pop the question.

The future King admitted in their engagement interview in 2010 that one of the reasons he waited to propose was to give Kate time to "back out".

"Her and her family, I really want to make sure that they have the best, sort of, guidance and chance to see what life has been like - or what life is like - in the family," he said. "That's kind of almost why I've been waiting this long is that I wanted to give her a chance to see and to back out if she needed to before it all got too much."

The Princess of Wales did no such thing and earlier this year the couple marked their 15th wedding anniversary. Her brother-in-law Prince Harry and Meghan's journey from meeting to marrying spanned two years and she was well-known for her work on hit drama Suits, so their romance attracted plenty of attention from the start.

The Duchess herself has said that she "didn't fully understand what the job was" when she started dating Harry. In some ways, perhaps Princess Diana didn't either, as she was just 19 when she accepted King Charles's proposal and they married months later.

Vigar notes that Queen Camilla's journey was "slower" and went from "initially being The Other Woman" to "facing an interval of more than thirty years between first fling and engagement". Once again, all of this played out in the public eye and it was once unthinkable that she would ever become Queen because of backlash.

The reactions to each of these romances was very different, but William and Kate's relationship evolved more slowly and privately than the others. They have adapted to royal life and forged their own paths, with Kate knowing exactly what she was in for.

In this way, it could indeed be considered more "normal" and they've strived to raise their kids with a sense of normality too. The couple do school pick-ups and drop-offs themselves and William explained on The Reluctant Traveler how he wants to take elements of his childhood and make it even better for them.

"I think it's really important that that atmosphere is created at home, you have to have that feeling of warmth, security, love that all has to be there. And that was certainly part of my childhood. My parents got divorced at 8, so that lasted a short period of time but you take that and you learn from it," he declared.

Just as we got used to dressing for the heatwave, the weather has cooled down, but not quite enough to have us reaching for jackets. Summer dresses are still a failsafe for cloudy days and the easier they are to style, the better. The Princess of Wales's Rixo polka dot dress ticks so many boxes and although she's only been seen wearing it once, it's instantly recognisable.

Kate chose this as her outfit when she took Prince George, Charlotte and Louis for their settling-in afternoon at Lambrook School in 2022. The pictures were everywhere and the Izzy dress quickly sold out in the copper and white colourway. Now it's back for 2026 and British clothing brand Rixo has nailed it with the £245 ruby red version.

Shop Kate's Polka Dot Dress

Complete The Look

It's similar but a more summery colour than the Princess's dress and still has her favourite polka dot pattern. The Izzy is a classic shirt dress, with a neat collar and buttons running down the front. The bodice is fitted to flatteringly highlight the waist and the midi-length skirt flows out in an A-line shape.

The three-quarter length sleeves have elasticated cuffs and a billowy shape. This is perfect for warm - but not scorching - weather as it gives coverage without being tight. Shirt dresses are an easy throw-on style and you can undo more buttons to make them more relaxed or button them up for a polished feel.

Kate's signature style for royal appearances is pretty smart so she wore hers with just one button undone and coordinated her shoes perfectly. The mum-of-three wore tan suede court heels with a pointed toe.

Colour matching makes an ensemble look cohesive, so it's a trick the royals use a lot. The polka dots meant she could've gone for white shoes and still had the same effect. This also applies to this year's ruby red Izzy dress and because the shade is brighter than Kate's, some people might prefer to go more neutral with their accessories.

White trainers, sandals or wedges would look great with a frock like this and would also be more relaxed for day-to-day wear. Red also looks stunning with blue denim so on cooler days or in autumn you could layer a denim jacket over the top.

The future Queen didn't need one on that sunny September day and she didn't carry a bag either, though she did wear her dainty Annoushka pearl earrings for some subtle glamour. Pearl jewellery is a great choice with polka dots as they echo each other.

We've only seen the Princess of Wales wearing her Rixo dress once so far but that could just mean she reaches for it when she's out of the public eye. A polka dot frock is an outfit in itself and the print makes a statement without being too "out there".

Kate has a lot of different spotted dresses in her collection and a lot of them are black and white or navy and white. Her copper-brown Rixo one is something a bit different and the red and white version is a fun alternative that still has the same elegant feel.

The Prince and Princess of Wales used to only share new pictures to mark their children's birthdays but this year they've started a new tradition of releasing short videos as well. All of the clips were filmed during their family holiday to Cornwall at Easter and when Prince George turned 13 on 22nd July we got another glimpse at what a private trip looks like for them.

The video shows the teenager climbing up rocks and exploring on the coast, but there was also a sweet moment of George on the beach. He can be seen bending down on the sand and gently stroking the head of their chocolate brown spaniel puppy, Otto.

It seems the Waleses didn't want to go away on a trip without their canine companions and it's an interesting choice.

Holidaying with three children is busy enough without adding two energetic dogs into the mix, but Otto and Orla were fully included in their activities. When Princess Charlotte turned 11 in May, her birthday video included footage of her on a boat and both pets were lying down calmly on the deck beside her.

So the spaniels enjoyed a beach visit and sailing, all while Otto wasn't a year old yet. This suggests that they're both well trained and it shows William and Kate really wanted the whole family to go on holiday together, as I'm sure the Middleton family would've been more than happy to dog-sit for them otherwise.

After all, Kate's parents and siblings all have their own dogs and live nearby in Berkshire. The future King and Queen probably drove or took the train down to Cornwall with George, Charlotte, Louis and the dogs which is sure to divide the crowd. Not everyone could face the idea of travelling with pets and sorting out all the logistics that come with it.

It was clearly worth it for the family and perhaps this is something they do whenever they're on holiday within the UK. In their birthday videos Prince George and Princess Charlotte certainly looked thrilled to have Otto and Orla there with them.

Since Otto was born in 2025 the family's morning routine has changed and everyone chips in to stop him chewing. During a conversation with a guest at a Garden Party earlier this year the Princess of Wales explained, "You have to keep them busy. The first thing we do in the morning is check, 'Has anyone taken Otto out?'

Despite their best efforts to keep him "busy", Prince William said in May that Otto still has the bad habit of chewing the family's possessions. The Prince of Wales revealed this when he was touring Nansledan and came across another dog, saying, "Ours chew slippers. Anything left on the floor is gone."

Otto and Orla might not get to go on all the Wales family's holidays but there is likely another one coming up for them this summer.

During the school summer break Prince William, Kate and their children often spend time at Balmoral in Scotland with the King and Queen (who have dogs of their own). In the Our Queen at Ninety documentary in 2016, Princess Eugenie previously described how pets were always part of the royals' holidays there.

"Walks, picnics, dogs – a lot of dogs, there's always dogs – and people coming in and out all the time. It's a lovely base for Granny and Grandpa, for us to come and see them up there," she said.

The Princess of Wales has talked about plenty of her hobbies in the past, from hockey to cold water swimming, but whilst receiving cancer treatment she turned to something else. Kate visited The Christie NHS Foundation Trust in June and confessed to patients and staff that she struggled to even read a book during her chemotherapy.

"I don't know about you, but I didn't really have the ability to read or focus on anything," she said in a moment that's captured in a recently resurfaced video. "And actually colouring was my way of exploring interesting things."

The Princess loved "being able to do something that didn't require an end product or an end finished piece". As per Hello!, colouring was "just a way of playing and losing yourself" and she explained how "lots of thoughts came up in that process."

We don't know exactly what colouring Kate was doing, though her comments about it not requiring an "end product" suggests it was quite simple. She could've bought an adult colouring book and not put pressure on herself to complete each picture.

This seems quite likely, particularly since Prince William once told illustrator Johanna Basford about his wife enjoying her colouring books.

In 2020 Johanna posted a throwback of her and the future King when she was being awarded her OBE and shared, "He told me his wife likes my books. She colours. Kate is one of us! Now this makes perfect sense. Why wouldn't she? A busy mum with what I imagine is a lot of stress, trying to raise and protect a family."

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This was long before the Princess was diagnosed with cancer, but it seems she already knew about colouring. Adult colouring books are a great way to occupy your mind and some people credit them with helping with their anxiety and mindfulness.

Colouring clearly helped Kate with "losing herself" in an activity and it's very different to the artwork she normally does. She did a History of Art degree and we've seen her sketches before, including the picture of St Andrews she did whilst studying there.

