Kate Middleton made a chic appearance in Brighton on Saturday. The Princess of Wales attended attended the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 group stage clash between England and Australia.
The Princess, who has served as patron of the Rugby Football Union since 2022, looked polished in a black blazer, wide-leg trousers and a ruffled blouse as she joined fans at the Amex Stadium to cheer on the Red Roses (⬇️ skip to outfit info?)
Here’s the Princess taking part in a ‘Mexican Wave’:
The England team triumphed, beating the Australians 47 – 7.
The team is now set up for a quarter-final game against Scotland later this month.
This is the 10th Women’s Rugby World Cup tournament to date. The final will take place at Twickenham, London, on the 27th of September. (Pencil it in as a possible date in your royal spotting diaries, folks!)
The Amex Stadium, usually home to Brighton & Hove Albion FC, is one of several venues hosting matches across England during the tournament.
Kate met with the Red Roses following the match.
As you’d expect, the team’s spirits were high after their win:
Kate congratulated the players.
The women were beaming as they posed for a group photo.
Kate wasn’t the only rugby-watching royal that afternoon—her husband attended the Wales vs Figi Women’s Rugby World Cup fixture at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
The Prince attended in his role as patron of the Welsh Rugby Union.
Let’s look at what our favourite Princess wore to the rugby match! I loved this look. Let’s break it down.
Kate’s Outfit:
The Princess looked fantastic in a tailored blazer, a pair of wide-leg trousers and an elegant ruffled blouse.
The ensemble struck a note of formality that worked on two levels. First, it was suited to the sporting occasion and Kate’s role as Royal Patron. And second, it was in keeping with the Royal Family’s sombre dress code for the official mourning period following the death of the Duchess of Kent earlier this week.
Let’s start by looking at the blazer. To nobody’s surprise, it is by Alexander McQueen.
The jacket features strong padded shoulders, peak lapels and a single-button fastening that creates a cinched waist.
The Princess is clearly a fan of the style. She owns multiple variations of the same jacket.
In fact, she has an identical black jacket from the British label, which features a silk lapel (see the still from the video below):
This is the first time we’ve seen the Princess wear the black blazer (the version without the silk lapel).
It’s a signature silhouette for McQueen. The company restocks the design in different fabrics and colours every season.
MiddletonMaven found the black crepe version available at Net-A-Porter for £1,690 GBP / $2,590 USD.
Of course, Kate’s style is synonymous with Alexander McQueen at this stage—the label famously outfitted Kate with two gowns on her wedding day, and has dressed her ever since.
Let’s look at Kate’s blouse now. It’s from Knatchbull. It’s the Cascade Ruffle Blouse in ivory.
The blouse is cut from 100 % sand-washed silk satin, which provides a beautifully soft drape with a subtle sheen.
In addition to the attention-grabbing ruffle, the blouse also features elongated fluted cuffs and delicate Italian mother-of-pearl buttons.
We know Kate selected the dark suit as a sign of respect for the official mourning period. I wonder if the ivory blouse is a nod to the England team, as it’s one of the colours worn by the Red Roses.
If the blouse feels familiar, it’s because Kate wore it earlier this year, under a green suit:
(May 2025, The Princess presented The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design at an event hosted by the British Fashion Council).
If you’re interested in the blouse, you’ll be pleased to know that it’s still part of Knatchbull’s offering. Some sizes are available to ship immediately, others will be shipped later in the month. The piece costs £565.00 GBP and is made in Portugal.
Knatchbull—previously The Deck London—is the first and only Savile Row shopfront for women. The company ethos is “heritage tailoring for the sartorially minded”.
The brand offers sustainable fashion through its made-to-order business model. Founded by Daisy Knatchbull, the focus is on slow fashion, mindful consumption and natural fibres, fitting excellence and female empowerment.
To my knowledge, Kate hasn’t worn another Knatchbull piece in public to date. But I wouldn’t be surprised to see that change in the future…
Let’s look at the Princess’s trousers now. She paired the black blazer and ivory shirt with the Roland Mouret Axon wide-leg trousers, also in black.
The Princess debuted the style in 2021. She’s worn them several times since.
The wide-leg trousers are crafted from a stretch-blend viscose mix fabric and feature smart front and back creases, mock front pockets and a distinctive gold exposed side zip (shown below on another occasion).
They’re no longer available to buy, unfortunately.
The Princess owns a few tailored pieces (jackets, trousers) and dresses from Roland Mouret. It’s not one of her go-to brands, but certainly one she turns to from time to time.
Roland Mouret is a French designer perhaps best known for his curve-enhancing ‘Galaxy dress’. Launched in 2005, the dress catapulted Mouret to fame. Today, the designer is renowned for his expert draping and figure-flattering designs.
Let’s move on to her handbag now, a black quilted design. I knew immediately that it was her Chanel Mini Flap Bag.
Crafted from soft black quilted lambskin, the versatile piece features a gold chain/leather strap and the brand’s iconic CC logo on the front flap.
Kate debuted the bag at the Rugby World Cup Quarter Final in France in 2023. This is the fifth time we’ve seen her carry it to date.
The Chanel website suggests an RRP of £4,080 in the UK.
The Princess is no stranger to Chanel, she’s added several pieces to her wardrobe in the last few years. In addition to the mini flap bag, she owns two other Chanel handbags, a vintage blazer and a stylish coat dress.
Founded in 1910 by Coco Chanel, the French luxury fashion house has long been synonymous with elegance and sophistication. Today, it remains a global symbol of luxury, extending its influence across fashion, fragrances, handbags, and jewellery.
Now, let’s move on to jewellery. Kate completed the look with her Cartier Trinity earrings.
The design features three small intertwined hoops in yellow, rose, and white gold.
Kate’s worn the earrings frequently this year. I believe this is the sixth time we’ve seen them since January. I wonder if they were a Christmas or a Birthday gift, given the timing of their debut.
The earrings are still available here, at Selfridges, if you need a pair for your jewellery box (and have the budget—they cost £3,050 GBP).
Kate’s a fan of Cartier and owns five “Trinity” items from the French brand—three pairs of earrings and two necklaces in total. Plus, two other items (a stainless steel watch and a sapphire ring) from other collections. Oh, and let’s not forget her iconic wedding tiara! That was a Cartier gem, too.
