The Princess of Wales looked polished in a maroon Emilia Wickstead coatdress this afternoon as she joined her husband in welcoming US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump to the United Kingdom.
The President and First Lady arrived at Stansted Airport yesterday evening (below) ahead of a two-day State Visit hosted by the King and Queen.
They were formally welcomed on behalf of the monarch by the US Ambassador and Viscount Hood, a Lord-in-Waiting and royal courtier.
This marks the Trumps’ second official visit to Britain, their first taking place in 2019 during the late Queen Elizabeth II’s reign. (Pictured below, President Trump and Queen Elizabeth during the previous State Banquet.)
At the time, William and Kate played only a limited role in the State Visit, with the late Queen still head of state and Charles then Prince of Wales.
This time is markedly different: with Charles now King and William first in line to the throne, the Prince and Princess of Wales are more closely involved, and will join the President and First Lady at several engagements over the next two days.
At noon, the couple met the President and First Lady in the grounds of Windsor Castle before accompanying them to meet the King and Queen.
Queen Camilla, who missed yesterday’s funeral for the Duchess of Kent due to acute sinusitis, had recovered well enough to take part in today’s State Visit engagements.
What followed was Britain at its most ceremonial.
The US delegation received a full welcome, beginning with a Royal Salute on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle, echoed by gun salutes fired from the Tower of London.
From there, the President and First Lady joined the King, Queen, Prince and Princess of Wales in a carriage procession through the Windsor estate.
The Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment provided the Sovereign’s Escort, while the route was lined by members of the Armed Forces and accompanied by bands from the Royal Marines, the Army and the RAF.
As the procession moved off, both the American and British national anthems rang out across the estate.
Arriving at Windsor Castle’s Quadrangle, the President and First Lady were greeted by a guard of honour comprising the Grenadier Guards, Coldstream Guards and Scots Guards—the first time all three state colours have featured together at such an occasion.
After inspecting the guard with the King, the party moved inside the castle for a private lunch and a viewing of artefacts from the Royal Collection that highlight Anglo-American history.
Following this, the Trumps visited the late Queen Elizabeth II’s tomb in St George’s Chapel and laid a wreath before attending a Beating Retreat on the East Lawn of Windsor Castle, where they also viewed a Flypast.
This evening, the Princess joined the Trumps and the Royal Family for the traditional grand state banquet, which also took place at Windsor Castle. I will be covering the banquet in a separate post in a few hours’ time.
Tomorrow, the Princess will join Melania Trump at Frogmore Gardens to meet the Chief Scout, Dwayne Fields, and members of the Scouts’ Squirrels programme as they learn about nature to achieve their ‘Go Wild’ badge. Her Royal Highness has been Joint President of the Scout Association since 2020.
Let’s move on to talk about the Princess’s outfit today.
Kate’s outfit for the State Visit
The Princess returned to her tried-and-tested daytime formula for state occasions this afternoon: a tailored coatdress in a single, impactful shade.
Opting for a single block colour has become something of a signature for Kate, allowing her to stand out cleanly in photographs while maintaining a timeless look. (See below, Kate during recent state visits.)
Today, the Princess wore a maroon Emilia Wickstead coatdress.
It was particularly well-judged. The autumnal tone felt seasonally appropriate against Windsor’s grey skies, yet rich enough to hold its own against the lush green of the lawns where the Trumps’ helicopter landed, and later the beige stone of Windsor Castle’s Quadrangle.
Could I also suggest that the deep red-purple hue created a subtle diplomatic echo of both the Union Jack and the Stars and Stripes? Or is that a reach too far?
Visually, her choice provided pleasing contrast for us Royal Watchers. The jewel-toned burgundy shade stood apart from Queen Camilla’s royal blue ensemble and from Melania Trump’s navy look, ensuring each woman maintained her own style identity in group photographs.
Let’s take a closer look at each piece worn by Kate now.
As I wrote above, the Princess wore a bespoke burgundy coatdress by Emilia Wickstead.