Even though she found it hard to "focus", finding another creative outlet during treatment was important for her. In an Instagram post after her visit to The Christie, the future Queen said that meeting patients, families and staff there was a "powerful reminder that healing is about so much more than treatment alone".

"A cancer diagnosis affects every part of life, in mind, body and the deeper part of ourselves" she said, adding, "The Christie's commitment to holistic care, from art therapy and wellbeing spaces to emotional and spiritual support, helps people navigate not only illness, but the profound impact it can have on quality of life."

Art means a lot to her and author Tina Brown claimed in The Palace Papers that Kate used to visit London's galleries and museums around 8am to "nourish her inner life".

Once, when she was recognised by a member of the public at a David Hockney exhibition at the Royal Academy, Kate apparently replied, "I miss my history of art. It's what I do to get my fix."

We've all been reaching for breezy pieces like summer dresses and sandals throughout the height of the heatwave but now it's slightly cooler, our staples can shift slightly too. Breathable fabrics and relaxed silhouettes are still key and the Princess of Wales's flowy white trousers are a great alternative to jeans or shorts.

She wore them in Belize during her and Prince William's Caribbean visit in 2022 paired with a blood-orange toned jacket. Like a lot of Kate's conic items, the trousers were by British clothing brand, Alexander McQueen, and they were high-waisted and wide-leg.

The future Queen loves skinny jeans but when it comes to tailored trousers she reaches for wide-leg and flared-leg styles the most. I can't blame her, as these silhouettes are some of the most comfortable to wear.

Recreate Kate's Outfit

They're loose on the leg which is particularly lovely when it's hot outside and the draped shape looks so elegant. If you're not someone who loves shorts, billowy trousers offer extra leg coverage whilst still being quite light.

Kate's trousers were clearly made from a more crisp material, though I'd recommend linen or cotton pairs for summer. They're naturally very breathable and they're a bit more relaxed than crepe or satin for example.

This means you can wear your white trousers with casual tops and accessories without it looking like too much of a clash of styles. The Princess of Wales wanted to dress more formally in Belize, as she and Prince William were officially leaving the country to head to Jamaica to continue their visit.

She opted for a utility jacket from Yves Saint Laurent with a notched lapel collar and plenty of pockets, as well as a belt to accentuate the waist. The colour was what really made this outfit memorable, as it was a gorgeous red-orange that contrasted strikingly against her trousers.

If you're missing white trousers in your summer capsule wardrobe, their versatility is what makes them worth picking up. Because they're neutral, you can style them with any other shade and be confident that your ensemble will work.

Kate's jacket looked stunning with her trousers and she left it draped over her waistband. You could also recreate this look with a top rather than a jacket and to make everything slightly more elevated, I'd advise tucking it in.

Alternatively, leave it loose and add some white trainers or flats for a more breezy, off duty feel. The Princess finished off her outfit with white court heels, pearl drop earrings and her dainty white Mulberry Amberley bag.

She's worn this publicly loads of times, including once with the same white trousers and another occasion with an orange-red coat dress. Kate clearly likes these tones together and you can't deny they're a striking duo, especially for sunny summer weather.

The Prince and Princess of Wales knew before Prince George was born in July 2013 that their experience of parenthood was going to be different to most. They introduced their baby son to the world on the steps outside St Mary's Hospital and Kate has admitted that she and William had "tried to practice" a difficult moment.

The Prince of Wales took charge of strapping little George into his car seat and securing him safety in the family's vehicle. Doing this with the eyes of the world's media upon him wasn't easy and on the Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast, Kate described using a doll to prepare for it.

"We were like 'What do we do?... in a swaddle?'. 'How's this supposed to work?!'" she told host Giovanna Fletcher in 2020. "We even tried to practice with a little baby, like a little doll, at home".

She admitted "it just never works out the way you planned it so it was quite hard to do that on the world's stage" but added that her husband "did a very good job". By that point the new mum was "keen to get home" with George and William, so she was likely relieved it went so well.

The Princess talked openly about how she had "all the memories of being in hospital because of being sick" when she suffered with Hyperemesis Gravidarum during her pregnancy. She didn't want to "hang around" there and "was really desperate to get home and get back to normality."

Even so, she knew that being at home could be a challenge too. Kate explained she's heard stories from mothers who "took their child out of the car seat and put it on the sofa and didn't want to touch it" because they were so worried about accidentally doing the "wrong thing".

After returning home with her husband and son, the Princess of Wales didn't make a public appearance for another month whilst they spent time as a family and adjusting to parenthood. Unusually for a future Queen, Kate didn't have a full-time nanny at first.

The way she and William confirmed Prince George's birth was also very different too. He was born third in the royal line of succession and the new mum apparently "insisted, with her husband's backing, that the Palace wait four hours" before making the announcement.

According to royal author Christopher Andersen in his book, Kate! The Courage, Grace, and Power of the Woman Who Will Be Queen, this was "so that they could savour the moment in private 'as any young family would.'"

A royal press release was shared that evening and a formal notice of George's birth was also displayed in the forecourt of Buckingham Palace. The first official pictures of Prince George were taken in the garden of the Middleton family home in Berkshire by the Princess of Wales's father Michael.

This could be seen as another way that the Waleses were doing things differently and trying to have more privacy in this special time. A family friend previously claimed to the Daily Mail that Michael proposed the idea and wanted to "organize a stress-free photoshoot" and "save them the bother of getting in a photographer".

"It meant the nervous new parents could stop any time they wanted," they alleged.

The Princess of Wales loves wearing bright colours, especially in the summer, but one of my favourite seasonal outfits she's worn is actually monochrome. July is when the Royal Charity Polo Cup is usually played and Kate's black and white dress from the event in 2022 proved how keeping your style simple can be very striking.

This piece was by one of her go-to British clothing brands, Emilia Wickstead, and it was sleeveless and midi-length. The black piping accentuated the subtle fit-and-flare silhouette in such a flattering way and although you can't get this exact dress anymore, I couldn't believe my luck when I came across a similar style at ME+EM.

Recreate Kate's Polo Outfit

The Princess loves them for classic staples and this year they're selling a monochrome midi dress that is perfect if you want to recreate her polo style. Better yet, it's just gone into the ME+EM sale and is currently 30% off, down to £175 from £250.

The dress is made from a linen and viscose blend material which is designed to minimise creasing. This is a bonus in my book, as who really wants to be ironing in this weather? Linen is also great to wear in the heat as the natural fibres are so breathable.

The black tipping on the ME+EM frock has a slightly different shape compared to Kate's 2022 dress but this detailing still highlights your frame. It's sleeveless but not strappy or overly revealing and the high round neckline adds an elegant feel.

Because it's monochrome like the Princess's Emilia Wickstead dress, you can accessorise it so easily. To make it more casual, pair it with white trainers, sandals or ballet flats and for an elevated evening look you can go for heels or wedges instead.

Keeping to a minimal colour palette makes an ensemble extra cohesive and polished, though I think a pop of red would look fabulous with this dress. Kate took a different approach and styled hers with beige and black slingback flats from Camilla Elphick.

No matter the heel height, slingbacks are the future Queen's favourite summer shoe style and she's worn these ones a lot for different appearances. The black toe cap coordinated with the piping on the bodice and skirt whilst the beige tone brought some contrast.

Kate completed her outfit with her Sézane resin hoops and a pair of tortoiseshell brown sunglasses. She recently wore the same earrings with a black and white gingham Temperley London frock at this year's charity polo cup and mixing in warm-toned browns with monochrome hues can soften things beautifully.

Each of these dresses have only been seen publicly once, but the charity polo cup isn't an official engagement for the Princess of Wales. This means the event is a good opportunity for her to enjoy wearing more everyday pieces and I'd imagine Kate has reached for both of these a lot in her day-to-day life when it's hot.

Comfortable sandals and flipflops are great for a heatwave but the Princess of Wales's go-to shoes right now are more elegant and work beautifully with summer dresses. Kate reaches for her slingbacks more anything else when it's sunny and she owns both flat and heeled versions.

