Kate Middleton highlighted the British textiles industry with visits to mills in England today—all while wearing the most perfectly tailored suit.
The Princess travelled across the south-east of England to explore the heritage, creativity and craftsmanship at two different textile mills, wearing a blazer and trousers in a Prince of Wales check and a black top from Boden. (Skip to outfit information by clicking here.)
The Princess started her day at Sudbury Silk Mills in Sudbury, Suffolk.
Jamie Lowther Pinkerton, now Lord Lieutenant of Suffolk, greeted the Princess warmly upon her arrival.
Mr Lowther Pinkerton worked as Private Secretary to the Prince and Princess of Wales before leaving the role in 2013. He is also Prince George’s godfather. The two remain friends.
Inside the mill, Kate spent time with the design team, learning more about their creative process.
She heard how the designers used Sudbury’s archives for inspiration and how their hand-drawn designs are transformed into future fabric creations.
On the weaving floor, Kate met members of the production team and learned more about their work before viewing the looms in operation.
The family-run weaving mill has been at the forefront of jacquard weaving and an integral part of the British textile industry for over 300 years.
Employing over one hundred people, the mill combines traditional artisanal design and weaving with the latest cutting-edge technology to produce fabrics of exceptional quality.
There are over 40 state-of-the-art looms in operation at the mill, producing a wide range of fabrics all custom-woven to order for leading fashion houses, interior designers, and heritage institutions.
A photo with the staff, spot the Princess:
Sudbury Silk Mills places great emphasis on its people and the local community, and takes pride in generating employment for local people into roles with training and long-term development, enabling them to grow their skills and knowledge.
As Kate left the mill, she spoke with a group of primary school children who had been patiently waiting outside. The Princess thanked the girls for waiting and asked if it was nice to be back at school following the summer break. All four girls said “no” in unison.
Kate exclaimed “no” back in mock disbelief, making everybody laugh.
The Princess concluded that the girls must have had a really good holiday before she moved on to greet others who’d been waiting.
Next, it was time for the Princess to make her way to Marina Mill in Cuxton, Kent.
This family business specialises in hand-designing and screen-printing furnishing fabrics.
During the visit, the Princess turned her hand to silk screen printing, mentioning that she’d not attempted the skill since her school days.
She acknowledged that it is a time-consuming process that’s really a “labour of love”, a nod to the skill of those working in the room.
The Princess flicked her hair into an updo without using any kind of hair tie or clip, effortlessly tucking in the ends as she chatted with staff, before getting stuck into the screen printing task.
Fans shared a video of the moment on social media:
Witchcraft!
Marina Mill, established in 1967, is known for its artisan craftsmanship throughout the production process, from hand-drawing all the artwork in their studio to screen-printing the designs entirely by hand.
Kate learned more about their work during her visit.
Based in an old Victorian mill on the banks of the River Medway, a small team of nine employees produce the fabrics using the traditional silk-screen method, and are all highly skilled in hand-printing, colour mixing and screen-making.
The Princess has a special connection to the textile industry. Her paternal great-grandparents, Olive Lupton and Noel Middleton, owned William Lupton & Co, a woollen mill in Leeds. The business was sold to AW Hainsworth in the late 1950s.
The Princess toured AW Hainsworth’s mill in Pudsey, near Leeds, in 2023. On the same day, she visited Standfast & Barracks, a fabric printing company in Lancaster.
Earlier this year, she visited the socks and knitwear manufacturer, Corgi, during a visit to South Wales.
While the mills are connected to Kate’s ancestry, I suspect there’s another reason behind these related visits. I think they’re connected to her position as a global fashion icon and an ambassador for British fashion as a Princess and a member of the Royal Family. From 2026, Kate will grant her own Royal Warrants. I think the “mill tour” is part of Kate’s efforts to understand supply chains and promote British craftsmanship as she researches the brands and companies she wishes to endorse.
I suspect she’ll grant Royal Warrants to some of the fabric producers, weavers and printers we’ve seen her visit, in addition to a few of her go-to designers, of course.
And that segues nicely into the next section of our post, where we discuss the Princess’s outfit and look at each piece in turn.
Kate’s outfit:
The Princess attended today’s engagements wearing a streamlined two-piece suit from Bella Freud.
Thanks to Mirela (via MiddletonMaven) for the ID.
Kate wore the British designer’s ‘Earl’ jacket and ‘Schoolboy’ trousers together, resulting in a sharp look that didn’t feel overly corporate.
The slim, elongated blazer and straight trousers demonstrated that tailoring can be modern. The pattern felt autumn-appropriate and balanced authority with effortless elegance.
Both pieces were crafted from a ‘glen plaid‘ or ‘Prince of Wales’ check fabric woven from a wool and linen blend in grey and blue tones.
Prince of Wales check […] is a woollen fabric with a woven twill design of small and large checks. It is usually made of black/grey and white, or with more muted colours, particularly with two dark and two light stripes alternating with four dark and four light stripes, which creates a crossing pattern of irregular checks.
Wikipedia
[…]
Glen plaid is also known as the Prince of Wales check, as it was first made famous by King Edward VII when he was Prince of Wales. The pattern was later popularized by King Edward VIII when he was Prince of Wales
The colours, of course, are appropriate for a royal still in official mourning (following the Duchess of Kent’s death last week).
Kate made a clever choice to wear a British designer and a heritage fabric during a visit to celebrate the skill, creativity and craftsmanship of homegrown textile manufacturers. It was almost a visual nod to the industry she was there to celebrate.
