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Kate Middleton Surprised the World with Latest Appearance—Here's Why Her Dress Looked Familiar

It’s been a wild week for the royals

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kate-middleton-trooping-the-colour-dress-rewear: photograph of Prince William and Kate Middleton next to one another on the royal balcony. William is on the left and Kate is on the right. William wears a decorated red military jacket and Kate wears a white dress with a black and white bow on the shoulder as well as a blush pink hat worn off kilter on her head.
Max Mumby/Indigo / Contributor/Getty Images

OK, I may be a royals reporter but I 100 percent did not see this month of royal news coming. Weeks back, there was the false report that Kate Middleton would be present at a dress rehearsal for Trooping the Colour. Then, there was a correction from the palace. Then, there was Princess Catherine’s apology for missing the dress rehearsal. But even after all of that, I (and the rest of the world) still didn’t know if she’d be in attendance at the actual Trooping the Colour event (in celebration of King Charles’s birthday).

And then the bombshell: Kate Middleton revealed a brand-new photo, a health update and the news that she’d be in attendance at Trooping the Colour. “I’m looking forward to attending The King’s Birthday Parade this weekend with my family,” she wrote on social media. Mic drop. Cue the royal headlines. But then, came the actual appearance.

kate-middleton-trooping-the-colour-dress-rewear: Kate Middleton sits in a royal carriage and smiles while looking out the window. She wears a white dress and a blush pink hat.
Chris Jackson / Staff/Getty Images

The Princess of Wales rode in the Glass Coach with her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, before joining the full royal fam on the Buckingham Palace balcony. For the occasion, she wore a knee-length Jenny Packham white dress with a black and white bow at the neckline, a Phillip Treacy hat and the Irish Guards Regimental Brooch. And if you’re a royal stan who thought the dress looked familiar…you’d be absolutely correct.

Kate Middleton Trooping the Colour Dress Rewear Kate Walking Alone
JUSTIN TALLIS / Contributor/Getty Images

Though the dress featured new details, it had actually been previously worn by Princess Catherine right before the king’s coronation last year. She donned the gorgeous Packham look while greeting well wishers during a walkabout on the Mall outside of Buckingham Palace in May 2023. King Charles’s coronation took place the very next day.

kate-middleton-trooping-the-colour-dress-rewear: Kate wears a white dress and smiles and laughs while chatting with well wishers of the public. The people in the crowd are wearing Union Jack flag onesies.
WPA Pool / Pool/Getty Images

As a sustainability advocate, the princess is no stranger to recycling her looks. And while I might have initially missed the re-wear during a busy month of royal news, Princess Catherine gets nothing but applause from me for bringing back such an iconic ensemble.

Here's how you can get Kate Middleton's Trooping the Colour look for yourself.

Shop the Look

Few things are as timeless as a classic crepe dress, and this one checks all of the boxes with its slimming properties and versatility. You can dress it up with a pair of pumps and team it with a nice tote bag/clutch for additional accessorizing. Made with mostly polyester with a tiny bit of elastane that allows for slight stretch, you can expect this dress to give you a lightweight feel.

Here's a dress that will look just as good on the beach as what it will at the office. Simple-yet-elegant, the cotton construction allows for comfort as it hugs your curves in all of the right places. It doesn't completely drape down your shoulders either, meaning it provides the perfect semi-loose fit.

If you’re looking for something to add directly into your capsule wardrobe, this Buchanan dress from Reformation is your new automatic go-to. It's stylish fitted and waist-trimming due to its design, while also being breathable. The best part? Its slightly retro appeal while still being modern in terms of its overall look

Easy, sleek and the definition of business casual, this dress is an ideal choice for the office, or any other upscale event you might be attending. Made with woven fabric and boasting stand out features such as a v-neck front, puffy shoulders and three-quarter length sleeves, the cinching waist belt and flattering cut makes this piece well worth the pick up.

Timeless, regal and yet, understated enough to still wear for casual occasions, this is a breezy option to wear during the warmer seasons. Offering a drape form-fitting fit and bold thigh-high slits, the dress is made from a mid-weight jersey material. The side ruching effect slims the figure, and the scoop neck emphasizes your chest and shoulder for a sleek appearance.

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Gorgeous New Photos of Kate Middleton Are So Perfectly Shot They Almost Look Fake



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