The Princess of Wales has won the affection and admiration of people across the globe in part due to her dedication to fashion frugality.
Not one to carelessly waste the Firm’s funds on new clothing — specifically coats, dresses and sweaters, she’s often found in her royal garments while living her normal life outside of her role serving the Crown.
On countless private occasions over the years she’s recycled her casual clothing from her working hours and intermixed select items into her off-duty style.
Here are 24 Times Kate Middleton Wore Her Royal Outfits Off-Duty:
1. Red Alexander McQueen Off-the-Shoulder Maxi Dress
The princess wore this red silk and chiffon blend ruffled hem dress for a birthday party in honor of the Queen in Germany in July 2017; later, she wore the same dress during her personal time for a party in honor of mother Carole Middleton in January 2019. She added a long black wool coat on top of the scarlet dress to celebrate her mother’s 64th birthday at Pippa Middleton’s house in London.
2. Black Polka Dot Skirt Suit
Princess Kate donned this two-piece fitted jacket and pencil skirt in Dublin at an art exhibit and again on royal duty at the 2008 Order of the Garter ceremony alongside Prince Harry. She later rewore the workwear ensemble for a visit to South Africa House in December 2013.
3. L.K. Bennett Madison Dress in Blue Multi
Looking chic for the warm weather, the princess wore this ‘demure and mindful’ silk midi for a stop at award winning British wine and spirits merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd with Prince William in late August 2015. The lilac dress reappeared for a Crown commitment — Kate stepped out in the colorful summer dress in Cambridgeshire in June 2022.
4. Barbour x Alexa Chung Edith Jacket in Sand
Clad in her countryside best, the princess donned this olive colored glossy waxed cotton jacket featuring a soft corduroy collar for a video appearance in November 2020 detailing the results of her early childhood survey called “5 Big Insights.” Later, the mom of three recycled the field jacket for two more official royal outings in April 2023 and November 2023. In addition, Kate wore the zippered jacket privately to visit the Sarah Everard memorial at Clapham Common in March 2021.
5. Cefinn Petra Shirtdress in White and Green Leopard Pansy Print
The princess wore this 100% silk maxi with a sash tie waist for an official royal engagement to visit Riversley Park Children’s Centre on June 15, 2023. Just a few days later, on June 21st, she was spotted wearing the dress again for a visit to tour Eton College with her family (though she traded her white Jimmy Choo pumps for more walking-friendly Camilla Elphick Alicia flats in black and taupe.)
6. Ralph Lauren Tori Breton Striped Top
The future Queen wore this striped boatneck for grocery shopping in Anglesey in August 2013 and again for a private family vacation to Mustique in February 2014. She got her money’s worth out of the casual horizontal cotton shirt and wore it for official duty in October 2013 and more recently for a video message in support of British athletes competing at the Paris Olympics in August 2024.
7. & Other Stories Floral Ruffled Maxi Dress in Yellow
Appearing in a budget-friendly look, the princess wore this long sleeve floral print shirtdress on royal assignment to introduce her Back to Nature garden exhibit in May 2019. Later she wore the dress in September 2021 with her Dune London Saddle Trim Toe Post Sandals while shopping privately with her two children (Prince George and Princess Charlotte) at a stationary store.
8. Erdem Cecile Navy Lace Dress
The princess opted for this dark blue sheath dress while on the job in Canada in June 2011. She later belted the slim sheath dress and added a fascinator for a friend’s wedding while off-the-clock in April 2012.
9. Satin Black and White Circle Dress by Zara
While not technically on-duty, Kate wore this geometric 50s style shift with a boatneck and cap sleeves for a formal function in June 2011 to attend the Berkshire wedding of friend Sam Waley-Cohen with her younger sister Pippa Middleton. She previously stepped out in the inexpensive dress at Boujis nightclub in London in 2007. The princess has frequently been spotted in Zara dresses off-duty.
10. Erdem Silver Embroidered Dress
Proving she’s a sustainable and eco-minded dresser, the princess wore this silver-grey embroidered dress with a floral motif by Canadian designer Erdem in mid-June 2012 to attend the annual Trooping the Colour parade. Appearing pleased with the elegant design, she recycled the look for an unofficial outing in late September 2012 at a friend’s wedding in Oxfordshire.
11. Max Mara Studio Grey Patterned Wrap Dress
The comely princess stepped out in April 2013 for a Hope House visit in this jersey wrap dress while expecting bouncing baby boy Prince George. Later, she wore the maternity-friendly crossover front dress during a travel day in April 2014 while visiting Sydney, Australia.