Let’s take a closer look at each of the separates now. The ‘Earl’ jacket features a single-breasted closure, flat-front pockets, a peak lapel and a deep break at the front.
The matching ‘Schoolboy’ trousers sit at a mid-rise and are cut with a straight leg.
Both items were available on the designer’s website in limited sizes earlier today, but sold out just before I clicked publish on the article. They retailed for £825 (blazer) and £525 (trousers).
Bella Freud isn’t a brand we see on Kate often—in fact, this is the only time she’s worn the label to my knowledge. (Unless I’m forgetting an obscure paparazzi shot or a once-worn blouse from long ago?)
The brand has a slightly edgier, more fashion-forward reputation compared to Kate’s usual rotation—so this feels like a subtle step into a more contemporary, directional space (though thankfully, she hasn’t quite taken it to the level of the, ahem, c-bomb t-shirt!)
Bella Freud is the great-granddaughter of Sigmund Freud and the daughter of the painter Lucian Freud. The designer worked in Vivienne Westwood’s store as a teenager, before later returning to work as Westwood’s assistant. After studying in Rome, Freud launched her own line in 1990. Her aesthetic mixes sharp (but not stiff) tailoring with expressive, often literary or punk-tinged accents.
The Princess kept the focus firmly on the suit’s clean lines with minimal styling, pairing simple gold and black accessories with the blazer and trousers. Let’s take a look at those now. Let’s start with the sweater.
The Princess wore a short-sleeved knit under her blazer. Mirela and MiddletonMaven believe the piece is by Boden; that it’s the same as the ‘smoky quartz’ knit we think she wore in 2021. I think she’s right.
The ribbed details look identical. The smoky quartz sweater was made from 100% cashmere sourced from Inner Mongolia. It had short sleeves, a semi-fitted shape, mid-hip length and featured rib detailing across the neck, cuffs and hem.
Boden sells a near-identical version of the cashmere t-shirt today. It’s named the ‘Eva’ style now. (Below)
It comes in four colours at present, charcoal (pictured), chinchilla, rose and purple. It costs $149 USD / £129 GBP. Click here to shop. (Also, both the USA and UK have an offer running at the time of writing, see the product page for details.)
Kate is no stranger to Boden, she has worn pieces from the British brand on several occasions—often printed midi dresses or smart daywear separates. The British brand’s polished yet approachable aesthetic fits her off-duty and daytime royal engagements. It’s an affordable high-street label she often turns to when she wants something practical but still polished.
Let’s look at Kate’s gold jewellery now. She’s wearing two pieces from the British jeweller, Daniella Draper.
Let’s start with the personalised necklace. The ‘Fixed Alphabet Necklace’ is crafted from recycled 9ct gold. Kate’s had it made with her children’s initials, G, C and L. The piece is designed and made in England.
The delicate 1.7 mm chain comdx in three lengths: 15″, 17″ or 20″. The price varies depending on what you order. The 15” chain with three initials would cost £625.
The “Maxi Cupid” hoop earrings feature two round brilliant cut diamonds and one baguette diamond on each hoop, totalling around 0.65cts approximately. Each hoop is also crafted from recycled 9ct gold.
The Princess owns eight pieces of jewellery from Daniella Draper, in total, cementing the brand as a rising favourite.
In addition to this piece, she’s been spotted wearing two pairs of gold earrings and five other necklaces from the company.
Draper’s brand’s become known for its handcrafted designs that have an organic, almost rugged charm. Although luxurious and meticulously crafted, her pieces often have a sort of ‘low-key’, lived-in feel. Awarded the Butterfly Mark by Positive Luxury, Daniella Draper is committed to sustainability throughout the company.
The Princess cinched her trousers with her Anderson’s belt.
The black belt features a croc-effect design and a shiny gold buckle.
Each belt is handmade in Parma, Italy, by leather artisans who use a 100-step process to craft these beautiful accessories.
Kate’s worn the belt on a handful of occasions since 2020.
Want to add this belt to your accessory collection? It’s still available at Net-A-Porter for $225 USD / £110 GBP.
Anderson’s is a fifty-year-old family-run business that makes fine belts and leather goods. Their team of craftsmen are dedicated to honouring Northern Italian skills and traditions.
Let’s finish with Kate’s shoes. I keep saying this phrase in regards to her recent outfits—but I think these are another blast from the past! (Kate has resurrected several older pieces recently.)
It looks like she’s wearing the Stuart Weitzman Power Pumps in black suede. Kate debuted the pumps over a decade ago (in 2014) and wore them many, many times until 2018. I thought they’d been retired in favour of the Gianvito Rossi 105 style she wore on repeat from 2016.
I expect they worked better with these trousers, for whatever reason! (I guess because they have a slightly lower heel height). Either way, it’s nice to see an item we’ve not seen for ages.
Update: It’s come to my attention that Kate COULD be wearing Stuart Weitzman’s newer ‘Power 100′ shoe—an updated design. I am not convinced. The new Power shoe has a shiny black sole. It looks like Kate’s shoes during the mill visits had a neutral sole, which, as far as I can tell, matches the old style Power pumps. The shape and heel height don’t look right to me either. I think it’s the old style.
But either way, I cannot confirm which shoe she is wearing right now. I’d need to see better shots of the soles to confirm.
Kate’s been photographed in several pairs of Stuart Weitzman shoes over the years, most notably the Rhumba suede boots, the Corkswoon wedges and the Minx Wedges—all key parts of her royal wardrobe a few years ago. She’s also carried their Muse clutch bag in four different colours regularly since 2011.
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