5 Times Princess Kate Seemingly Upstaged Prince William and King Charles

Princess Kate, over the years, has increasingly found herself at the centre of the royal spotlight, often drawing attention away from other senior royals. From King Charles’s Chelsea appearance to Prince William’s Earthshot Prize and major state visits hosted by the monarch, her presence has repeatedly generated substantial media and public attention. Royal commentators have also pointed to her growing “soft power,” suggesting her appeal can sometimes shift the focus even when she is not the principal royal at an event.

During Donald Trump’s 2025 state visit, Kate again attracted extraordinary attention despite Charles being the principal host. Royal biographer Ingrid Seward acknowledged the unusual pressure, saying, “There was a lot of pressure on her because all eyes were on her.” She added that Kate “is the weapon, not a secret one," describing her as a “doyenne of perfect manners” in conversation with People. Trump himself appeared particularly engaged with Kate at the banquet, stating, "To see Her Royal Highness, Princess Catherine, so radiant and so healthy, so beautiful. It's really a great honor."

At the 2023 Chelsea Flower Show, Kate’s appearance alongside Charles reportedly became a bigger media story than the monarch’s own presence. Dressed in a pink shirt dress, Kate was heavily covered by the press as she chatted with schoolchildren. ABC News noted that the situation turned into a discussion about whether Charles was being overshadowed by his glamorous and popular daughter-in-law. The outlet argued that Kate "knocked her father-in-law off the front page of almost every British newspaper.” Royal journalist Gaby Hinsliff, writing in The Guardian, also added that Kate has “the kind of soft power politicians would kill for.”

Kate’s 2026 role at Nigeria’s state visit offered another example of her ability to command attention during an occasion formally centred on Charles, William and President Bola Tinubu. For the banquet, she wore a flowing forest-green Andrew Gn gown with Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot tiara, the colour a nod to the Nigerian flag. Such was also the case when the royal family hosted South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee in November 2023. Kate, for the day, opted for a monochromatic scarlet red cape-style coat by Catherine Walker & Co. Praising her, Christopher Andersen, in a 2026 interview, told Fox Digital, "Apart from her obvious crowd-pleasing star power, no one wields soft power more deftly than Kate.” Body language expert Judi James, in a conversation with the Daily Express, added, "Kate's dress was simpler than usual in an un-flashy, serious-looking, flowing bottle green, but she has never looked fiercer, wearing the teardrop tiara as though it were made for her, with her posture and facial expression exuding new levels of confidence at the kind of event that, in the past, might have seen her looking nervous."

The 2022 Earthshot Prize in Boston was William’s flagship environmental initiative, yet Kate’s appearance became a major part of the event’s visual narrative. The Princess wore a striking emerald-green Solace London gown rented through HURR, turning her fashion choice into an extension of the evening’s sustainability message. British Vogue noted that Kate “knows fashion can send a message,” while Broadcaster and photographer Helena Chard told Fox News that William has previously remarked that crowds come for "Princess Catherine, not him," and that he has joked about feeling like he is “venturing into his wife's territory” because Kate is the real draw.