12. Diane Von Furstenberg Zarita Black Lace Gown
Proving she loves to reuse and recycle, Kate has worn this DVF gown on three official royal engagements and one private outing. She donned the lacy LBD to a friend’s wedding in West London a month after she debuted the designer dress for a Royal Variety Performance in November 2014.
13. L.K. Bennett Darwin Shearling Coat
The princess wore this chocolate brown sheepskin coat for seven off duty appearances including a soccer game in 2011, a shopping trip in London and a Kensington Garden walk along with a trip to a charity Christmas bazaar in 2012. In February 2023, she released a video for her Shaping Us campaign rewearing the decade-old coat.
14. Massimo Dutti Checked Wool Coat
Clad in this handcrafted wool checked coat to visit the University of Derby in October 2020, Kate looked like she was ready to ring in the autumn season. In February 2022, she was spotted leaving Peter Jones department store in Sloane Square wearing the same $350 midi coat. For the retail spree, she wore a chunky grey cable knit jumper from Ralph Lauren and a pair of Blundstone classic Chelsea boots in the shade stout brown.
15. Barbour Longshore Quilted Jacket in Navy/Marigold
Perfect for her sporty lifestyle, Princess Kate wore this chevron puffer for the first time on a royal visit to Northern Ireland in February 2019. A few months later in April, she stepped out in the quilted navy jacket privately for a fun day with the Tindall family at the Burnham Market horse trials in Norfolk.
16. Michael Kors Peacock Print Shirtdress
The princess has worn this patterned green shirtdress on three royal outings including for a visit to Blackpool in March 2019 and to attend church services at Crathie Kirk in August 2019. Not straying from her commitment to a more eco-conscious lifestyle, she also wore the midi for Christmas with the royal family in December 2019. Plus, she was seen in the dress privately while traveling with the Wales children at the airport.
17. Ridley London Virginia Midi
Looking chic for the summer, Kate wore this airy silk chiffon dress with a ruffled hem for a photography workshop for Action for Children in June 2019 at Warren Park. She was later spotted in the dress at a family gathering outside of work at the palace.
18. Joseph Camel Blush Coat
One of the princess’ favorite coats from her bachelorette days, Kate was fond of this dusty pink wool topper for casual celebrations and errands. She wore the cute coat for her mother’s 53rd birthday, a walking trip around London and a private trip to Waitrose supermarket in April 2018 while expecting Prince Louis. She also wore the stylish coat for an official royal excursion at the Cheltenham races with Prince William in March 2013.
19. Fjallraven Forest Green Ovik Re-Wool Sweater
A beloved jumper from her cozy family days off the Crown clock, Kate has worn this classic knitted sweater for an official visit to a wildlife garden in October 2018. Later, she wore the sweater for the Wales Christmas card and was seen in the pullover in August 2019 while spending time with the royal family at Balmoral.
20. Seraphine Fushia Knot Jolene Dress
Keeping her thriftiness in tact, the princess wore this gathered nursing dress in fuchsia purple for official baby photos with infant Prince George in August 2013 at the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire. She later donned the dress following the birth of Prince Louis for a walk with the family nanny Maria and Princess Charlotte in Kensington Gardens in mid-May 2018.
21. Ralph Lauren Custom Fit Riding Jacket
This $600 designer blazer made entirely of wool first appeared on Princess Kate a month before her wedding nuptials in March 2011 during a casual walk. Later, the jacket was used by the brunette beauty for official royal duty in August 2013. For her first public outing following the birth of Prince George, she wore the mossy green jacket along with a polka-dot Zara top and skinny jeans from Paige.
22. Mulberry Paddington Coat in Sky Blue
This tailored wool blend coat appeared on Her Royal Highness in private in February 2016 on the grounds of Kensington Palace after she attended an engagement with the Royal Air Cadets at St. Clement Danes Church. A few months later, she wore the topper on regular royal duty at Eastwood Park Prison in November 2016.
23. Chloe Gathered Orange Wool Blazer
One of Princess Kate’s pricier casual jackets, this $2250 wooden orange colored blazer first appeared on the mom of three in June 2021 at an Urban Nature Project. Later, she recycled the jacket in July 2022 to play photographer for Queen Camilla’s special July 2022 issue of Country Life Magazine.
24. Barbour Ladies Linhope Jacket
Kate wore this sage green featherweight jacket while meeting with the scouts in the Lake District of Northern England. She later recycled the coat in May 2016 for an off-duty outing with her children at the Houghton International Horse Trials. In addition, she wore the countryside coat privately for a visit to Bucklebury Farm Park with her mother Carole Middleton and a young toddler Prince George in April 2015.
