7 Royal Fashion Rules Kate Middleton Isn’t Afraid to Break

Lynsey EidellFri, August 14, 2026 at 10:00 AM UTC

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Kate Middleton at Wimbledon in 2026; Kate Middleton at a state reception in New Zealand in 2014; Kate Middleton at the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in 2023.Credit: Ray Tang/Anadolu via Getty Hagen Hopkins/Getty; Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty

Kate Middleton isn’t afraid to defy royal protocol when it comes to her personal style.

Much like her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, Princess Kate has cemented herself as a style icon since marrying into the royal family on April 29, 2011.

Kate’s style has also transformed quite a bit in the 15 years since she and Prince William wed. She has opted for simple, chic ensembles in recent years as opposed to more patterned looks in years past.

“I think she looks much more modern in the way she dresses now,” Austrian-based designer Petar Petrov told PEOPLE in February 2025. “She looks relaxed, and I think she can win the hearts of people even more because she feels like a real person that people can connect with, like Princess Diana. That’s special and makes her even more relevant than ever.”

From her penchant for pantsuits to her nail polish color, here are all the ways that Kate has broken royal fashion tradition.

01 of 07

Power Pantsuits

Kate Middleton at Windsor Castle in January 2026; Kate Middleton at the 2026 Wimbledon Tennis Championships.Credit: Kin Cheung - WPA Pool/Getty; Ray Tang/Anadolu via Getty

While a source once told PEOPLE that Queen Elizabeth liked royal women to wear “dresses or skirts rather than trouser suits,” both Kate and her sister-in-law, Meghan Markle, have strayed from the late monarch’s preference.

Kate rocked a red power suit for her first solo outing of 2026 and again wore a two-piece set — this time courtesy of Gabriela Hearst — for a July 2 appearance at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships.

02 of 07

Wimbledon Hats

Kate Middleton at the 2022 Wimbledon Tennis Championships; Kate Middleton at the 2026 Wimbledon Tennis Championships.Credit: Simon Bruty/Anychance/Getty; Karwai Tang/WireImage

Kate nearly broke another fashion rule at Wimbledon in 2026 when she wore a wide-brimmed hat to Centre Court.

Hats are discouraged in the Royal Box, where Kate was seated, because “they tend to obscure the vision of those seated behind them,” per Wimbledon’s website. The tennis tournament relaxes its protocol when the weather gets hot, however, so while the princess may have defied tradition, she didn’t technically break any rules.

03 of 07

Bold Nail Polish

Kate Middleton on Easter Sunday in 2023.Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty (2)

When it comes to manicures, royals typically opt for neutral shades (the Queen famously wore Essie’s “Ballet Slippers”) or no polish at all.

Kate usually adheres to this protocol, but in 2023, she veered from tradition with a bright red manicure on Easter Sunday.

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04 of 07

All-Black Ensembles

Kate Middleton attends a charity performance of ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ in London in 2020; Kate Middleton during a state reception in New Zealand on April 10, 2014.Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty; Hagen Hopkins/Getty

Royals wear all-black outfits for somber occasions such as funerals. Diana was known to break this rule, however, and her daughter-in-law has since followed in her footsteps.

For a 2014 state reception in New Zealand, for example, the princess wore a black long-sleeve gown with a crystal embellishment on her left shoulder.

Six years later, the princess again opted for all-black when she stepped out in a black bespoke boucle dress from Eponine London for a charity performance of Dear Evan Hansen.

05 of 07

Neutral Knits

Kate Middleton visits Nottingham Trent University on Oct. 11, 2023; Kate Middleton visits a community hub on Nov. 3, 2022, in Scarborough, England.Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty; Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty

The late monarch always wore bright colors in order to stand out in a crowd. Kate, on the other hand, frequently steps out in neutral, monochromatic outfits.

For a meeting with students at Nottingham Trent University in 2023, the Princess of Wales wore a chic midi-skirt and coordinating sweater courtesy of Sézane. She also rocked a monochromatic beige ensemble the year prior while visiting a community hub in Scarborough, England.

06 of 07

A Unique Headpiece

Kate Middleton at the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in 2023.Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage; Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty

Though royal women have historically worn tiaras to past coronations, Kate broke with tradition at the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla in 2023 when she stepped out in a bespoke silver and crystal leaf headpiece.

“Tiaras were worn by nearly every royal lady at the Queen’s coronation in 1953, as well lots of aristocratic women but times have certainly changed in 70 years,” Lauren Kiehna of The Court Jeweller told PEOPLE shortly before the event.

The accessory was designed by Jess Collett and Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, the latter of whom also created Kate’s ivory silk crepe dress and her 2011 wedding gown. Kate’s daughter, Princess Charlotte, wore a matching crown on her own head that inspired comparisons to Princess Leia from Star Wars.

07 of 07

New Wedding Ensemble

Kate Middleton at the wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling in June 2026.Credit: Samir Hussein/WireImage

Though technically not a royal “rule,” Kate broke her own fashion protocol when she debuted a new Roland Mouret cream boucle dress and Jane Taylor London hat at the June 2026 wedding of Peter Phillips and Harriet Sperling.

Typically, the princess recycles outfits she has already worn while attending friends’ weddings so as not to upstage the bride.

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