Kate Middleton’s Most Controversial Fashion Moments – Iconic Outfits Worn By Kate Middleton

Sara Portnoy | November 22, 2024 6:00 am

All eyes have been on Kate Middleton ever since she began her relationship with Prince William. Not only has the public picked up on her personal characteristics, but they've also noticed her unique style. From bold dresses, cute hairstyles, impeccable shoes, and more, here are some of the Duchess of Cambridge's top fashion moments.

Kate's Gorgeous Blue Coat

Kate wearing a blue coat in February 2019
Charles McQuillan/Getty Images
Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

Kate Middleton proves time and time again that her style is truly her own. When she visited Northern Ireland in 2019, she made a huge fashion statement with this blue coat.

Some of it's best features included a built-in cape, large buttons, and matching belt. She made sure to include a royal blue clutch as well.

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Making A Royal Entrance

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Prince William and Kate on their wedding day
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Most people around the world were introduced to the Duchess of Cambridge on her wedding day to Prince William.

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Kate's wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of Alexander McQueen. "Miss Middleton wished for her dress to combine tradition and modernity with the artistic vision that characterizes Alexander McQueen's work," said Burton.

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An Evening At Buckingham Palace

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Kate at Buckingham Palace in December 2019
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Being a royal means having to fulfill a bunch of difficult and demanding responsibilities. Here, Kate Middleton is seen talking to guests who came to Buckingham Palace in December 2019.

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Her long sleeve velvet dress went great with her diamond necklace, rings, and tiara. Her style showcases both her elegance and regal demeanor.

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Keeping It Casual

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Kate in London in September 2020
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Jack Hill/Getty Images
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Just because the Duchess of Cambridge is part of the royal family doesn't mean she has to dress fancy all of the time.

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This photo is from September 2020 while she was out in London. She kept it casual with a white blouse and high-waisted red pants. She left the tiara at home and went for simpler jewelry such as her charm necklace.

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Having A Chat With Meghan Markle

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Kate talking to Meghan Markle in 2018
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On Christmas day 2018, Kate was joined by her sister-in-law Meghan Markle. They celebrated the holiday by attending a church service.

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Kate kept it professional and festive in an all-red ensemble including a double-breasted coat, gloves, clutch, hat, and a silver pin. Meghan went for a similar look in navy blue.

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Kate Wows The Crowd In Purple

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Kate in a purple dress in October 2018
Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images
Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images
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Even though the majority of Kate Middleton's outfits are relatively simple, they usually leave a lasting impression.

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One outfit that had people noticing her style was her bright purple dress worn in London in October of 2018. She was joined by her husband, Prince William, who went with a navy suit and purple tie.

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Sharing A Laugh With Her Majesty

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Kate Middleton laughing with the Queen in June 2012
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It may seem intimidating to join the royal family, but Kate seemed to fit in with ease. She is seen with Queen Elizabeth II in June 2012 where the two shared a laugh.

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Kate isn't one to shy away from accessories including this royal blue hat with matching earrings. She may have been inspired by the queen's own interest in statement hats.

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Kate Gets Sporty

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Kate at the start of a track in February 2020
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During February of 2020, Kate appeared in London to show her support at the SportsAid Stars event.

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This is one of her most stripped down looks including little makeup, a low ponytail, a blue jumpsuit, and white sneakers. Similar to other members of the royal family, Kate is an avid sports fan.

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Kate Gets Into Gardening

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Kate in a garden in June 2020
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Kate seems to have an outfit for anything; whether it be a royal gala, sporting event, or outdoor adventure.

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In June 2020, Kate spent the day gardening and wore an outfit to match. The Duchess of Cambridge kept it appropriate with a light blue button-down, black jeans, and a sporty vest.

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Staying Simple, Yet Classy

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Kate in England in January 2020
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Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images
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Kate is truly a fashion influencer. After her photos are published, the outfits she's seen in tend to get sold out extremely quickly.

