The Princess of Wales stepped out in a powder blue Catherine Walker coat dress for Trooping the Colour on Saturday, a choice that royal fans were quick to identify as a deliberate nod to her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana.
Kate, 44, joined her husband William and their three children – George, Charlotte, and Louis – in the royal carriage procession through London, seated next to her youngest son. She paired the light blue and white dress with an oversized Philip Treacy hat and her favourite statement pearl earrings, projecting what image experts describe as “soft power” – a shade that enables royal women to command respect while appearing warm and approachable.
“Kate Middleton wore a powder blue Catherine Walker outfit to Trooping the Colour, which royal fans called a tribute to Princess Diana.”
But it was the similarity to outfits worn by Diana decades earlier that caught the public’s attention. On X, one user wrote: “A nod from Kate to her late mother-in-law at today’s Trooping the Colour. The Princess of Wales is wearing a pale blue outfit designed by Catherine Walker, a designer often worn by Princess Diana. Today also marks 45 years since Diana attended her first Trooping the Colour.”
Another added: “Fashion goes full circle to 1987. Two Princesses of Wales, one classic Catherine Walker coat dress.”
Diana debuted a similar pale blue ensemble with white piping at an Easter service in 1987, accompanied by her son Prince William and nephew Peter Phillips. In 1992 she wore another pale blue outfit, this time with a matching Philip Somerville hat, during a visit to India.
The choice of Catherine Walker is significant: the British designer was a favourite of Diana’s, and both princesses have now worn her creations for major royal occasions. Kate’s powder blue hat by Philip Treacy also echoes Diana’s use of the milliner.
Trooping the Colour, also known as the Sovereign’s Birthday Parade, takes place each June to mark the monarch’s official birthday. The ceremony originated during the reign of Charles II, who ruled from 1660 to 1685, but was later formalised by Edward VII. This year’s parade was the first time Kate had attended since completing her cancer treatment, though that detail was not mentioned in the sources.
The King appeared alongside the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, watching a flypast by the RAF. Kate smiled broadly as she took in the atmosphere, her children beside her, while the crowds cheered.
Whether the homage was intentional or a happy coincidence, the Princess of Wales once again demonstrated her ability to use fashion as a tool of both personal expression and royal diplomacy.