Kate Looked Every Bit the Future Queen During Her Latest Outing — But Fans Have One Major Complaint
Princess Kate's butter-yellow Patrick McDowell dress at Garter Day turned heads— but not everyone was impressed with its pattern.
Princess Kate has mastered the art of balancing tradition, symbolism, and modern appeal through her savvy fashion choices. Her latest appearance at Garter Day on June 15 was no exception, as she stepped out in a butter-yellow Patrick McDowell coat dress that perfectly complemented her slender frame. While many praised the look, a handful of royal watchers questioned whether the traditional fabric and styling felt a little too conservative for the Princess of Wales.
For those unversed, this year's Garter Day marked Kate's debut in a Patrick McDowell outfit, which championed British craftsmanship and sustainable fashion, a cause close to her heart. As reported by Vogue, the tailored design featured a sculpted silhouette, sharp shoulders, an angular lapel, bold buttons, and a nipped-in waist, creating a sophisticated and grounded look. The fabric was a bespoke English rose silk damask woven by historic British textile manufacturer Stephen Walters & Sons. The Princess paired the ensemble with a matching wide-brimmed hat by Jane Taylor and earrings from her 2011 wedding, as she proudly watched the parade alongside Duchess Sophie.
After pictures of Kate's outfit were posted on a royal fashion Instagram account, the Daily Express reports that a netizen opined, "The fabric is for the elderly, but the hat's shape just isn't it. Catherine looks amazing in a more vertical-shaped hat; this one is too harsh." In a similar vein, an observer scoffed, "Oh, a coatdress - who could have guessed this... And the fabric looks sooo outdated." Royal watchers on X (formerly Twitter) also harbored the same views, with one noting, "What is with these matronly coat dresses? She is such a beautiful woman, and these dresses, including the powder blue Trooping dress, do nothing for her." As the comments poured in, another echoed, "Her outfit is beautiful, but it looks like something she should be wearing in a decade?"
This year, the Princess of Wales marked ten years of attending Garter Day, having first attended as Prince William's girlfriend in 2008. Almost two decades earlier, William received his knighthood in the Order of the Garter, and Kate's presence alongside Prince Harry meant that the royal family had accepted the young woman into their orbit. At the time, she opted to wear a chic black polka-dotted skirt suit with a Phillip Somerville hat, reflecting a subtle contrast from casual to a more regal look.