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Many of her outfits are easy to recreate. For example, this black turtleneck, tan coat, and silver necklace are just a few items that can easily be found in most clothing stores.

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The Happy Couple Jets Off To Their Honeymoon

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Prince William and Kate walking near Buckingham Palace in 2011
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This photo was taken the day after Prince William and Kate tied the knot and were on their way to their honeymoon.

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The Duchess of Cambridge is actually breaking royal protocol with her outfit. Wedges are not allowed because the queen does not like them. Also, dresses and skirts are technically supposed to be at or below the knee.

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A Rainy Day At The Races

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Kate and William under an umbrella in June 2019
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One of the royal fashion rules is that their looks must be timeless. This photo is a great example of that because Prince William and Kate's outfits could have been inspired by any decade.

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Kate's outfit stands out with an off-kilter baby blue hat and a matching sheer blouse. Prince William included some whimsy with a purple flower pin.

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An Off-The-Shoulder Moment

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Prince William and Kate in Berlin in July 2017
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Taking risks in fashion can be daunting for anyone, but can be especially hard for a public figure. Kate took a risk with an off-the-shoulder red dress and it turned out to be a hit.

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She accompanied her husband, Prince William, for a birthday party for the queen in Berlin, Germany in July of 2017.

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Sneaking A Peek At Kate's Earrings

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Kate wearing a green dress in May 2019 in London
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Kate Middleton has one of the most impressive jewelry collections of all time. Every time she goes out, it's likely she's wearing different rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, tiaras, and more.

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While at an event in May 2019 in London, Kate wore a stylish long sleeve green dress. She made sure her diamond earrings were caught on camera.

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Kate Wins The Game

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Kate and Prince William playing sports in Ireland in March 2020
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Kate isn't one to shy away from her competitive side. She and Prince William visited Ireland in March 2020 and took part in some of their sports including Gaelic football and hurling.

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By the looks of it, Kate most likely won the game. She dressed more on the casual side with a nice pair of black jeans and a faded red turtleneck sweater.

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A Memorable Visit To Pakistan

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kate wearing a traditional Pakistani outfit in October 2019
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In October of 2019, Prince William and Kate took a royal tour of Pakistan. Kate made sure to dress in a respectable way and adorned some traditional Pakistani clothes.

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According to Town & Country, their Pakistan tour was "the most complex tour undertaken by the Duke and Duchess to date."

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All Dressed In Plaid

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While most members of the royal family wore either blue or gray to this event, Kate Middleton and stood out.

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Kate is seen wearing a short plaid dress with black tights, gloves, clutch, and hat. Kate's dress is very close to breaking royal protocol since its length is just barely above her knees.

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A Solemn Look For A Solemn Occasion

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Kate attending a remembrance service in November 2020
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It's customary for people to dress in all black when attending services to honor lives that have been lost. Kate Middleton did so for a National Service of Remembrance in November 2020.

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This is one of her most powerful looks due to the protruding shoulder pads, large, silver buttons, and neatly pinned black hat.

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Kate Shines at the No Time To Die Premiere

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Royal tradition requires the Queen to be the star of the show in terms of wardrobe colors. So when both the Queen and Kate attend the same event, the Duchess can't go too bold. But when it comes to red carpet gowns, Kate Middleton isn't afraid to shine.

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She turned heads in a stunning gold gown at the No Time To Die James Bond film premiere. The sparkling gold dress was designed by Jenny Packham, featuring a v neckline and cape sleeves.

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Feeling Blue

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Kate wearing a blue hat and diamond earrings
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Most photos of Kate Middleton usually find her in a happy mood, but that isn't realistic for anyone. The public shouldn't expect her to be camera ready at all times.

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In a brief moment of quiet reflection, Kate was seen wearing a blue ensemble with a matching hat and diamond earrings at Westminster Abbey in April 2019.