The garment has a slight fit-and-flare shape, is nipped in at the waist with a matching belt. The double-breasted front features two rows of large burgundy buttons, which provide a structured, almost military-inspired look. The garment also features a sharp lapel, slim full-length sleeves, and a mid-calf-length pleated skirt.
The piece is very similar to Emilia Wickstead’s “Chaney” coat dress (shown below), which is part of the designer’s current ready-to-wear collection.
It’s identical in colour and similar in shape, with its double-breasted cut, midi-length fit, flare skirt and belted waist. However, the Chaney has key differences too—it has more of a classic ‘notched’ lapel, the skirt has more visible front pleats, and the bodice features an additional row of buttons. The belt is not integrated into the piece and is worn on top.
The Chaney reads slightly more “ready-to-wear tailored dress” while Kate’s piece is custom, softened for royal daytime wear.
It’s also very similar to the Wickstead piece Kate wore to receive the South African President in 2023.
If you’re hoping to buy the Chaney dress, it’s no longer available to purchase ready-to-wear, I’m afraid. You would either need to register your interest on the product’s webpage, or contact the atelier directly and order the same dress made to measure.
Kate often turns to Emilia Wickstead for her most high-profile moments, cementing the designer as one of her go-tos for polished royal dressing. Wickstead’s structured silhouettes and refined tailoring have become synonymous with the Princess’s public image. (Below, Kate wearing Emilia Wickstead at a garden party earlier this year.)
For those less familiar, Emilia Wickstead is a New Zealand-born, London-based designer celebrated for her modern yet ladylike aesthetic. After training at Central Saint Martins, she launched her eponymous label in 2008, quickly gaining a reputation for elegant occasionwear with a contemporary edge. Her collections are defined by clean lines, architectural cuts and timeless fabrics—qualities that have attracted a devoted clientele ranging from royals to red-carpet regulars.
Let’s talk about Kate’s matching hat, now. It’s another Jane Taylor design. (The Princess also debuted a Jane Taylor hat at yesterday’s funeral for the Duchess of Kent.) Today, she wears the milliner’s ‘Neso‘ hat.
Jane Taylor describes the piece as being crafted from “luxurious felt and finished with a sleek satin bow, and hand dyed veiling.”
An identical hat is listed in the ‘made-to-measure’ section of Jane Taylor’s website for £2,330. If you need a hat for your own special event, note that delivery takes 2-4 weeks.
A ‘ready to ship’ version of the Neso hat in blue, crafted from Italian satin, retails on the milliner’s website for £2,234.
Kate’s worn dozens of hats and headpieces from Jane Taylor over the years. The Princess has worn the milliner’s designs on many high-profile occasions, such as Royal Ascot, at all three of her children’s christenings, at her sister’s wedding, at Trooping the Colour and at several National Services of Thanksgiving. (Below, Kate wearing a Jane Taylor design on St Patrick’s Day in 2023.)
Jane Taylor London is a Knightsbridge-based millinery house founded in 2004, celebrated for its elegant blend of couture craftsmanship and modern design. With its atelier tucked in Walton Street, the studio is helmed by Jane Taylor and her team of artisans, who draw on art, sculpture and textile heritage to produce beautifully sculpted hats, fascinators and headpieces.
The Princess brought back her Chanel ‘Art Nouvelle Small Flap Bag’ in burgundy for today’s state visit welcoming ceremony.
The piece, rendered with Chanel’s signature quilting, features an ornamental handle made from enamel and brass, and features the brand’s interlocking CC logo on the closure. The piece is made from calfskin leather. One designer handbag blog dates the piece to Chanel’s 2015 Fall-Winter collection.
This is the seventh time that we’ve seen the Princess carry the bag to date. She debuted the item during a visit to France in 2017 (below).
LoveThatBag.ca priced the Chanel bag at $6,225 in 2015—I’d expect that’s Canadian Dollars. Today, that is the equivalent of $4,525 US Dollars, or £3,315 Pound Sterling.
