Kate Middleton Has Quietly Built the Chicest Vintage Wardrobe in Royal History

Below, we take a closer look at every known vintage piece she’s worn in public—each one carefully sourced, cleverly styled, and proof that royal fashion can be timeless, thoughtful, and trend-setting. Let’s start with a personal favourite of mine.

1) A Blooming Beautiful Find

I love this floral beaded bag, it’s so pretty. Kate clearly loves it, too; she has carried it multiple times.

She’s chosen it for Wimbledon (twice, once pictured above), a G7 leaders’ reception in Cornwall, and a couple of Buckingham Palace garden parties (one fairly recently, in 2022, pictured below).

This delicate clutch bag is believed to be a vintage piece by Josef. It dates somewhere between the 1930s – 1950s and features hundreds—if not thousands—of tiny ivory beads, carefully arranged around embroidered flowers and leaves in soft coral, blue, green and gold tones.

A similar piece listed on 1stDibs (the luxury online marketplace), suggests the embroidery may be Point de Beauvais stitch, a form of Tambour embroidery originating from France.

According to AntiquePeek.com, Josef was “well known for carrying some of the most fashionable of the French-made beaded evening bags”—and this dainty design fits that legacy perfectly.

Whether she’s mingling with guests in the palace gardens or cheering courtside at Wimbledon, Kate proves that vintage fashion can be just as relevant today as it was nearly a century ago.

2) Sparkle That Spans The Decades

Next, let’s look at another vintage clutch—an item we know the Princess has owned since before she joined the Royal Family.

The Princess carried this bag to a friend’s wedding in May 2010, and it’s made a handful of appearances at formal events since—most notably at the Royal Variety show in 2014 (pictured above), and again at the Festival of Remembrance in 2017 (below).

The petite flap-closure bag is believed to be a vintage design by a company called Magid. It features an intricate beaded pattern in a fan-like motif.

Magid, the brand behind the bag, has been around since 1916 and is known for creating high-quality accessories for major department stores like Nordstrom and Lord & Taylor.

Anna from My Small Obsessions identified the clutch as possibly dating back to the 1950s.

I don’t doubt that we’ll see the Princess with this sparkling bag again in the future.

3) Pearls Gone Glam

Let’s move on to a new item in Kate’s jewellery box now, a pair of gold and pearl cluster earrings that she wore during a visit to a prison mother and baby unit earlier this year.

I believe they’re a one-of-a-kind and vintage, sourced from Katherine James Jewellery. In February, I found an identical pair listed as ‘sold’ on their website.

Each earring features five luminous pearls nestled into an intricate coral-like setting, giving the piece a dimensional, organic look. Described as “mega-sized”, the earrings offer a subtle nod to vintage glamour.

Large pearl clusters haven’t been popular since the late 80s. I think we can agree Kate’s making them chic again.

Katherine James Jewellery is a London-based brand known for its striking collection of fine jewellery, with a focus on bold coloured gemstones and statement rings. The eponymous founder began by reselling her own jewellery on eBay, eventually turning her passion into a full-time business. Today, she operates from London’s famed Hatton Garden, offering a curated mix of modern, vintage, and antique designs.

Kate’s only worn these vintage beauties once in public so far, but I suspect that won’t be the last we see of them. They’re far too chic to stay hidden for too long.

4) Layers of Meaning

Sticking with the jewellery theme now, let’s look at Kate’s new five-strand pearl necklace.

The Princess debuted the statement piece at the UK’s Holocaust Memorial Day service in January 2025. It’s the only time she’s worn it to date, so far.

The necklace in question is vintage, dating to the 1980s. We know she acquired it from Susan Caplan’s ‘Rediscovered ‘ collection.

It features five graduated rows of luminous faux pearls. Each strand varies in size to create a waterfall effect across the neckline. The necklace is finished with a sparkling Swarovski crystal-embellished clasp and a weighted extension chain.

Susan Caplan, the Jewish-owned vintage jewellery brand behind the piece, shared on Instagram how honoured they were that Kate chose to wear it to mark 80 years since the Holocaust.

While the necklace dates back to the 1980s, on Kate, it felt fresh and timeless. Do I think we’ll see her wear this vintage piece again? Almost definitely.

Wish you could add this royal-approved vintage gem to your jewellery box? You can! It is still available to buy—at least for now—on Susan Caplan’s website, RRP £275.

5) Vintage in Full Colour

Now for something a little brighter—let’s take a look at the vintage sundress Kate wore during the royal tour of the Caribbean in March 2022:

It’s a beauty, isn’t it? During a visit to Trench Town in Kingston, Jamaica, the Princess stepped out in an attention-grabbing sundress, which featured coral, turquoise and yellow stripes.

The dress, an authentic 1950s piece sourced from Willow Hilson Vintage in Cheltenham, featured a joyful colour palette and a filigree-style black print that danced across the fabric in playful contrast.

Originally, the vintage dress came with spaghetti straps and a matching shawl—a classic mid-century silhouette. But Kate’s team cleverly repurposed the shawl fabric to make thicker straps, ensuring the look stayed modest while preserving its vintage roots. The result? A fitted bodice, cinched waist, and softly flared skirt that looked like something straight out of Grace Kelly’s holiday photo album.