Unlike court heels which can feel a bit formal for everyday wear, slingbacks are more understated and chic no matter the heel height. The Princess tends to wear hers during visits that are more smart-casual, like when she went to watch Prince William compete in the DMMI Royal Charity Polo Cup 2026 on 10th July.

She styled a gingham midi dress with beige-pink Camilla Elphick slingbacks and added statement brown resin Sezane earrings for a modern touch. The frock made such a statement that neutral shoes were the perfect choice to balance things out.

Shop Slingback Flats

Shop Slingback Heels

These Lucia heels are pointed and have a patent toecap for a touch of contrast. The buckle means the Princess of Wales could secure them as tightly or loosely as she liked for the sweltering weather and the angled heel was mid-height.

Kate also has these exact shoes in black and had worn them to visit Evelina's Children's Hospital just a few days before. On that occasion her entire outfit was monochrome and the black heels tied everything together. Her slingback collection is primarily either black or beige and her favourite flats feature both tones in one design.

At the polo in 2022, Kate styled Camilla Elphick toe cap slingbacks with a white and black sleeveless dress and a month later re-wore them with a white tailored suit. White seems to be her preferred colour to go with these flats as she wore this tone with them again in Italy in May.

The Princess also owns Gianvito Rossi beige suede slingback heels which have been her choice for Wimbledon a lot. If you're looking to add some sleek new shoes to your summer capsule wardrobe it makes sense to copy the Princess and stick to colours that are easy to incorporate into a range of outfits.

As she's proved, slingbacks look especially stunning with dresses and they are great if you want a leg-elongating effect too. Strappy sandals and heels can cut off your frame at a tricky point but since slingbacks fasten at the back you've essentially got the openness of a mule with extra security.

All of the future Queen's slingbacks have a buckle on the strap, though you can get designs with elasticated straps instead if you find that comfier.

Slingback flats like Kate's beige and black shoes are always going to be more relaxed than heels and yet they're a step up from most flat sandals or even ballet flats. Pointed or chisel toes enhance their elegance and heeled slingbacks are sleeker compared to court shoes or wedges.

The Princess of Wales is getting to wear all her different slingbacks during the hot weather and the black heels are her latest purchase. The others have been in her wardrobe for a long time so you know that Kate finds them comfortable, versatile and timeless.

Prince Louis has yet to make his Wimbledon debut alongside his family, but the Prince and Princess of Wales's youngest child is just as passionate about tennis as the rest of them. At this year’s Men’s Final, the Princess was joined by William and their two oldest children, George and Charlotte.

Eight-year-old Louis didn’t join - likely as London is experiencing soaring temperatures that could prove tricky for the youngster. But Kate reportedly revealed that her son has ambitions of taking on a special Wimbledon job.

As reported in The Standard, ball girl Jenna Fontanilla shared, "[The Princess of Wales] told me about how Louis was asking her about how to become a ball boy, and we were talking about how much hard work it is to be on court and how we work alongside the ball kids, and it’s just so lovely."

So it seems we might potentially see Prince Louis out on the Wimbledon court itself rather than in the Royal Box in the future.

Speaking about what it was like meeting Kate, Jenna added, "She’s so genuine. It felt so easy. I thought I was going to be really nervous, but she made it so easy. The conversation was very natural."

Kate's love of tennis is well-known and she's even received praise for her skills on the court from eight-time Wimbledon champion Roger Federer. The two have played a few rounds together before and it seems Louis has definitely inherited her passion for the sport just like George and Charlotte.

In 2023, an official who runs youth programs at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club told PA News that Kate said Louis was "very upset he wasn’t coming" to the final along with his older siblings. The Princess reportedly added, "It's Charlotte's first time, George came last year. They've been eagerly watching".

That same year, a teen Wimbledon ball boy named Joel also told the Press Association that Louis had already begun practicing to become a ball boy.

She told the young ball boy that Louis "tries to practice the standing and staying serious like us... He tries to practice the stands and how we stand at the back of the court and next to the players."

Both Prince George and Princess Charlotte were the age Louis is now when they first joined their parents in the Royal Box. Even though he wasn't there this year, Prince Louis does still get to attend plenty of major events with his family.

He's become a highlight at the annual Trooping the Colour parade, often delighting fans with his cheeky reactions and excitement at the fly-past. Prince Louis was also present at Queen Elizabeth's 2022 Platinum Jubilee festivities and King Charles's 2023 coronation.

We rarely get to see the Princess of Wales truly off duty and although I love both her Wimbledon final outfits this year, her polo look from a few days earlier has to be my favourite. She’s attended the Royal Charity Polo Cup before and because these aren’t official appearances, Kate can enjoy wearing something a little more relaxed.

Like us, she relies on summer dresses in hot weather and went to watch Prince William compete wearing a black and white gingham frock by British clothing brand, Temperley London. It’s the first time the Princess has worn it publicly but since it’s past season, this is surely a piece she’s had for a while as part of her "everyday" wardrobe.

Falling to just above the ankles, it had an A-line skirt that skims the legs. This keeps the silhouette sleeker and more low-key compared to voluminous skater dress shapes which are very feminine and can feel a bit too formal.

Recreate The Princess of Wales's Polo Outfit

Unusually for Kate, this Temperley design had straps rather than sleeves and a square neckline. Although spaghetti straps are lovely to wear in the heat, thicker styles are naturally better for concealing bra straps. The future Queen’s dress was made from a black and white gingham material and the checked motifs were bold and large.

Gingham is one of those patterns that is especially popular in summer and conjures up images of picnic blankets - in the chicest way. The jumbo gingham trend has been huge for 2026 and monochrome colours are striking and yet still quite classic. Navy and white is another timeless option, but you can also go for pastels for a softer look.

"Much like florals scream spring, gingham is the perfect print for summer. Larger squares like Kate is wearing feel like the grown-up way to wear this trend, and in a classic colour like black and white, you can't go wrong," says woman&home Digital Fashion Ecommerce Editor Caroline Parr.

She adds, "I love the square neckline of her Temperley dress, plus the belted waist and flared skirt are super flattering. With such a statement print, keep accessories minimal and pared-back to allow the gingham to do all the talking."

Kate accessorised hers with her go-to summer shoe style - slingbacks. She’s worn Camilla Elphick flats to the polo before and this time she opted for heels.

Slingbacks usually have either a buckled strap or elastication in the strap to keep them secure on your feet and they’re a bit less restrictive and covered than court shoes. The Princess’s pair had pointed toes and were a subtle beige-pink tone that didn’t pull focus from the dress.

Her earrings were brown resin Sézane hoops and she added two cuff bracelets and Ralph Lauren sunglasses. This year Kate didn’t appear to bring a bag with her, though a white or black design would’ve both looked so cohesive with the gingham frock.

Although this probably isn’t exactly how the Princess dresses in her everyday life it’s a lot closer than we usually get. She was off-duty at the polo, happily holding hands with Prince William and giving him a kiss on the cheek.

The match raised more than £1 million to support the vital work of several charities that make a lasting difference around the UK and world, and which are close to William and Kate's hearts. These include Wales Air Ambulance, Evelina London Children’s Hospital and The Passage.

The Princess of Wales has gone through a lot in recent years and after recovering from cancer she chose to set herself a huge personal challenge to "give something back". Last month Kate completed the National Three Peaks Challenge, climbing the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales in a 24-hour period.

This isn't for the faint-hearted and when she attended Wimbledon a few days later, the Princess confessed what really got her through it. In a Royal Special of their Overheard at Wimbledon series, the club posted a conversation between Kate and retired British tennis star Tim Henman.

"Everyone's been so generous," she told him. "That's what keeps you going; it's when you know you're doing it for a good cause - it keeps you going through the harder times."

There will have been plenty of tough moments throughout the hikes and the car journeys between countries. Knowing that her efforts would be making a real difference was a big comfort to the Princess, who was "blown away" by the amount of money donated to The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.

She became their Patron in 2025 and received her own cancer treatment at The Royal Marsden Hospital. It makes sense that it would've been easier to get through the "harder times" when she remembered the human aspect - the people backing her, the people who helped her and the people the donations would go on to support too.

Alongside the physical and mental aspects of the Three Peaks Challenge, Kate also had to battle some horrendous weather. The UK has basked in intense sunshine for weeks but the conditions that high up were very different.

