Kate Middleton's soft grey tailoring and merlot jumper just convinced me to branch out from brown and black as my go-to neutrals
The Princess of Wales has been championing grey for years now and this new outfit showed how well it goes with wintry shades
There's no denying that brown is the must-have colour trend for the season and along with black, it's one of the most versatile shades there is. These two neutrals work with pretty much anything so they feature heavily in my wardrobe, but now I'm wondering if I've been missing out by not wearing more grey.
The Princess of Wales has been loving it over the past few years and on 11th November she stepped out in a new soft grey blazer and matching trousers by British clothing brand, Bella Freud for a visit to The Chase Community Hospital. The design featured burgundy checks and Kate seized the opportunity to re-wear her favourite merlot-red accessories and jumper with the suit.
Shop the Princess of Wales's Outfit
The Princess of Wales's exact Bella Freud jacket is undeniably a big investment for your wardrobe, though the neutral base colour and timeless silhouette can give you confidence it won't go out of style. It's single-breasted and is crafted from bespoke British tweed.
Made from cosy yet lightweight merino wool, this jumper has a classic roll-neckline, long sleeves and ribbed trims. The cuffs are adorned with gold-toned buttons for a touch of extra detail and the streamlined fit means you can easily tuck this into jeans or skirts, or leave it loose.
The Bella Freud Slim Kim Trousers have a fitted silhouette and are designed to sit neatly on the waist and hug the hips, seat and upper thigh. There's a subtle kick flare towards the bottom and like the matching blazer, it's made from bespoke light British tweed. Pair with a cosy jumper for a Princess-esque look.
Made from a wool-blend fabric, this single-breasted blazer has a gorgeous amount of structure and a classic notched lapel collar. It features functional pockets and you can also get it in a tall version. Throw on with the matching trousers for an instantly put-together outfit.
This affordable knit also comes in taupe and it's got a roll-neckline, long sleeves and a straight shape. The trims are ribbed and it's the perfect piece for pairing with everything from blue jeans to smart trousers like Kate's.
These Next tailored trousers are crafted with added wool to give extra structure and warmth. They have a sleek waistband and flowing wide-leg cut that's very frame-elongating. You can dress them down with a relaxed jumper to dress them up with a smart shirt.
The combination of the pared-back neutral and jewel tone was beautiful and is inspiring me to look beyond grey's reputation as a boring option. The future Queen's jacket was single-breasted and had a lapel collar, long sleeves and a lightly fitted shape.
It was given an extra seasonal feel thanks to the choice of fabric, which was a bespoke British-made tweed. Heritage designs are a big trend for 2026 and wool is a great material for the colder months as it's warm but also breathable.
When you're wearing a lot of layers the last thing you want is to overheat and feel stuffy. The Princess of Wales wore it unfastened throughout her visit to the hospital, where she got to see the Alarm Distress Baby Scale (ADBB) in practice and meet the health visitors using this approach to help give babies a voice.
Even though she still looked smart, keeping her jacket unbuttoned gave her ensemble more of an approachable, relaxed feel. It was also probably more comfortable as she sat down on the floor to interact with some adorable youngsters. Kate's trousers were high-waisted and had a slight flare, making them equally comfortable and unrestrictive on the legs.
The more streamlined a pair of tailored trousers is, the more naturally formal they look. If you want to invest in some that you can dress down easily, I'd recommend going for looser fits as these look great with flat boots or even white trainers.
Because the Princess's suit had the burgundy checks she matched the rest of her outfit to that. Her sleek roll-neck cashmere jumper is by Kiltane and she's owned it for several years. Higher necklines keep you warmer but for a more casual edge, consider opting for an oversized design to pair with trousers rather than a fitted one like Kate's.
She finished off her outfit with her Gianvito Rossi court heels and a Smythson Day Cross Body Bag. Even though merlot-red isn't exactly a bright colour, the dove-grey helped to balance it. I'd usually reach for other neutrals to achieve this effect, though sometimes black can be a stark contrast.
Brown is a softer option, but so is grey, and it works with a huge range of colours, whereas sometimes I think brown works better with warm tones. The Princess of Wales looked very chic in her grey and burgundy look throughout her visit, where she met families and practitioners.
Her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood has worked with the Institute of Health Visiting to trial ADBB across the UK and she described it as very "encouraging" to see this expanding.