This dress wasn’t just stylish—it made headlines because of what it stood for. Boutique owner Willow Hilson called it a “wonderful thing for the sustainable fashion industry,” noting the buzz it created among vintage dealers and advocates alike.

6) The Beaded Bag With a Past

And speaking of that Caribbean tour, we can’t skip over the fabulous vintage handbag Kate debuted one day after that now-iconic sundress. A 1960s beaded raffia bag:

Kate carried the petite tangerine-toned purse during engagements in Jamaica, teaming it with a crisp white Alexander McQueen pantsuit and a vibrant orange blouse.

The bag, sourced from Willow Hilson Vintage just like the sundress, added a much-needed pop of colour and texture to the outfit.

The piece sported a knotted raffia body interwoven with cheerful orange beads, finished with a structured brown wooden handle and a gold-tone twist-lock clasp.

The bag, by Dayne Taylor, was originally listed on the boutique’s website for £229. The brand produced raffia, straw and beaded handbags that were made in Japan during the 1950s and 60s.

As Grazia and other outlets pointed out at the time, this tour marked a new chapter in Kate’s fashion journey. By choosing not one but two authentic vintage pieces for the high-profile tour, she sent a message that sustainability and style can go hand in hand. Boutique owner Willow Hilson said the buzz it generated in the vintage fashion world was huge—and we can see why.

7) Power Dressing, Parisian Style

Switching gears to something a little more structured now, let’s talk about the vintage Chanel jacket Kate wore not once, but twice in late 2022.

It’s one of the most fashion-credible pieces we’ve seen in her wardrobe to date.

The striking cobalt-blue tweed jacket dates back to Chanel’s 1995 collection and originally graced the runway on none other than Claudia Schiffer.

Featuring a bold double-breasted cut with sharp shoulders, black braided trim, and gleaming gold CC-logo buttons, it’s peak ‘90s Chanel—equal parts elegance and attitude.

Kate first wore the vintage piece in October 2022, to mark the 10th anniversary of Coach Core (pictured above), pairing it with black wide-leg trousers and minimal accessories. The look was polished yet effortless.

Just a couple of months later, she brought the jacket back out in Boston for a night at a Celtics game (pictured below—proving that yes, a royal can recycle vintage designer at a basketball game and still look like the best-dressed woman in the arena.

By opting for this jacket, Kate tapped into the ongoing ’90s fashion revival. Vintage, yes. Dated? Never.

8) Pretty in Polka Dots (and Oscar de la Renta)

For our penultimate item, let’s rewind to one of Kate’s boldest vintage statements to date, a stunning polka-dot Oscar de la Renta dress from 1979.

This dress turned heads during the Princess’s 2020 visit to Dublin.

Worn to a reception on the first night of the royal tour, the fuchsia silk crepe dress was covered in dainty black polka dots and packed with dramatic flair.

From the high ruffled “pie-crust” collar to the jabot-style frill down the front (both trimmed in black velvet), the dress offered a clear nod to Princess Diana’s early-royal-era style—and to the Victorian-inspired silhouettes that were so popular at the time.

Designed by Oscar de la Renta for his Autumn/Winter 1979 collection (Look 38, no less), the dress featured gathered shoulders, double velvet-trimmed cuffs, and a belted waist, giving it that slightly exaggerated, ultra-romantic shape that was signature to late ’70s and early ’80s fashion. It’s shown above in another colour, via a Vestaire Collective listing.

Kate styled the dress with understated black accessories, allowing the vivid colour and vintage detailing to shine. And while it could have felt costume-y, on Kate it didn’t. In part, that’s thanks to the timing: as The Telegraph noted, polka dots and ruffles were making a high-fashion comeback in 2020. But the fact that the dress was genuinely vintage made it feel even more fashion-forward.

9. The Royal Rouge

Last but certainly not least, let’s talk about the elegant red clutch Kate carried at Royal Ascot in 2023. It wasn’t just any clutch—it was a vintage Hermès.

The Princess of Wales paired the Hermès ‘Rio’ Envelope Clutch in rich rouge leather with a flowing red Alexander McQueen dress and a coordinating hat, creating a bold, monochromatic moment at one of the year’s most formal events.

The clean lines and minimalist shape of the envelope-style bag were the perfect contrast to the romance of her outfit—timeless, chic, and unmistakably luxe.

The ‘Rio’ clutch dates back to the 1990s and has long since been discontinued, making it a rare find for collectors.

Crafted in Hermès’s signature Box Calf leather, the clutch features a logo-embellished gold snap button and matching gold hardware. One nearly identical version, listed on 1stDibs, came with a date stamp from 1992, suggesting Kate’s bag could be from the very same year.

According to Hello! Fashion, the Hermès Rio was most popular during the 1980s and 1990s, but is now nearly impossible to find, making Kate’s use of it all the more noteworthy. “She can officially add ‘vintage accessories muse’ to her sartorial accolades,” they wrote, and I’d have to agree.

Shop Hermès Rio clutches at 1stDibs and Vestiaire Collective.

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