Getting your hands on Kate’s exact Chanel bag is pretty tricky; it’s a rare piece. However, if you’d love to add this bag to your collection, you’re in luck. While researching this post, I found ONE for sale at The Luxury Closet (a popular luxury pre-loved fashion website) for $3,742 USD / £2,682 GBP. Woo.
Kate’s no stranger to the French luxury fashion house; she has several Chanel pieces in her wardrobe. Alongside this burgundy Chanel bag, she has one additional Chanel handbag, a Chanel “WOC” or Wallet On Chain, a vintage blazer in electric blue (below), and a stylish tweed coat dress.
Founded in 1910 by Coco Chanel, the label has long been synonymous with elegance and sophistication. Gabrielle “Coco” Chanel’s vision was to create comfortable yet stylish pieces, blending simplicity with refinement. Today, Chanel remains a global symbol of luxury, extending its influence across fashion, fragrances, handbags, and jewellery.
Let’s move on to Kate’s shoes now. The Princess debuted a new pair of heels for today’s State Visit: the Gianvito Rossi ‘Gianvito 105‘ pumps in a rich shade of chocolate brown suede.
The skyscraping stilettos are handcrafted in Italy. They feature a pointed toe, 105mm stiletto heel and leather sole. They’re made from supple suede and leather
Want to buy a pair of the elegant pumps? They retail for £650 at Farfetch.com and Harvey Nichols.
Can you believe, this is the ELEVENTH pair of Gianvito 105 pumps Kate’s added to her closet? They’re a style she has turned to again and again over the past decade. Her ever-growing collection now spans a full spectrum of shades, cementing the design as one of her ultimate wardrobe staples. (Below, Kate wearing the heels in another colour, at Trooping the Colour earlier this year.)
The Princess is also a long-time devotee of Gianvito Rossi footwear, owning an impressive 23 pairs of shoes and boots from the Italian designer.
Gianvito Rossi, son of renowned shoe designer Sergio Rossi, launched his eponymous brand in 2006 and quickly established himself as a master of refined, elegant footwear. His shoes are celebrated for their sleek silhouettes, impeccable craftsmanship and enduring appeal—qualities that have clearly won the Princess’s loyalty.
Now, let’s turn to Kate’s ruby and diamond jewellery. (Apologies for the necklace picture—it’s the only one I can license right now. I will swap it out in a few days when I’ve sourced a better alternative!)
The maker remains unknown, but each earring features a pear-shaped ruby encircled by diamonds, suspended from a trio of diamond studs. The necklace echoes the design, with a delicate ruby pendant framed by diamonds and set on a fine chain.
You might remember that the Princess wore the earrings and necklace during the VE Day commemorations earlier this year (see below)?
At first glance, many thought the pendant was the same as the ruby necklace Kate wore during the 2017 Poland tour (below). However, eagle-eyed royal watchers have confirmed this is a different piece.
Sorry, I cannot tell you anything more about the earrings and necklace—thankfully, there is plenty known about the brooch. (Again, I will source a better photo in the coming days.)
It’s the Prince of Wales Feathers brooch—a historic royal heirloom.
The diamond jewel was originally presented to Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1863 as a wedding gift from the ‘Ladies of North Wales’ when she married the Prince of Wales, the future King Edward VII.
The brooch is designed with 18 round-cut diamonds encircling the heraldic badge of the Prince of Wales, and accented with small emeralds.
A cabochon emerald pendant can be suspended from the base, though the Princess chose to omit the drop today (she’s worn it with the pendant before). Removing the pendant offered a cleaner finish against her tailored coat. It’s a styling choice that allows the diamond surround to shine while complementing the deep, autumnal tones of her coatdress.
This heirloom has a rich history of royal wearers: it passed from Princess Alexandra to Queen Mary, then to the Queen Mother, and was later given to Diana, Princess of Wales, as a wedding gift in 1981. Camilla began wearing the piece in the early 2000s.
This is the third time we’ve seen Kate wear the brooch to date. She debuted it for the South African State Visit in November 2022 and wore it again a few months later, for the Commonwealth Day Service in March 2023 (below).
Leave a Reply