Kate Middleton debuted a new British designer for today’s Order of the Garter service at Windsor.
The Princess of Wales wore a bespoke coat dress by Patrick McDowell, a London-based fashion designer who puts sustainability at the centre of their work.
Many readers will remember that Kate presented McDowell with the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design on behalf of the British Fashion Council last year. (You might also remember the magnificent olive green Victoria Beckham suit she wore for the occasion.)
The garment—tailored from a floral damask fabric woven especially for the Princess—is now listed on the designer’s website as “The Wales Coat Dress” and named in her honour.
Kate paired the elegant coat dress with a coordinating wide-brimmed hat by Jane Taylor and neutral suede accessories. (Click to skip down to the outfit details ⬇️).
This year’s Garter Day proceedings began with the King formally investing three new Knights Companions in the Garter Throne Room, before the procession made its way down to St George’s Chapel for the thanksgiving service.
They were led by King Charles (who serves as Sovereign of the Garter) and Queen Camilla.
As Knights of the Garter, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal all took part in the procession.
All wore the Order’s elaborate navy velvet robes and plumed hats. Pomp and pageantry at its finest!
As in previous years, the Princess watched proceedings alongside Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
After the service at St George’s, the royal party made the traditional carriage journey back up the hill to the Castle.
The Prince and Princess of Wales rode back together, waving to the gathered crowds.
For those new to royal watching, the Order of the Garter is the oldest and most senior order of chivalry in Britain, founded by King Edward III nearly 700 years ago, in 1348.
It’s said that Edward was so captivated by the legends of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table that he wanted his own circle of honourable knights, and so the Order was born.
Today, it’s made up of the King, the Queen, several senior members of the Royal Family, and up to 24 Companions—each hand-picked by the monarch to honour those who’ve held public office, contributed in some special way to national life, or served the Crown personally.
Garter Day always takes place in June, on the Monday of Royal Ascot week.
While the Princess of Wales frequently attends the annual service to support her husband, she is not currently a member of the Order.
Let’s take a look at her outfit now.
Kate’s outfit:
Kate chose tonal dressing for this year’s Garter Day, once again proving that a head-to-toe colour-drenched ensemble creates a polished and cohesive effect.
The Princess uses this tried-and-true styling formula for high-profile royal engagements because it’s unfussy, striking—and dare I say almost statesmanlike!
I’m struggling to settle on one colour to describe today’s ensemble. British Vogue describes it as “butter yellow”. In some photographs, it looks cream, champagne or gold.
As I wrote up top, the coat dress is a Patrick McDowell creation.
McDowell was also included on last year’s Forbes 30 under 30 list for building a groundbreaking, circular luxury fashion brand, and uses reclaimed and ethically produced materials in their work. We know this is something Kate’s closely aligned with in recent years.
The mid-length coat dress features a tailored, single-breasted silhouette, a nipped-in waist and elegant hip pockets.
The piece was crafted from a lightweight floral damask fabric woven by Stephen Walters & Sons in Suffolk—one of the historic Sudbury Silk Mill businesses that Kate visited last September (below), during an engagement highlighting the British textiles industry.
Patrick McDowell describes the ‘Wales Coat Dress‘ as a “beautifully tailored piece … designed to sculpt the body”. It’s made from a linen-viscose mix.
I think the Princess wears a longer version, based on the photos—unless my eyes deceive me!
Kate’s version has more buttons, and of course, the fabric is a different colour. The Princess wears a creamy-champane yellow-gold tone (depending on different photographers/lighting). The version on McDowell’s website is white. I think it’d make a lovely coat dress for a bride looking for something other than a traditional gown.
The coat is a special, limited-edition piece which can be pre-ordered for £1,990. For our American readers, that’s around $2,665 at today’s exchange rate. It will be shipped in August.
Let’s move on to her coordinating hat now, it’s by Jane Taylor—the ‘Enid’ Boater. With thanks to Gabi for the ID.
The Palace confirmed that Kate had the wide-brim piece trimmed with Stephen Walters fabric, to match the coat dress.
Jane Taylor lists the Enid hat on her website for £2,375 (around $3,180 USD). The made-to-measure version is crafted from straw and trimmed with an ivory satin bow. The milliner describes the extra-large hat as a “striking statement piece”.
Kate accessorised with neutral beige suede accessories. First, let’s take a look at her Emmy London ‘Natasha’ clutch.
The handcrafted clutch features a flap front, which fastens with a magnetic popper.
Kate carries it here in the ‘Blush’ colourway, but she also owns the item in 14 other colours. It’s clearly a favourite.
She debuted the blush version in 2022, and this is the fifth time we’ve seen her carry it in public to date.
If you’re hoping to purchase the bag, you’re in luck. Emmy London has it in stock for £445 (around $595 USD).
On her feet, Kate wore the Gianvito Rossi ‘Gianvito 105‘ suede pumps in the ‘bisque’ colourway.
The pumps feature a 105mm heel and a sharp pointed toe. They’re handmade in Italy from 100% suede leather.
Again, if you’re after the shoes, you’re in luck. Net-A-Porter has them for £710 GBP / $850 USD.
Kate debuted the beige Gianvitos in 2022 and has worn them more than 10 times, in public, to date.
Gianvito Rossi is easily Kate’s favourite footwear designer. She owns this specific shoe in 11 different shades, and has worn 23 different pairs of shoes, boots, sandals and slingbacks from the designer over the last decade or so.
Let’s finish today’s post with Kate’s earrings.
The Princess wore diamond and oak leaf earrings her parents commissioned from Robinson Pelham for her wedding day. They served as her ‘something new’ in the something old/new/borrowed/blue tradition.
The 18ct white gold earrings feature stylised oak leaves set with diamonds as the stud, with a pear-shaped diamond drop and a pavé-set diamond acorn in the centre.
The earrings echo the oak leaf and acorn motif found in the Middleton family coat of arms, which was granted ahead of the royal wedding.
The earrings were designed to complement the tiara Kate wore for the nuptials, the Cartier ‘Halo’ (below). You’ll notice the leaf echoes the scroll design on the tiara.
Despite their personal significance and sentimental connection to her wedding day, Kate wears the earrings infrequently (in public at least). Since 2011, she has only been photographed wearing them at the Order of the Garter celebrations in 2016, on Easter Sunday in 2019 and at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party last year.
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I’ll see you tomorrow, should Kate attend Royal Ascot.
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