The future Queen was heard describing the "atrocious" rain and said that all the people climbing at the time got "soaked through". Despite this, they all rallied and drew on the British spirit. She explained, "It was a very sort of stoically British thing to do. You know, you're soaking wet, and everyone's going, 'Come on, we can do it.'"

It was important for Kate to try to "enjoy the process", from the training to "making time during the walk to meet people and enjoy the journey". It wasn't just about "quickly getting to the top".

When she completed the challenge the Princess was given a hero's welcome at the bottom of Mount Snowdon by Prince William, George, Charlotte, Louis, her brother James and parents Carole and Michael.

Although it was the "good cause" that kept her going during the challenge, it was the support and love of her family that got her through her treatment.

Prince William was given a special shout-out by his wife in the video where she first made her diagnosis public. Kate declared, "Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance."

Meanwhile, a friend claimed in Russell Myers' book, William & Catherine, that, "[K]eeping the children entertained and occupied, being constantly sanguine even when he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, allowing her to concentrate on her treatment and recovery, is something she will be eternally grateful for."

The Princess of Wales has rarely missed Wimbledon since becoming a senior royal and that included the championships in 2024. She was still undergoing cancer treatment at the time and had only made one other public appearance that year, making her attendance at the Men's Singles Final even more significant.

Kate was visibly moved by the delighted reaction from the crowd as she took her seat with Princess Charlotte and Pippa Middleton. This was Charlotte's second ever trip to Wimbledon and it was reportedly a special "treat" her mum had committed too.

"It was a long-held promise that Kate would take Charlotte to the finals as a special treat," royal expert and author Ingrid Seward previously claimed to The Sun. "Kate felt guilty she hadn't been able to spend as much time as she would have liked to be with the kids because of her exhaustion after her treatment."

Ingrid added, "It is a super special day for Kate to be able to share it with Charlotte and much more fun for her to have Charlotte there and explain to her the details of what is going on.”

It's so special to think that the Princess of Wales might've planned particular outings with her children so she could catch up on some quality time with them. Charlotte is also a big tennis fan and although Prince George has often gone to Wimbledon before, this time Kate clearly wanted it to be a mum and daughter day.

Balancing cancer treatment with being a hands-on mum wouldn't have been easy and a friend claimed in Russell Myers' William & Catherine that she and William "shared what information they deemed appropriate at the right times with the children".

"What Catherine was able to do was really centre in on what was important to her," they added. "Which was being around her family, and her loved ones, and concentrating on the little moments".

The Princess of Wales fulfilled her Wimbledon promise to Charlotte and went to the final, even though the day might have been tiring too. According to author of Kate!, Christopher Andersen, she reportedly confessed after Trooping the Colour a few weeks earlier - "Unless they've been through it…people don't realise how much chemo takes out of you."

Just over two years later, Kate completed the National Three Peaks Challenge - climbing the highest peaks in England, Wales and Scotland - as a "chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back".

She raised money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and was welcomed by her husband, children, parents and brother at the end. The Prince and Princess of Wales shared a series of sweet family snaps, including one of Kate hugging her daughter.

She looked like she was wearing a woven bracelet, possibly made by friendship bracelet-maker Charlotte and mother and daughter could soon enjoy another memorable moment together.

Last year Prince William, Kate, George and Charlotte all attended the Wimbledon Men's Final and I'm sure the children would jump at the chance to go again this year.

On descending Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon) after completing the Three Peaks Challenge, Catherine, Princess of Wales, was met by Prince William, their three children, and her parents. She completed the hike with her brother. It was a moment captured by photographers and recently shared on the couple's social media pages.

The Three Peaks Challenge is a 24-hour event where participants must climb the three highest points in England (Scafell Pike), Scotland (Ben Nevis), and Wales (Snowdon), travelling between the mountains. The time limit makes it a real physical and mental task, as participants are often left with limited time to sleep and rest between climbs.

On her wrist, Kate wore the Apple Watch Series 11, the brand's latest. Featuring a 24-hour battery life, accurate and insightful workout data, and strong GPS with the cellular model, it's a reliable option for the Princess of Wales, who would have logged at least 50,000 steps on the Challenge.

In total, the distance is 37 kilometres (23 miles) with more than 10,000 feet of climbing, and about 460 miles of driving between the mountains. Based on average stride length, height, and pace, the future Queen would have tracked 50,000 to 65,000 steps over just one day and night. Luckily, she also had some good Scarpa walking shoes on.

The Apple Watch Series 11 is one of the best fitness trackers today. After starting a Hiking workout, the watch displays live workout data, so Kate would have been able to see how many steps she was taking, the distance she was covering, elevation, speed, and her precise location at every step along the way.

When the climb was over, she would have seen an overview of each hike, revealing the total distance, step count, average speed, and elevation, and she would have been able to see how these efforts impacted her body via the Training Load feature.

At night, Kate would have been able to see how well she slept (if only for a few hours) while wearing the watch, with sensors recording how long she slept for, her various stages of sleep (REM, deep, and light) and how well she slept, rounded up into a Sleep Score.

The watch can also play back music through exercise headphones, make and receive phone calls and texts, and take pictures remotely, all of which come in handy when you're taking on such an adventure.

The Apple Watch Series 11 also has new sharing features, so should she have wanted to, the Princess of Wales could have sent her live location from the watch to family members, who could have tracked her along the way.

Lightweight and ultra-thin, this Apple Watch also has the brightest screen to date, with a new scratch-resistant layer over the top to protect against bumps and bashes while walking or hiking.

Many hikers complete the Three Peaks Challenge for charity, and Kate was no different. Earlier this week, she posted to Instagram from atop one of the climbs, revealing that she was raising money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, an effort you can still donate to today.

She said: "Cancer doesn’t just affect the body. It changes how you think and feel and profoundly affects every aspect of life. I know this personally, and that the journey through and beyond treatment requires more than medicine alone.

"I have taken on the National Three Peaks Challenge, not simply as a physical endeavour but as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back. The Royal Marsden is a place that holds great meaning for me and whose care and expertise are life changing for so many people."

When it comes to choosing a good pair of walking shoes, comfort, durability and waterproofing are the three most important features - especially in unpredictable British weather. It's something that Catherine, Princess of Wales, would have greatly appreciated during her recent expedition.

The future Queen took on the Three Peaks Challenge, a long-distance hiking event across the highest points in Scotland, England, and Wales. She climbed three mountains one after the other (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon)), within a 24-hour time limit. It's a feat of physical and mental strength, as participants also have to travel between the mountains, leaving them with little sleep and few rest stops.

For the challenge, the Princess of Wales wore Scarpa's Terra GTX walking boots. This Italian family-owned brand has been making reliable, supportive hiking gear for almost 100 years.

While these boots may look old-school compared to the likes of Hoka's Anacapa 2 or Merrell's Moab Speed 2, they have the same GORE-TEX waterproof membrane under the nubuck leather upper that keeps feet dry.

The Scarpa Terra GTX are ergonomic, designed for comfort as well as support. They have a cushioned ankle cuff and platform in the sole, and a slightly wider toe box than other shoes, which can help to reduce pressure on points around the ankles, feet, and toes, making for a more comfortable ride.

Thick lugs on the bottom of the Vibram outsoles have a particular tread pattern that would have kept Kate feeling stable on rocky and muddy mountainsides, both on the way up and down.

Many people do the Three Peaks Challenge to raise money for charity, and the Princess of Wales was no different. She raised money for Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, and you can still donate to her effort today.

"I have taken on the National Three Peaks Challenge, not simply as a physical endeavour but as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back. The Royal Marsden is a place that holds great meaning for me and whose care and expertise are life-changing for so many people," she wrote in an earlier Instagram post.

"Healing, whether personal or collective, is not just about fixing what is wrong. It is about finding balance in how we live. Between effort and acceptance, between control and trust, between thinking and simply being. Because in the end, bravery isn’t just about pushing forward. It is about knowing how to stay grounded, connected and present, no matter the terrain or landscape you are walking."

Shop Kate's hiking wardrobe

The Princess of Wales couldn't have gone through her cancer treatment and recovery without the support of her family and they were all there to congratulate her as she completed the National Three Peaks Challenge on 28th June. She raised money for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and wore what was likely a special tribute to her daughter Princess Charlotte.

