Kate Middleton Crowned Best-Dressed of 2026 ― While Another Royal Is Noticeably Absent
Kate Middleton has earned the honor of the being the best-dressed person this year but another fashionable royal missed the cut.
From Queen Elizabeth to Princess Diana, royal ladies have always been style icons. When Kate Middleton entered the monarchy in 2011, she unsurprisingly took forward the royal fashion playbook with her relatable style and thoughtful outfits. Over the years, the Princess of Wales turned fashion into a message board, serving sartorial tributes and recycling outfits. Her sister-in-law, Meghan Markle, is also rather stylish and has emerged as a fashion icon in the past several years. However, when it came down to it, it was Middleton who was crowned as the most fashionable person of 2026, while Markle was unfortunately snubbed from the list.
Tatler recently announced its 2026 best-dressed list, and Middleton took the top spot. Although the fashionable royal has earned the honor many times before, her last stint in the numero uno position was four years ago in 2022. From the blush pink gown at BAFTA to the most recent green cape dress at Wimbledon, the Princess of Wales has displayed some of her best looks this year. Calling her “Britain’s chicest figure”, the publication claimed that Middleton’s stunning outfits “light up royal occasions”.
In the past few years, the princess has largely been out of action due to her health struggles. However, as per Tatler, not only was she “back to health” but she was also back to “being a Brit-fashion heroine”. One of the key aspects of Middleton’s fashion choices is the messaging behind them. The beloved royal has mastered the art of flag dressing and sartorial tributes, and it was on display during the Nigerian state visit earlier this year. During the state banquet, she paired her favorite Cambridge Lover’s Knot tiara with a beautiful green gown by Andrew Gn, giving a subtle nod to the Nigerian flag.
The Nigerian state visit highlighted another important facet of Middleton’s stylistic decisions. As Tatler pointed out, “Here is a true style champion: showcasing homegrown designers on the world stage, and spotlighting up-and-coming London Fashion Week figures, as during the Nigerian state visit, when she wore a heather-grey coat dress from British-Nigerian cool girl Tolu Coker.” In fact, the entire look was a masterclass in mindful dressing. The attire was reminiscent of her late mother-in-law Princess Diana’s outfit, and to top it off, Middleton wore the late princess’s Collingwood pearl drop earrings to complete the ensemble.
While the Princess of Wales being the best-dressed person this year comes as no surprise, Markle’s exclusion from the list is certainly a shocker, given her interest in good styling. During a podcast in 2025, the Duchess of Sussex had said via The Daily Express, “The category of fashion is something I will explore at a later date, because I do think that’s an interesting space for me.” She even attended the Balenciaga show at Paris Fashion Week last year and has been spotted at various fashion events.
In 2025, Lady Lola Bute and Jazzy de Lisser were the dual winners of Tatler’s best-dressed list. And the year before that, it was Princess Beatrice who had received the honor.
