Princess Kate’s 5 Iconic Royal Ascot Looks — and What She Might Wear This Year

Every fashion enthusiast knows that some outfits have the power to age like fine wine. While they do so, they also end up predicting future trends. As anticipation is at an all-time high for Royal Ascot 2026, many royal watchers believe Princess Kate may have already hinted at what she could wear next. After organizers named ‘bright tomato’ the event's first-ever Color of the Year, attention has turned to one of her most memorable Ascot appearances. Her striking red ensemble from 2023. If history is any indication, the Princess may already have the perfect style blueprint for her return. Here are five standout looks that continue to define her Ascot race-day fashion legacy.

In her only Royal Ascot appearance as Princess of Wales so far in 2023, Kate opted for a bold red Alexander McQueen midi dress in which a pleated neckline and billowing skirt stood out the most. She also donned a Philip Treacy hat, red Jennifer Chamandi pumps, Sézane earrings, and a vintage Hermès Rio clutch. The outfit has a new significance now after Royal Ascot unveiled ‘bright tomato’ as its core shade for 2026. As per Ascot's website, creative director Daniel Fletcher explained, "For 2026, we're seeing a distinct shift towards confident, expressive colour with bright tomato set to take centre stage as a defining shade in occasion wear, bringing a bold new direction for the Royal Ascot palette." Given that Kate took a liking to the shade years before it was officially recognized, many believe she may revisit a similarly vibrant look this season. Due to her chemotherapy treatment, the Princess had stepped back from public events, including the Royal Ascot in 2024 and 2025. Hence, her return this year is all the more anticipated.

Before that iconic scarlet moment, Kate delivered another standout fashion look in 2022. Right after a two-year interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the royal family returned to Ascot during the sweltering summer of that year. Kate chose an elegant polka-dot Alessandra Rich midi dress paired with a Sally-Ann Provan Naeva boater hat and a chocolate-brown clutch. Designer Alessandra Rich later reflected on the outfit and said, "She looked so beautiful. It was a crepe de chine, with an asymmetrical hem. She was like light in it; she looked amazing. It was the perfect choice for this incredible event." The sophisticated outfit became one of the defining styles of her Princess of Wales era.

Kate's 2019 appearance marked her return to Royal Ascot as she had taken the previous year off following Prince Louis' birth. The then-Duchess of Cambridge chose a fairytale-inspired powder blue blouse and skirt set by Lebanese designer Elie Saab. She layered the elegant ensemble with a Philip Treacy hat, silver Gianvito Rossi pumps, and a matching Elie Saab clutch. The polished look depicted a growing confidence in Kate’s high-fashion dressing while maintaining the elegance that one expects from a future queen.

Back in 2017, royal fans noticed that Kate's enduring relationship with Alexander McQueen was already becoming a signature of her royal wardrobe. She attended Ascot alongside her mother, Carole Middleton, and other members of the royal family that year. She decided to wear a delicate white lace dress from the British fashion house. It was styled with a white fascinator and a Loeffler Randall clutch. The outfit carried subtle bridal influences and brought focus to the refined aesthetic that would become a defining aspect of many of her most celebrated fashion moments.

Kate's first Royal Ascot appearance took place in 2016, i.e., five years after marrying Prince William. Still, as the then-Duchess of Cambridge, she embraced regal elegance in a white Dolce & Gabbana lace midi dress. She paired the look with a Jane Taylor disc fascinator, an L.K. Bennett clutch, and pointed Gianvito Rossi pumps. The polished debut instantly established Kate as one of Ascot's most closely watched style figures. Now, a decade later, with ‘bright tomato’ set to dominate the 2026 event, it is her bold 2023 look that may once again shape the coming conversation.