In pictures shared after Kate finished this monumental challenge of climbing Scotland, England and Wales' highest peaks, you can see the turquoise bracelet on her left wrist. A lot of her jewellery is meaningful and this looks like a woven friendship bracelet.

Eleven-year-old Charlotte is known for crafting these for her loved ones and it's possible that she made this turquoise one and Kate decided to wear the special gift.

Charlotte first got into making friendship bracelets when she, George and Prince William attended a Taylor Swift concert in June 2024. A few months later William was seen sporting a blue and white bead bracelet with 'Papa' on it and he revealed it was from his daughter.

He promised to wear it on his trip to South Africa for the Earthshot Prize and said he'd "try not to lose it". King Charles has also worn several woven friendship bracelets in recent years, including to Trooping the Colour in June where they stood out against his military uniform.

Whilst we don't know for sure that Princess Charlotte made his, it's a fair guess that she did. It would explain why His Majesty kept them on for his birthday parade, even though they didn't quite complement the formality of the occasion.

If the Princess of Wales's woven bracelet was also from her daughter, then it's so heart-warming she wanted to have it with her as she finished the Three Peaks Challenge in Wales. It would've been a little piece of Charlotte she carried with her and you can see it most clearly in the picture of mother and daughter hugging tightly afterwards.

Even if it wasn't made by Charlotte, it's still a similar style to the ones the eleven-year-old makes and loves. Kate also wore her birthstone garnet Spells of Love drop earrings and her wedding ring stack, including what looks to be the diamond eternity band William reportedly gave her after Prince George's birth.

All three of her children, her husband, her parents Michael and Carole and brother James were there when she completed the challenge. When his sister was diagnosed with cancer, James posted that, "Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too".

Now, a year after announcing she was in remission, Kate has conquered three literal mountains as well. She took on the Three Peaks challenge to raise money and "to raise awareness for the deeper impact of serious illness and the importance of holistic healthcare".

"Healing, whether personal or collective, is not just about fixing what is wrong," the Princess declared. "It is about finding balance in how we live. Between effort and acceptance, between control and trust, between thinking and simply being. Because in the end, bravery isn't just about pushing forward. It is about knowing how to stay grounded, connected and present, no matter the terrain or landscape you are walking."

We knew we were likely to see her at the finals of Wimbledon, but the Princess of Wales paid a surprise visit to the Championships on day four, where she met fans queuing to get in, and of course, sat courtside to watch the tennis.

We know how much Kate Middleton loves a trouser suit, and today she debuted a new addition to her ever-growing collection. It's a sapphire blue linen-blend blazer and matching trousers by Gabriela Hearst, which she paired with a high street top from H&M and the £170 'Stella' earrings by Carousel Jewels. Both her tan heels and tortoiseshell sunglasses were by Ralph Lauren, and she carried her Anya Hindmarch woven tote.

Not only did the colour match Kate's iconic engagement ring, but the linen-blend fabric was also perfect for looking polished on a hot summer's day. The double-breasted fit of the blazer and the wide-leg cut of the trousers is incredibly flattering, so I hope this suit becomes a new favourite in her royal engagement wardrobe.

I was surprised by how easy it is to recreate this look on the high street, too - just head to Jigsaw or Next.

Recreate Kate's style

woman&home's Fashion Channel Editor Rivkie Baum agrees this look is a stellar choice for a trip to Wimbledon. She told me: "While many spectators have opted for Wimbledon whites, and zesty green hues, Kate Middleton took an entirely different approach for her first 2026, SW19 appearance.

"Selecting a dazzling, sky blue trouser suit by Gabriela Hearst and a high street hero top from H&M, the colour ensured the Princess of Wales stood out from the crowd, whilst subtly nodding to current fashion colour trends. Comfortable for long bouts of sitting, her wide-leg trousers were an excellent choice for appearing courtside, while the blazer offered just the right amount of warmth for a balmy summer's day."

Catherine, Princess of Wales wasn’t alone when she completed her impressive Three Peaks challenge - climbing the highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales over a 24 hour period - she had her brother right by her side.

In new footage shared on social media, per Hello, the Princess is seen holding hands with James Middleton as they make their way down Yr Wyddfa (Mount Snowdon).

James being there for his sister’s impressive achievement goes beyond a brotherly helping hand - it speaks to their unbreakable bond and the moving promise he made to his sister when she was diagnosed with cancer.

In March 2024, shortly after Catherine publicly announced she was dealing with cancer treatment, James posted a photo of the pair when they were younger. In his protective and emotive caption, he wrote, “Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too”.

And he kept that promise - quite literally - supporting the future Queen as they trekked down the Welsh mountain, hand-in-hand. It was also reported that she had further support waiting for her at the bottom.

Michael and Carole Middleton, were waiting to cheer on their daughter - and, as it turns out, their son as well - as she descended Snowdon, and Prince William brought the couple’s three children - Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis - to celebrate mum’s milestone.

Dressed down in a pair of red North Face shorts, a sporty cap, and a rucksack, there have been stories that many hikers almost didn't recognise the Princess. Indeed, one young boy who has been paralysed since he was three told ITV's This Morning that he didn't know who she was after she had struck up conversation with him.

Ted Haslam and a group of friends and family were climbing Britain's highest peak when Catherine came across them. Immediately showing her maternal side and checking he wasn't too cold, Ted told This Morning that the Princess remembered him after he had met Prince William and Prince George at an Aston Villa game.

He said, "The funny thing was that she realised who I was, but I didn't realise who she was" with his dad offering, "It took a while for the penny to drop" and praised the Princess for just getting on with it like "any other hiker".

Without any show or artifice, the Princess only kept one touch of regal glamour on her as she took on the 23-mile challenge in a bid to raise awareness for cancer treatments - her engagement ring.

When Catherine shared her post revealing she’d taken on the challenge, her iconic sapphire engagement ring stood out against the grey, drizzly mountains and her raincoat. It’s, arguably, not a coincidence.

The Princess could have been sending a message of just where she takes her strength from - her family. The ring has been there through her battle with cancer, and it was there as she pushed her body with this gruelling challenge.

Sharing why she’d carried out the challenge, Catherine wrote in a social media caption, “Cancer doesn’t just affect the body. It changes how you think and feel and profoundly affects every aspect of life. I know this personally, and that the journey through and beyond treatment requires more than medicine alone.

"We have an opportunity to reshape what the future of holistic cancer care looks like, enabling more people, nationwide, to access the kind of personalised support that can help make a meaningful difference during and after medical treatment.”

Catherine, Princess of Wales announced over the weekend she had completed a tough 23-mile trial - the National Three Peak Challenge - across the span of 24 hours to raise awareness for cancer treatments.

Dressed down and blending in with other hikers, Kate met a group, including Ted Haslam who has been paralysed since he was three, climbing for charity - and immediately went into mum mode, checking that he wasn't cold in the weather and striking up conversation.

Appearing on This Morning, Ted and his father explained that it was the Princess who initiated the conversation, and they almost didn't recognise her, with her cap on and hood down, and just cracking on like "any other hiker".

After meeting Ted, Catherine donated to his fundraising page and left the sweetest note, and even used a rare sign off.

The donation appeared under the name 'Catherine Wales', and her message read, "One of the real highlights of the Three Peaks Challenge was meeting inspiring people like you along the way. Huge congratulations to the entire team for raising money for such a wonderful cause. C".

Spotting them, the Princess stopped to chat, and per the reports told them, “I’m so impressed, really, you've made it to the second peak. Super well done you. We'll be cheering you on. Hopefully we'll see you on Snowdon.”

As well as rooting on the group, Princess Catherine immediately went into mum mode when she noticed they might not have dressed properly for the weather. She reportedly asked, “How are you doing, Ted? You're not too cold? So many people are still in their T-shirts! Why are they doing that?”

In a fun turn of events, Ted explained on This Morning that he'd previously met Prince William and Prince George as a fellow Aston Villa fan.

Dressed down and getting active in nature, the notoriously outdoorsy Princess was likely in her element - and other sources have come forward to say Catherine was totally relaxed and laid back, chatting away to other hikers.

