On April 9th, 2023, Princess Kate looked supremely stylish in a sapphire colored coat for Easter Sunday Service at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. Wearing a bold blue single-breasted topper courtesy of Catherine Walker for the bunny themed day, Kate radiated ‘BQE’ — Big Queen Energy.
The mom of three was elegant in the single-breasted crepe coat with covered buttons and structured shoulders. She paired her recycled ‘Mayfair’ midi with a cobalt colored pillbox hat from Lock & Co and an Emmy London Natasha suede blue clutch.
Many Firm Fanatics were pleased to see the princess in a colorful coat. Yet, Kate’s appearance at Easter last year was most notable not for her regal attire but rather a small cosmetic detail. The princess nearly broke the Internet with the simple and ‘rebellious royal’ act of *gasp* painted nails.
Kate’s bright tips gave royal watchers serious pause — the intriguing manicure was the first time the British beauty wavered from an unwritten royal dress code of strictly bare and buff digits. Shunning nude and neutral nails, Kate’s vixen capped hands marked a symbolic turning point.
As she prepares to ascend the throne, the now 42-year-old is proving she’s a princess powerhouse and won’t be bogged down by outdated etiquette or expectations. Even when it comes to her use of nail enamel. The princess is pivoting from her days of soft shades and pale pinks to richer reds. (Previously Kate would always circle back to ‘barely there’ glass or milk polishes like her wedding enamel by Essie called Allure).
And while her colorful fingernails at Easter may have provoked a strong reaction, the princess has actually been stealthily painting her famous feet for years.
Here are 5 Times Kate Middleton Secretly Wore Nail Polish on Royal Duty:
1. Red-y or Not
Shunning the Queen’s favorite sheer pale pink Essie Ballet Slippers polish in favor of a deep burgundy shade for her toes, Kate was a stylish standout at the meeting of the Thirty Club dinner at Claridge’s in London in May 2012. The royal beauty paired her Roland Mouret Lombard floor-skimming cream gown with champagne glitter platform sandals by Jimmy Choo along with a pretty pedicure.
2. Breaking all the Royal Rules
In July 2017, the princess was visiting the land of beer, brats and Beethoven, when she stepped out in a Markus Lupfer ‘Wild Sparrow’ sleeveless bird print dress. Bringing her fashion A-game to a dancehall in Berlin, the princess was her usual blend of grace and poise. Still, while royal watchers were intrigued with Kate’s German Lookbook, they were most mesmerized by her polished feet. The princess wore nude Prada beige suede scalloped sandals with rebellious red polish.
3. Mystic Mermaid
In a glamorous green Jenny Packham Tenille sequin gown, Kate looked like a storybook princess in Pakistan in October 2019. With an air of sea siren, the princess was sartorially splendid in her shiny emerald gown. Inciting a royal revolution, Kate was ready to take the backlash from palace purveyors of pale polish when she declined boring beige glaze. Playing makeup maverick, Kate wowed with her striking scarlet toes.
4. Party Polish
At the reopening of Hintze Hall at the Natural History Museum in London in mid-July 2017, Kate brought her sparkling smile and luscious locks to the evening affair. Enjoying a ‘night at the museum’, the British beauty looked sensational in a pale blue fit and flare ‘Everly’ dress by Preen. The short sleeve dress paired perfectly with plum Prada scalloped heels and a defiant coat of crimson polish.
5. Teal Appeal
Throwing that royal etiquette book out the window, Kate invited a flurry of fascination with her tantalizing teal Packham ‘Aspen’ dress accented with scandalously high Jimmy Choo silver metallic pumps. While the low-cut dress and boudoir lace might have been enough to send courtiers reeling, it was Kate’s merlot colored toes which shattered the Crown ceiling.