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Kate Goes Business Casual

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If Kate wasn't spending her life being part of the royal family, it wouldn't be too surprising if she worked in the fashion industry.

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In November 2019, Kate sported a top-notch business casual look in London, which included a gray and plaid blazer, white blouse, belted mauve pants, and black pumps.

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Looking Award Show Ready

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Prince William and Kate at an awards show in February 2019
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When celebrities are invited to an awards show, they usually pull together very memorable looks. At the 2019 British Academy Film Awards, Prince William and Kate dressed to impress.

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Prince William looked quite dapper in a classic tuxedo. Kate decided to wear a beautiful one shoulder white dress with a matching clutch.

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A Perfect Dress For Summer

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Kate wearing a teal dress in July 2019
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This photo looks as if it could be on the cover of a magazine. The Duchess of Cambridge kept it both stylish and comfortable while walking in a London garden.

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The teal patterned dress flatters her well and she chose to forgo jewelry. Also, her makeup and hair are very toned down.

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Pop Of Collar

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Kate wearing a blue and white blouse with a large collar
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Kate followed the royal dress code fairly well with this blue and white ensemble. One of the biggest things that stands out is the large, white collar.

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The photo was from a D-Day exhibition in England in May 2019. She added a nice touch with some pearl earrings and a gold pin.

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Arriving At The 2020 BAFTAs

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Prince William and Kate arriving at the 2020 BAFTAs
Wiktor Szymanowicz/Barcroft Media via Getty Images
Wiktor Szymanowicz/Barcroft Media via Getty Images
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Kate was one of the best dressed of the night at the 2020 British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs).

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She wore a custom Alexander McQueen ball gown, which adhered to the night's theme of sustainability. The Duchess of Cambridge actually wore this same dress to a state dinner in Malaysia in 2012.

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An All-Black Tennis Ensemble

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Kate wearing all black and playing tennis
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These aren't the clothes most people would play tennis in, but the Duchess of Cambridge isn't most people.

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While playing a game of tennis in Basildon, England in October 2018, she was seen wearing an all-black outfit including a long sleeve black turtleneck, black skinny jeans, and black heeled boots.

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Giddy Up, Cowboy

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Prince William and Kate wearing cowboy hats
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Prince William and Kate shared a laugh during their 2011 tour of North America. One of their stops included Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

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The two went to watch a rodeo demonstration and decided to dress the part. Kate went a little more chic with a white button-down blouse, skinny jeans, and a bold belt to match her cowboy hat.

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An Evening To Remember

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Prince William and Kate at a gala in June 2011
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Just a few months after their memorable wedding, Prince William and Kate got all dressed up for a special gala dinner in London.

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Prince William stayed classy in a tuxedo, while the Duchess of Cambridge showed more of her personality in a light pink, glittery dress. She also showed some shoulder, which is rare for members of the royal family.

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Exploring The Great Outdoors

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Prince William and Kate at a glacier in Pakistan
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Kate looks as if she had come out of an adventure film such as Indiana Jones in this photo.

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She and husband Prince William were visiting the Chiatibo glacier in the Hindu Kush mountain range in October of 2019. It's unlikely someone would see her walking around Buckingham Palace in these clothes.

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Soaking Up Island Life

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Prince William and Kate in the Solomon Islands in 2012
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In September 2012, Prince William and Kate got to have a taste for island life while visiting Honiara, Guadalcanal Island.

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They were supposed to wear traditional clothes from the area, but their outfits were actually from the Cook Islands. This ended up offending the locals, so the royal family released a statement that they made a mistake.

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The Royals Take Paris

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Kate and Prince William walking down stairs in Paris in 2017
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While Kate is known to dress casual on many occasions, she also has some of the best evening wear style.

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She and Prince William went to a dinner in March 2017 hosted by her majesty's ambassador to France. The Duchess of Cambridge is seen wearing a metallic Jenny Packham gown.

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