Hiker Jacky Leung, per LBC and his social media, revealed that he didn’t immediately recognise it was the future Queen he was passing. Crossing paths, he said the Princess asked “Are you alright?” And he replied “I am good, just waiting for my friends.”

When it finally clicked who it was, they carried on chatting with ease. He wrote on his Instagram, ‘I believed that not many people recognised Her Royal Highness as she made her way up to the top of Ben Nevis. My friends did not notice her passing by at all. Completing the National Three Peaks Challenge in 24 hours is a serious test of grit, and Her Royal Highness showed immense strength and spirit.’

Princess Catherine shared why she had taken on the immense challenge - becoming the first royal to ever complete it.

Sharing a deeply personal message, she opened up on the changes cancer brings to someone, affecting not only your body but “how you think and feel”.

Her message read, ‘Every year, hundreds of thousands of people in this country hear the words no one wants to hear. What follows is a path that tests every part of who we are: physically, emotionally, psychologically and spiritually.

‘The challenges ripple outwards, touching families, friendships, work and the quiet moments we spend alone with our thoughts. Cancer doesn't just affect the body. It changes how you think and feel and profoundly affects every aspect of life.

‘I know this personally, and that the journey through and beyond treatment requires more than medicine alone. I have taken on the National Three Peaks Challenge, not simply as a physical endeavour but as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis and to give something back.’

Catherine is raising awareness for the work of The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, who have opened a fundraising page following her accomplishments over the weekend.

Catherine, Princess of Wales revealed that she had achieved a personal milestone - and a royal first - over the weekend, completing the National Three Peaks challenge to raise money for charity and “as a chance to explore life beyond diagnosis”.

The challenge involves climbing the three highest mountains in England, Scotland and Wales - Scafell Pike, Ben Nevis and Snowdon - and the Princess of Wales climbed all three within 24 hours after starting on Saturday evening.

After Catherine shared the post, James Middleton left two simple emojis for his sister in the comments - a mountain emoji and a red heart emoji.

While perhaps understated, James shared the exact same emojis a couple of years before when his sister first shared her diagnosis, promising to stand by her as she conquered this new mountain in her life.

Sharing the first post back in March 2024, James included a photo of him and his oldest sister as children. In a very poignant nod to Catherine’s latest Three Peaks achievement, the siblings appear to have been on a hike.

The youngsters are both dressed in sporty, outdoor clothing, wearing rucksacks and with an obvious mountain or peak in the background.

James’s sweet caption, written shortly after Catherine shared her cancer news with the world for the first time, read, "Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too", followed by the mountain and the heart emoji.

As the Princess finished the Three Peaks challenge, it has been reported that, along with William and their three children, James and his parents, Michael and Carole Middleton were all there waiting for her as she descended from Snowdon, the final peak in her challenge..

With just two emojis and turning up for her during her milestone, James is proving that he’s there for his sister as she faces all the peaks and valleys in her life, literally and figuratively.

The Princess’s incredible achievement will help raise money for the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, however, her message goes deeper. In her post, Catherine encourages everyone - affected by cancer personally or not - to think about "the deeper impact of serious illness and the importance of holistic healthcare".

She continued, "Cancer doesn’t just affect the body. It changes how you think and feel and profoundly affects every aspect of life. I know this personally, and that the journey through and beyond treatment requires more than medicine alone."

"We have an opportunity to reshape what the future of holistic cancer care looks like, enabling more people, nationwide, to access the kind of personalised support that can help make a meaningful difference during and after medical treatment."

The Princess of Wales's beach outfits are a little bit different than most people's but there's one in particular I feel is ideal for this scorching summer weather we're having. The future Queen visited Australia with Prince William in 2014 and attended a lifesaving event on Manley Beach.

A lot of people there were in swimwear, but Kate looked the epitome of elegance in a breezy Broderie Anglaise dress and wedges. Just as a little black dress is a staple for party season, a little white dress is a must for a summer capsule wardrobe.

The neutral colour makes them incredibly easy to style no matter which accessories you choose so they're very fuss-free. This is perfect when you're deciding what to wear in the heat and the Princess's Zimmermann frock was made from breezy cotton.

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Natural materials like cotton and linen are wonderfully breathable and this design fell to knee length and had a trim at the waist, down the bodice and on the sleeves and hem. The tiny Broderie cut-outs made it feel even more summery and intricate detailing like this can take a simple white dress to new heights.

It adds texture and although Kate wore her dress over a decade ago, Broderie Anglaise dresses are back in a big way for 2026. This style will never truly go out of fashion and there are so many different silhouettes and lengths to choose from, though the Princess went for something more modest for her official royal visit.

I personally love longer, flowy Broderie Anglaise frocks as the shape complements the feminine cut-outs so well.

The Princess of Wales leaned into this with her choice of shoes too and wore tan wedge sandals by Stuart Weitzman with a secure ankle strap. Walking in heels on the beach isn't for the fainthearted but Kate is a pro and she was even pictured gracefully running across the sand at one point.

If you want to recreate her outfit for a summer date night or BBQ then wedges are a lovely option and give elevation whilst still being quite sturdy compared to stilettos.

To make this kind of style more holiday-friendly, I'd recommend going for flat sandals or espadrilles instead. These are also a lot more comfortable if you're planning on a beach visit too, though the Princess looked undeniably chic in her wedges.

She carried a raffia clutch to match her woven footwear and wore gold hoop earrings with white pearl drops. Everything about this ensemble was minimal and I think this is probably why I can see this look working just as well for 2026 as it did for 2014 (perhaps with a change of shoes!)

You can also dress it up more if you wanted to, as Kate went on to re-wear this Zimmermann dress to Wimbledon that year. She opted for the same pearl earrings but switched out wedges for neutral court shoes and added some classic sunglasses.

Even in a heatwave the Princess of Wales's outfits are always super elegant, so finding ways to keep cool and still look polished is a must for her. During Wimbledon the weather is often as scorching as it is right now and last year Kate reached for two items to help her out as she enjoyed the tennis.

She paired her gorgeous cobalt blue Roksanda dress with a floppy wide-brimmed sunhat from LK Bennett and a paddle fan. Whether you're ordering last-minute sunhats to beat the heat or already have one in your summer capsule wardrobe, something like hers is stylish and practical.

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Sadly, LK Bennett has now closed but there are always so many options out there and the Princess was clever in choosing a light neutral design. White or tan hats will go with everything and are a softer contrast against most colours than a dark tone like black or navy.

This means you don't have to worry too much about whether your outfit goes with your hat and can confidently mix and match this summer accessory with different looks. Fedoras are popular, though wide-brimmed hats like Kate's shade your face from the sun more which is good news for your skin and your overall temperature too.

She's worn this LK Bennett piece to Wimbledon in 2022 too, this time paired with the sunshine yellow Roksanda dress she recently brought back for Ascot. Once again, the hat fitted in seamlessly and gave her some crucial sun protection.

Her hat wasn't the only item that came into play on Wimbledon's Centre Court last year, though. We also saw the future Queen and her daughter Princess Charlotte both getting a lot of use out of some Wimbledon-branded paddle fans.

Handheld fans just aren't the Royal Family's style and it would've been surprising to see Kate in her timeless outfit using a very modern item like this - even if products like the Dyson HushJet Mini Cool Fan has got woman&home Homes Ecommerce Writer Laura Honey's seal of approval.

If you're not a fan of mechanical fans while you're out and about, the Princess's paddle fan could be the answer and these are also incredibly affordable. The Wimbledon one looks perfect for a day at the tennis, though I'd probably opt for a plain neutral fan that is big enough to make a difference but dainty enough to fit in my handbag.

They come in so many different colours and materials so there's plenty of choice and unlike handheld fans, they don't have to be charged. Something about the concertina shape also looks so chic and the Princess of Wales was serene as she kept herself cool at Wimbledon.

It's rare that we see her using any kind of cooling device so it was clearly very toasty that day. The rest of the time Kate relies on breathable fabrics and floaty silhouettes instead and although these are also brilliant to wear in the heat, sometimes even if the royals need a little additional help to remain cool, calm and collected.

When it's boiling hot the last thing you want is for your shoes to rub and I find sandals can be terrible for this so I often reach for white trainers instead. They might not scream summer in the same way but they're a versatile footwear option that can easily be worn with seasonal outfits.

