Kate Midleton Breaks a Major Royal Tradition With Her 'Bold' Look: 'It’s a Real Statement'
Princess Kate’s look for the German state banquet has sparked attention for all the right reasons. Royal watchers couldn’t help but notice her unexpectedly 'bold' style choice. She stepped into the spotlight with an ensemble that quietly but unmistakably challenged long-standing royal norms.
Queen Camilla and Kate have made a striking yet deliberate break from long-established royal tradition. According to former butler Grant Harrold, their bold, colorful wardrobe choices at the recent state banquet reflected the monarchy's evolving fashion. He argued that Kate’s lilac Jenny Packham gown and Camilla’s teal Fiona Clare creation were a purposeful and confident move away from soft white and cream shades preferred by the late Queen.
As per The Express, Harrold revealed, “This is very interesting, if you look at images of Queen Elizabeth II and state banquets she attended, royal ladies always wore cream or off white dresses. You would never in a million years wear the colors we are now seeing the Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla wearing.” He believes there is a deeper message behind this shift. “It’s a real statement, and it’s very much saying ‘this is a different era, this is a modern family with a different take on things’. It’s very jazzy and trendy… making a clear break from Queen Elizabeth’s very traditional and rigid stance.” The insider added, “Behind closed doors, I don’t know whether it’s Camilla, Kate’s, or the King’s idea… It is fascinating that this is now the dress code.”
Kate also wore Queen Victoria’s oriental circlet tiara, a piece she had never worn before, alongside earrings once owned by Queen Elizabeth, in what has been dubbed her 'dreamiest look to date.' It's one of the many ways she continues to pay homage to the late monarch’s legacy. The glittering Jenny Packham blue-caped gown with the royal family order was a spectacular blend of heritage and modern refinement.
The Princess’s evolving approach to royal jewels has also highlighted her growing role within the Firm. In 2023, she made history by wearing the Strathmore Rose Tiara and became the first royal to do so in a century. The diamond floral heirloom was originally a gift from the Queen Mother in 1923. The public had not seen a royal wearing the ornament since 1930. Kate revived it during the state visit of South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and First Lady Kim Keon Hee. This was another instance of her mixing historical significance with contemporary elegance.
This refreshed royal aesthetic was on full display in a new royal portrait the Walses released ahead of the state banquet at Windsor. In a post shared earlier this week, Prince William and Kate stood in front of a lit-up Christmas tree. The Instagram caption of the photo said, “Looking forward to a special banquet tonight in Windsor,” and included the German and the UK flag emojis.