Junior Rasmussen
Kate Middleton wore a pale yellow Emilia Wickstead dress to Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's wedding in 2018. She accessorized the look with a Philip Treacy hat, Jimmy Choo heels, and Robinson Pelham earrings that she had worn at her own wedding to Prince William in 2011. While some media outlets criticized Middleton for re-wearing an old dress, others praised her for keeping things simple and avoiding the limelight. Middleton is known for recycling her outfits, and the dress in question had previously been worn to Princess Charlotte's christening in 2015 and the Queen's birthday in 2016.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | Pale yellow/primrose yellow/cream/off-white |
| Designer | Alexander McQueen |
| Type | Coat dress |
| Accessories | Robinson Pelham earrings, Philip Treacy hat |
| Reason for choice | To avoid stealing focus from the bride |
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What You'll Learn
Kate Middleton wore an Alexander McQueen dress
The Duchess of Cambridge arrived at the wedding of the year in what Kensington Palace described as a "primrose yellow wool silk tailored coat" by Alexander McQueen. She paired the dress with a hat designed by Philip Treacy and shoes by Jimmy Choo.
Kate's choice to re-wear an old dress was likely influenced by her desire to avoid drawing attention away from Meghan on her special day. As a future Queen Consort, Kate likely wanted to ensure that the bride was the focus of attention.
Kate's dress, custom-designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, featured a deep-v neck, long sleeves, a high collar, and a lace overlay. The design drew comparisons to past royal weddings, including those of Elizabeth II and Diana.
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The dress was cream/white
Kate Middleton wore a cream/white Alexander McQueen coat dress to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018. This was the fourth time she had worn the outfit, having previously worn it to her daughter Princess Charlotte's christening in 2015 and the Trooping the Colour celebration in 2016.
Kate is known for her thoughtful and self-aware approach to her wardrobe choices, especially at high-profile events. She opted to rewear this particular coat dress to ensure that the focus remained on Meghan, the bride, rather than her own outfit. This was a considerate choice, as wearing a new outfit to the wedding could have increased attention on herself and potentially overshadowed the bride.
The cream/white colour of the dress caused some debate, as wearing white is often considered a wedding guest no-no. However, opinions vary, and some believe that wearing white or cream as a guest is acceptable as long as the outfit does not resemble a wedding gown. The official description of the dress colour from the palace was "primrose yellow," though many perceived it as more of a cream or off-white shade, particularly in photographs and on television.
Regardless of the colour debate, Kate's choice to rewear a favourite piece from her wardrobe showcases her awareness of the spotlight on her fashion choices and her desire to direct the focus onto the bride on Meghan's special day.
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She recycled an old dress
Kate Middleton recycled an old dress for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018. The dress in question was a cream-coloured Alexander McQueen tailored coat. She had worn the dress to at least two other high-profile royal engagements before the wedding: Princess Charlotte's christening in 2015 and the Trooping the Colour celebration in 2016. She also wore the dress to the St. Paul Cathedral service of thanksgiving during the late Queen's Platinum Jubilee in June 2022.
Kate is known for her close ties to the British fashion house Alexander McQueen, whose creative director, Sarah Burton, designed her wedding dress. It is speculated that Kate chose to recycle an old dress for Harry and Meghan's wedding to avoid stealing the spotlight from the bride. As one source puts it, "Wearing something that has been widely photographed on three important occasions was Kate's way of saying, 'Nothing to see here! Focus on the bride!'". Another source claims that "Kate, being the thoughtful, self-aware human that she is, [...] knew that, if she wore a new outfit, it would increase the attention on her".
The choice to re-wear an old dress was also a practical one. As one source points out, the McQueen coat is likely a "forgiving, comfortable style" that would be suitable for nursing or pumping throughout the day. Additionally, by re-wearing an old dress, Kate avoided the potential criticism that comes with wearing white to a wedding. While some people on social media interpreted Kate's choice of attire as a "diss", others defended her, arguing that it is acceptable for wedding guests to wear cream or white as long as the outfit doesn't resemble a wedding gown.
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The dress was previously worn at Charlotte's christening
Kate Middleton wore a cream-colored Alexander McQueen coat dress to her brother-in-law Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle in 2018. She had previously worn the dress to her daughter Princess Charlotte's christening in 2015.
The Alexander McQueen dress, custom-designed by Sarah Burton, features a deep-V neck, long sleeves, a high collar, and a lace overlay. It has inspired countless replicas and has been a favorite of Middleton's since her wedding to Prince William in 2011.
For Princess Charlotte's christening, Middleton paired the dress with a white fascinator featuring floral details. She accessorized the dress differently for Prince Harry's wedding, opting for beige heels and a hat with yellow flowers underneath the side-tilted brim.
Middleton is known for rewearing outfits, and her choice to do so for Prince Harry's wedding may have been a subtle message to her estranged brother- and sister-in-law, Harry and Meghan, who had recently celebrated their seventh wedding anniversary.
In addition to the dress, Middleton also rewore a pair of earrings to Prince Harry's wedding that she had first worn to her own wedding to Prince William in 2011.
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The dress was paired with a Philip Treacy hat
Kate Middleton wore a pale yellow or cream-coloured dress to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in 2018. The dress was custom-designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and had been worn by Kate on at least two other occasions before the royal wedding. The dress was paired with a Philip Treacy hat that she wore during Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Windsor wedding ceremony. The hat was a popular choice from her closet, and she was last spotted wearing it during Trooping the Colour in 2019.
The Philip Treacy hat that Kate Middleton wore to the royal wedding was a thoughtful choice. Knowing that her outfit would be highly scrutinised, Kate opted to rewear a favourite piece that royal fans had seen her in several times before. This choice ensured that the attention remained on Meghan, the bride, and not on her outfit. Kate's decision to rewear the hat and dress demonstrates her awareness of her spotlight-stealing nature and her desire to avoid causing a stir.
The Philip Treacy hat is also significant because it was designed by a well-known milliner who has created hats for other notable weddings. Philip Treacy is a British hat designer who has designed hats for members of the royal family and other celebrities. He has a long-standing relationship with the royal family and has created hats for various royal occasions, including the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005. By wearing a hat designed by Philip Treacy, Kate Middleton continued the tradition of supporting British designers and milliners.
The Philip Treacy hat that Kate Middleton wore to the royal wedding complemented her outfit and ensured that she adhered to the tradition of wearing a hat to a wedding. In British culture, it is customary for women to wear hats or fascinators to weddings, and Kate's choice of a Philip Treacy hat reflected her understanding of this tradition. The hat added elegance and sophistication to her outfit, completing the look with a matching accessory.
Overall, the Philip Treacy hat that Kate Middleton paired with her dress at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding was a thoughtful, elegant, and tradition-abiding choice. It demonstrated her awareness of the spotlight, her support for British designers, and her adherence to wedding traditions. The hat has become a popular choice in her closet, showcasing its versatility and timeless design.
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Frequently asked questions
Kate wore a dress she'd worn before to avoid stealing focus from the bride, Meghan Markle.
The dress was described as "primrose yellow" by the palace, but many people thought it looked cream or off-white. However, wearing white to a wedding is becoming more acceptable.
The McQueen coat dress is a comfortable style, and Kate has close ties to the fashion house.
No, she wore a ring she was first seen wearing in 2008, three years before she married William.