The Princess of Wales's favourite pair are her Superga Cotu classics and she's styled them multiple times with shorts. Perhaps the chicest way we've seen her wear them was with her white linen-blend shorts for a visit to Plymouth in 2022.

Kate's Supergas are far more streamlined than sports trainers, with a plimsoll-esque design and breathable canvas uppers. There's minimal branding on them and this helps increase their wearability.

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Plain white trainers aren't as fun as bright colours or patterns but they go with a whole lot more and this makes them such a great piece for your summer capsule wardrobe. They've made their way into woman&home Fashion Writer Molly Smith's collection and in her Superga Cotu Classics review she explains they're brilliant for all-day wear.

"They may not be super cushioned but they're reliable, and definitely suitable for all-day wear," she says. "They are supportive without being chunky, and fitted but not too tight because of the canvas material, making them my new go-to staple."

If you want a pair that feels more elegant than athletic then something like the Princess of Wales's Supergas would work so well as they're sleek rather than chunky and cushioned for high impact sport.

This means they're not too much of a style contrast if you're wearing a flowy dress or skirt with them. Alternatively you can copy the Princess of Wales's approach and pair your canvas plimsoll trainers with shorts.

Linen and cotton are perfect materials to wear in the heat and Kate's Holland Cooper shorts are linen-blend and high-rise, with glimmering gold buttons. The crisp, structured shape of tailored designs makes them an elevated alternative to denim and white shorts, like white trainers, go with pretty much anything.

Coordinating your shoes to your outfit is a failsafe way to add a level of cohesion to an outfit too, though the future Queen has also worn her Supergas with green chino shorts in The Bahamas.

We've also seen her choose them for a day at Chelsea Flower Show in 2019. On this occasion Kate paired them with camel culottes, a Broderie Anglaise blouse and her Monica Vinader green onyx drop earrings. This outing called for a slightly smarter look than she wore for sailing, yet the white trainers still complemented her chic clothing.

Cotton canvas uppers are brilliant for warm weather and this might be why the Princess of Wales reaches for these particular trainers a lot in spring/summer when she wants to be comfortable but not overly casual.

The Princess of Wales won't be a Queen in her own right but she's learnt some valuable lessons from Queen Elizabeth that she's putting to good use. Of all the late Queen's skills and qualities, we often don't think about her aura of mystery.

The way she presented herself in public was all most people ever saw and she was an expert at keeping her true feelings to herself. Now royal biographer Catherine Mayer has suggested that the Princess of Wales has taken this smart approach too.

"She has done such a clever job of finding a way to adapt to the institution," she told Hello!'s A Right Royal Podcast. "That does not mean that I think she has it easy. [But she's done] very little speaking and almost no confessional spilling of anything about who she is. She's quite enigmatic.

Like Queen Elizabeth, Kate has cultivated an ability to connect with the public without sharing too much of her private self. She's appeared on two podcasts and in a few interviews, but that's pretty much the extent of her "confessional spilling" and she admired the Queen deeply.

Speaking on ITV's Our Queen at Ninety Kate said, "Everyone feels like they've had some quality time with Her Majesty and, also, a real personal connection and I think that's a real skill."

Earlier this year portrait artist Chris Levine told woman&home that he'd found Her Majesty hard to read at their first sitting. He declared, "She wasn't giving anything away and I realised that she'd developed a mechanism where you couldn't tell what she was thinking or feeling because she's meeting people all the time. I've never experienced it with anyone else in my life and it was really quite unnerving."

Given how many people Queen Elizabeth met every year and her diplomatic position this skill was probably very necessary and will be just as useful for Kate. With scrutiny on her at all times, there will be occasions where the Princess can't afford to let her innermost thoughts become known.

This approach also helps draw a line between her work and private life and means she doesn't risk sharing too much. Catherine Mayer's new book Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles focuses on several royals including Kate and the author praised her and Prince William for finding a way to live in relative privacy whilst being in the public eye.

In her view, this is "enormously difficult" to do and woman&home Royal Correspondent Emily Andrews claims on her Keeping Up With The Royals podcast that there is definitely a difference between her public and private personas.

"The public Catherine is quite reserved and quite formal and very warm with the kiddies…but she's not going to give you too much," Emily alleged. "The private Kate is quite different. Very warm, very friendly, and got a great sense of humour."

According to her, the Princess likes a good practical joke too, though it's unlikely members of the public will ever actually get to see this in practice.

So many of us excitedly look forward to sunny weather but now it's finally arrived, deciding what to cook when it's boiling hot outside can be a struggle. All I want to eat right now is something refreshing and light - and the Princess of Wales's go-to summer salad ticks those boxes.

We've not seen her sampling it out in public, though Kate apparently can't get enough of cooling watermelon salads. Watermelon and feta is a very popular combination (I can confirm it's delicious) and the future Queen is believed to love the contrasting flavours in this salad.

"Watermelon salads are a staple of Kate's lunches and include juicy pink watermelon mixed with avocado, onion, cucumber, and feta cheese," exercise and nutrition experts at BarBend previously claimed to Express, describing it's "the perfect mix of sweet and savoury".

Other reports in the past have also suggested that the Princess loves this summery salad as part of her healthy diet. The addition of avocado, onion and cucumber makes it a little bit different to most watermelon and feta salads you see on restaurant menus.

However, I can totally imagine the cucumber, tart onion and creamy avocado cutting through the sweetness and tanginess of the fruit and cheese which can get a bit samey if you're eating a bowl of it for a meal. Mint is the herb most often sprinkled on top of watermelon and feta salads and would also enhance the freshness.

Kate's salad would also work beautifully as a side dish for BBQ food and we know that the Royal Family are big fans of grilling. The late Prince Philip was dubbed the "master of the BBQ" by Prince Harry and Mike Tindall recently told woman&home that Zara is brilliant at it too.

A watermelon and feta salad wouldn't be the only greenery on offer at a Wales family barbecue though. During a visit to The Apricot Centre in Devon on 18th June, William opened up about everything Prince George, Charlotte and Louis are growing at home.

"He was quite impressed with our strawberries and was telling me in Norfolk his children grow strawberries, raspberries, and lettuce and have a small kitchen garden," claimed Rachel Phillips, the managing director of the organic, biodynamic regenerative farm. "He was asking me how we grew them, and we talked about how we stop our children eating them all."

Although the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children live at Forest Lodge during school terms they also still spend a lot of time at Anmer Hall in Norfolk.

Homegrown lettuce would be another yummy addition to salads and there are so many desserts you can make with berries - if George, Charlotte and Louis leave any for their parents! A spoonful of cream or a drizzle of honey over raspberries or strawberries would be great too and the Waleses have their own supply of honey on their doorstep.

Kate is a keen beekeeper and in 2021 she surprised school children during an engagement at the Natural History Museum by bringing Anmer Hall honey for them to taste.

A small amount of honey would also work wonderfully with a watermelon and feta salad and I wonder if the Princess has tried this and if she'll be whipping one up whilst the weather is so hot.

If, like me, you've been touched by cancer, the recent engagements by Catherine, Princess of Wales will have brought a tear to your eye.

One in two of us will be diagnosed with it in our lifetimes, and most of us have family or friends who have undergone this arduous journey.

Catherine, of course, is in remission from her cancer (she's never said what kind she had), which was caught in January 2024. She underwent chemotherapy, then took a period of time of rest and recovery over the past couple of years.

Now I'd say Kate is very much back!

And she has really used her personal experience to connect with people in a totally authentic and genuine way.

On a visit to The Christie hospital in Manchester she was almost overcome as she hugged Claire Lorente, 30, who had recently finished her breast cancer treatment. As Claire prepared for the symbolic action of ringing the bell to mark the moment, both women were emotional.

Her voice slightly breaking, Kate told her, 'Well done, well done you. What a journey. Well done, you've been amazing. It's tough.'

Claire was crying. She was not the only one.

Kate turned to Claire's partner Pablo, 30, and added, 'Well done. I know it's just as hard for family and loved ones.'

The princess certainly does know that. She talked about how hard it had been for her children - Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 11, and Prince Louis, eight - as well as her parents.

But, as ever with Kate, it was not about her. She stepped back and made sure the moment was all about Claire, Pablo and Enzo, their eight-month-old baby.

