Every Time Kate Middleton Has Wowed as a Wedding Guest
An ode to Princess Kate’s style—all the way back to 2005.
Getting dressed as a wedding guest is somewhat of an art. Wedding-goers have to follow vague dress codes and they, of course, can’t upstage the bride. That’s why we’re consistently impressed by how masterful Kate Middleton is at wedding guest fashion. And maybe it’s because she’s had a lot of practice: By our count, the Princess of Wales has been to at least 22 weddings since 2005. After seeing her stun at the wedding of Jordan’s Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif, it only seemed fitting to look back at her best wedding guest style, which has certainly evolved through the years.
The Princess of Wales typically follows the following formula: a statement dress on its own or a dress paired with one of her signature coats, plus a matching hat or fascinator—with her outfits getting more monochromatic over the years. While this combination isn’t unusual for British society weddings, Kate reinvents the look every time with a fresh take on an old favorite (that’s right—she’s not afraid to repurpose pieces she’s worn before) or a new garment by one of her go-to designers, like Alexander McQueen.
Get inspired by scrolling through a few of our favorite outfits Kate Middleton has worn as a wedding guest.
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2005: Hugh van Cutsem and Rose Astor
Kate Middleton, who was dating Prince William at the time, attends the wedding of Hugh van Cutsem (King Charles’s friend from Cambridge) and Rose Astor at Burford Parish Church in Burford, England.
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A young Kate sports a black fascinator, cream blazer, and black and cream skirt for the society wedding.
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2006: Laura Parker Bowles and Harry Lopes
Kate wears a cream coat dress with matching statement fascinator for the wedding of Laura Parker Bowles (Queen Camilla’s daughter) and Harry Lopes in Wiltshire, England.
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2008: Lady Rose Windsor and George Gilman
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For the occasion, she wears a black feathered fascinator with her signature long and wavy blowout.
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2009: Nicholas van Cutsem and Alice Hadden-Paton
Wearing a blue Jane Troughton brocade coat, Kate chats with a friend at the wedding of Nicholas van Cutsem (Hugh’s son) and Alice Hadden-Paton.
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2010: Harry Meade and Rosie Bradford
Kate joins Prince William at the wedding of friends Harry Meade and Rosie Bradford in Northleach near Cheltenham, England. The couple were reportedly engaged at this time, but it had not been announced publicly yet.
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Kate wears a cobalt blue silk dress, reportedly by Issa, to the wedding.
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2011: Sam Waley-Cohen and Bella Ballin
A few months after her own wedding, the then-Duchess of Cambridge attends the big day of friends Sam Waley-Cohen and Bella Ballin in Berkshire, England.
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If this black and white dress looks familiar, it’s because it garnered international attention when Newsweek featured it on a controversial magazine cover.
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2011: Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall
Ahead of the wedding of Zara Phillips (Princess Anne’s daughter) and Mike Tindall, Kate wears a bright green dress for the couple’s pre-wedding party.
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Here she is at the actual wedding, standing next to brother-in-law Prince Harry in a monochromatic ensemble.
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Famous for repurposing outfits, Kate also wore this cream coat dress to the wedding of Laura Parker Bowles and Harry Lopes in 2006.
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2013: Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mark Tomlinson
William and Kate traveled to Switzerland for the wedding of friends Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mark Tomlinson.
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Kate chooses a matching dark brown clutch and hat for the winter wedding.
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2012: Emily McCorquodale and James Hutt
Kate attends the wedding of Emily McCorquodale (Princess Diana’s niece) and James Hutt in Grantham, England, pairing a Jenny Packham dress with one of her signature coats and a fascinator. If the dress looked familiar at the time, it’s because she had worn it to a polo event in Santa Barbara, California, the year before.
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For this more formal occasion though, she pairs the dress with a Katherine Hooker coat.
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2013: William van Cutsem and Rosie Ruck Keene
Kate was pregnant with Prince George at the wedding of William van Cutsem (another one of Hugh’s sons, who would become one of George’s godparents) and Rosie Ruck Keene near Oxford, England. Once again demonstrating how she rewears pieces, Kate had worn this Topshop polka dot dress to a visit to Warner Bros Studios with William and Harry a month earlier.
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She elevates her look for this wedding with a matching fascinator.
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2014: Lucy Meade and Charlie Budgett
The Duchess of Cambridge attends the wedding of friends Lucy Meade and Charlie Budgett in Chippenham, England, with Prince William and Prince Harry.
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Another guest at the wedding famously wore the same Missoni coat.
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2017: Pippa Middleton and James Matthews
Kate chooses a blush Alexander McQueen dress for the wedding of her sister, Pippa Middleton, and James Matthews. Their mother, Carole Middleton, wore a similar pale pink.
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Kate smiles at a young Princess Charlotte—whose bow sweetly matches her mom’s dress.
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Sticking to her wedding guest formula, Kate chooses a matching fascinator and elegant updo for Pippa’s wedding.
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2018: Princess Eugenie of York and Jack Brooksbank
The Duchess of Cambridge chooses Alexander McQueen again—this time, in a brighter pink—for the wedding of cousin Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
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Kate chooses a Philip Treacy fascinator with a netted veil for the occasion.
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As Kate’s style has evolved, so has her hair. Instead of her signature long blowout here, Kate styles the fascinator with an off-center updo.
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2018: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
Pictured with Prince George, William, and Princess Charlotte, Kate wears a coat dress by one of her favorite designers, Alexander McQueen, for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding.
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Kate speaks to Princess Charlotte, who served as a bridesmaid at her uncle’s wedding.
