Tartan season is here, and nobody wears the design better than the Princess of Wales.
As it’s St Andrew’s Day today, and with the festive season officially kicking off tomorrow (December 1st), it’s the perfect time to celebrate Kate’s best checked, plaid and tartan looks*.
From crisp Blackwatch coats to vivid tartan skirts and cosy winter checks, here are some of her standout plaid moments over the years:
The Bold Red Tartan Moment
Kate wore this bold and festive look to a Christmas festival at Cardiff Castle, during the 2020 Royal Train Tour.
She enhanced her beautifully tailored, vibrant red Alexander McQueen coat with a tartan maxi skirt by Emilia Wickstead, layering on a matching scarf for warmth.
She added black accents to contrast with the red—a cosy roll-neck sweater, suede pointed Ralph Lauren boots and a smart leather bag by Grace Han. Her gold hoops by Spells of Love—a Welsh designer—were a thoughtful finishing touch.
I can’t close this section without including the similar look she wore years earlier at a Christmas party for military families:
On that occasion, Kate styled the dramatic red skirt in a similar way, pairing it with a simple black knit by Brora and the same pointed boots. She added a touch of Christmas sparkle with her diamond Mappin & Webb earrings.
Such a gorgeous look!
Staying in the festive spirit, let’s move on to the Christmas Day look that fans still talk about…
The Fan-Favourite Tartan Coat Everyone Remembers
Kate could not have found a more literal festive coat for the traditional church service at Sandringham on Christmas Day in 2018.
The playful green-and-red tartan coat from Miu Miu was an instant hit with fans—and remains a firm favourite to this day.
She styled the coat with black suede TOD’s pumps, bow-topped Cornelia James gloves, her Mulberry Bayswater clutch and Kiki McDonough earrings, finishing the look with a cosy black alpaca hat. A perfect festive flourish.
This coat resurfaces every winter on social media — it’s one of the most recognisable Christmas Day looks she’s worn.
Fast forward a few years, and Kate reached for tartan again—this time across the Atlantic…
The Chic Green Tartan Look Seen Around The World
The Princess showcased a handful of iconic British brands during her visit to Boston for the 2022 Earthshot Awards:
The standout item? A super chic tartan dress from Burberry. She wore the garment under an Alexander McQueen coat, completing the polished look with a matching Mulberry satchel, Emmy London heels and Shyla London pearl earrings.
One to never shy away from a literal dressing moment, Kate kept her entire ensemble green as a nod to Earthshot—the global environmental initiative launched by her husband.
The Polished Blackwatch Moment
For her first engagement of 2023, Kate kicked off the year in a striking blue-and-green Blackwatch coat by Holland Cooper:
She layered the coat over a navy Cefinn dress and styled it with her green Mulberry handbag, navy Gianvito Rossi pumps and sapphire earrings.
It’s one of her strongest winter looks to date in my opinion—crisp tailoring, classic colours and a sleek silhouette.
And on the Scotland tour, she reached for checks once more—this time with a little luxe…
The Check Coat in Edinburgh
For the Cruella screening at Holyroodhouse in 2021, Kate chose a refined checked coat by Holland Cooper.
The head-turning blue, purple and green print made a statement on its own. It’s a gem of a coat—and I sincerely hope she’ll wear it again soon.
No evening look is complete without a hint of sparkle, which her gold lurex pleated skirt from Joseph provided beautifully. Forest-green Manolos and sapphire-and-diamond earrings loaned by the late Queen tied it all together.
Finally, the tartan touch that deserves to be included…
The Subtle Strathearn Scarf Accent
While visiting Orkney in 2021, Kate wore a camel Massimo Dutti coat and gold Temperley London knit, letting her Strathearn tartan silk scarf take centre stage.
I wanted to include this look because it moves away from the usual reds, greens and blues strongly associated with plaid. The tonal camel outfit was elevated, modern and stylish. A very replicable and wearable look for us non-royals, I think.
Kate paired the outfit with Emmy London accessories and earrings from Hamilton & Inches, an Edinburgh-based jeweller.
That’s the end of my round-up. Is there a look I missed that you think ought to be here? Do you have a favourite? Let me know in the comments below!
*A quick note on terminology:
In modern usage — especially American fashion terms — tartan is considered a type of plaid. But technically, the words have distinct meanings:
Tartan
A specific woven pattern of intersecting stripes, traditionally linked to Scottish clans. Each tartan has a named “sett” — the official sequence of colours and line placements. Not all tartans are clan tartans; many modern tartans are created purely for fashion.
Plaid
Originally a Scottish word for a blanket or wrap. Today, particularly in North America, “plaid” is used as a broad term for criss-cross patterns, including tartans.
In everyday UK usage, people often use “plaid” and “tartan” interchangeably.
Checks
Simpler repeating square patterns such as gingham, windowpane or graph checks. These fall under the wider umbrella of “checked fabrics” but are not tartan.
A small extra:
Modern tartans can be officially registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans, though fashion tartans don’t need to be registered.
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