Later, she wrote on social media, 'Healing is about so much more than treatment alone. A cancer diagnosis affects every part of life, in mind, body and the deeper part of ourselves. Thank you for sharing your stories with me. C'

At a Cancer Research UK reception two days earlier - in a heart-print red dress - it wasn't just the celebrities she chatted to.

Yes, the pictures of her meeting Davina McCall and Ronan Keating made the front pages, but Kate sought out the clinicians, researchers and scientists who are finding new ways to fight this disease.

She was there to support the King, who is still receiving treatment for his cancer, although at a much more reduced rate than last year.

In her own quiet way, Kate brings so much comfort to so many people - a true princess of hearts.

This feature first appeared in Woman magazine. Subscribe now and get your first 6 issues for £1.

We're set for another heatwave and whilst this is good news for our social lives with lots of potential for BBQs and sunny meet-ups, it can make styling a bit trickier. Shorts are great to wear in the heat but denim options can be a bit too casual or too mini.

They're not the only option, though, and the Princess of Wales's sage green pair are a smarter alternative. As she's the future Queen we're not likely to ever see Kate reaching for denim shorts and during a visit to The Bahamas in 2022 she went to a regatta in these timeless chino shorts.

She accentuated the high-waisted design by adding a chocolate brown woven belt and they had practical pockets at the sides and neat stitched hems. The muted green colour wasn't strictly a neutral, but it wasn't far off.

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Soft khaki and olive work so well with white, black and tan, as well as with brighter colours like red or pastels like blush pink if you love ice cream shades. This makes a pair of sage green shorts like Kate's far more versatile for a summer capsule wardrobe than you might imagine.

They also make a nice change from white shorts or blue denim. For the regatta the Princess of Wales took a sportier styling approach than usual, opting for a white polo shirt and her favourite white trainers from Superga.

The coordinating top and shoes tied everything together and added a lovely amount of contrast. Chino shorts typically have a tailored feel to them so you can go quite casual with the rest of your look and still create a smart-casual outfit.

T-shirts and sandals would work well with them and you can dress chino shorts up with a shirt and ballet flats or wedges too. Belting your shorts like she did can also make a big difference, as it emphasises the waist and also makes everything feel very intentional and polished.

On cooler days, blazers and shorts are a trendy combination and chino styles tie in with the formal aesthetic in a way that denim designs don't always. Kate's shorts looked breathable and lightweight which was perfect for the rainy, hot weather in The Bahamas.

She was also clearly very comfortable in them otherwise she would definitely have gone for something else for the sailing. The Princess wore a pair of twisted gold Spells of Love hoops and her wedding rings but otherwise went jewellery-free.

Later, when it started to rain, she added a white waterproof jacket and a cap to shield her from the worst of it and swept her long hair up into a sleek ponytail. As the temperatures rise in the UK I know I'll be reaching for shorts and who knows if Kate will wear this pair at home too.

The Princess of Wales's jewellery box is filled with magnificent items and some of her most meaningful pieces were special gifts from family members. We just saw one of them for the first time so far in 2026 as Kate wore her sentimental acorn wedding earrings to the Order of the Garter Service in Windsor.

These were a present from her parents Michael and Carole and after seeing Princess Charlotte at Trooping the Colour, I can't help wondering if she might end up wearing another of Kate's wedding gifts one day soon. The Princess of Wales owns a beautiful gold chain bracelet which she was reportedly given by Queen Camilla.

It has a golden disc charm engraved with a 'C' on either side, topped with a tiny coronet and a tiny crown to make them monograms.

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The letters are thought to stand for both Catherine and Camilla and, of course, that's also Charlotte's initial too. Kate wore it a lot in the first few months after her wedding including to Wimbledon, though it hasn't been seen since 2011.

Since it likely holds a lot of sentimental value as a gift from her stepmother-in-law, the Princess probably stored it away safely. However, she's also not much of a bracelet person in general and unless she's going all-out for a big occasion like a State Banquet, the Wimbledon final or Trooping the Colour, she often skips this piece of jewellery.

It's much more rare to see her without earrings or necklaces, and her go-to styles nowadays are quite minimal compared to her 'C' bracelet. Compared to her mum Princess Charlotte is a huge bracelet fan and wore a three-strand pearl design to the monarch's birthday parade on 13th June.

It was very similar to the one the Princess of Wales was wearing, which had a diamond clasp and once belonged to Princess Diana. The eleven-year-old is also often spotted with beaded or woven friendship bracelets on her wrists and she's even rumoured to have made King Charles one.

If there's anyone that would jump at the chance to wear the 'C' bracelet surely it's Charlotte. It's not set with precious gems that could be damaged or fall out so Kate wouldn't have to worry about this piece as much as other jewellery.

The chain design could also be easily shortened to fit the young Princess if she wanted to wear it now or in her teenage years. I can't imagine Queen Camilla would mind and she might actually love to see the next generation wearing this special wedding gift.

She and Charlotte share a passion for ballet and Her Majesty was spotted making a reassuring gesture to her step-granddaughter at the Coronation Concert in 2023.

Princess Charlotte did the traditional curtsy to King Charles and then seemed to forget to do this for Queen Camilla. The Queen reached out and placed a hand on Charlotte's shoulder, smiled and said hello, which people have viewed as her way of making her feel ok about the faux pas.

As Princess Charlotte grows up she'll have many more pieces of royal jewellery she could possibly borrow for big events but I'd love to see her starting to wear a few more items here and there that are meaningful, though not priceless.

The Princess of Wales and her mother Carole Middleton both put their best fashion foot forward as they attended 2026 Royal Ascot's second day. This was a big moment for Kate, who hasn't been to the races since 2023, and she travelled with Prince William in the carriage procession.

Even from a distance, her outfit was instantly recognisable as she re-wore her zesty citrus-yellow Roksanda dress. This vibrant ensemble couldn't have been more different from Carole's Ascot outfit, which was the most delicate blush-pink colour.

However, mother and daughter have a similar timeless approach to styling. Carole and Kate used the same clever tricks to enhance the elegance of their outfits and these are worth recreating with your summer capsule wardrobe staples.

Recreate Kate And Carole's Outfits

The Princess of Wales has worn her bright yellow midi dress several times before, including to Wimbledon in 2022. It has a distinctive bow detail on one shoulder that adds a feminine flourish and subtle gathering on the bodice. Aside from this it's very timeless and has a fitted bodice, short sleeves and long, flowy skirt.

"The Princess of Wales picked the perfect colour for people to pick her out," says woman&home's Fashion Ecommerce Editor Caroline Parr. "Even though it's a dress she's worn several times before, this yellow shade feels like an unexpected colour and she perfectly offset it with a matching hat and neutral accessories. We've all been loving butter yellow for a while, but we'll be leaning into bolder hues from now on."

The future Queen wore a matching yellow hat with netting decoration on the top. Carole also wore a bold hat that matched her dress, which was the same collared design she'd worn previously to Pippa Middleton's wedding.

Both women love getting maximum use out of their favourite frocks, switching up the accessories each time to make them feel refreshed. This is something we could probably all do more often to get wear out of our summer wedding guest dresses.

The high level of coordination is also classic Carole and Kate. It's such a simple tip to follow and makes a lot of difference. Every single part of Carole Middleton's outfit was the same shade of pink, right down to her Emmy London block heel slingbacks and her top handle bag.

The Princess did a pared-back amount of colour matching with her hat and dress and her accessories were neutral. Kate carried an Anya Hindmarch white satin clutch and wore her trusty beige suede Gianvito Rossi heels.

When you're styling a bold colour like yellow, I think it's easiest to go more minimal with the rest of your look. Perhaps introducing some tiny accents of yellow on your bag or even through your jewellery would be enough.

With a more delicate colour like blush you can embrace this approach bit more, like Carole did. Matching shades makes every part of your outfit feel intentionally chosen and this creates a sophisticated, polished feel even if the actual items are quite casual.

Both women also opted for suede heels and the soft texture complements summer dresses a bit better than smooth leather which can look a bit stark and severe next to pretty florals and floaty fabrics. Suede sandals, trainers or ballet flats would work just as well if you're not a fan of heels.