In the decade since she stepped into the royal spotlight, Kate, Princess of Wales, has evolved into a true fashion icon, effortlessly blending tradition with modern elegance. At her first state banquet in 2015, a nervous Duchess of Cambridge, then still finding her fashion footing, chose a modest red Jenny Packham dress for a state banquet honoring President Xi Jinping of China. Although the dress was appropriate, it was not the statement style we now associate with her.
Fast forward ten years, and Kate has truly found her fashion stride, becoming a mainstay of royal fashion elegance and grace. Her recent appearance at a state banquet hosted for U.S. President Donald Trump in 2025 was a perfect example of her sartorial growth. Dressed in a stunning silk crepe gown by British designer Phillipa Lepley, adorned with hand-embroidered gold Chantilly lace, and finished with late Queen Elizabeth II’s diamond earrings and her iconic Lover’s Knot tiara, Kate looked every inch a future queen. Her long, wavy hair cascaded down her back, a departure from the tighter up-dos she once wore for formal occasions, adding a relaxed but regal touch to her look.
Kate’s style journey over the years has been a blend of confidence and grace. In 2018, she began experimenting with her royal wardrobe, choosing a powder blue Alexander McQueen gown for the state banquet honoring the President of the Netherlands. By 2019, during Trump’s first state visit to the UK, Kate embraced more modern, fun fashion choices, sporting a white ruffle-layered Alexander McQueen dress with her beloved Lover’s Knot tiara. Her growing confidence was evident as she accessorized with the Royal Victorian Order sash, bestowed upon her by Queen Elizabeth II.
As the Princess of Wales, Kate’s style has become even more polished. At her first state banquet as Princess of Wales in 2022, she chose a Jenny Packham gown from the designer’s bridal collection, complete with embellished shoulders and cape details. The look was bold and grown-up, yet still classically royal, symbolizing her new role and maturity within the royal family. In 2023, she took the style up a notch with long evening gloves and a Strathmore Rose tiara at a state banquet for the President of South Korea, a striking nod to royal history with a contemporary twist.
This year, Kate once again demonstrated her fashion evolution, wearing a cape gown by Givenchy for the French president’s visit, with her hair down and a modern, flowy design. The gown’s updated waistband detail echoed her early royal looks, while the dramatic cape added a sense of contemporary flair. Her confidence was palpable as she embraced both her royal duties and her evolving style, proving she is more than ready to take on her role as a future queen.
Over the last decade, Kate’s fashion choices have proven that she is not only a style icon but also a symbol of royal maturity, growing more comfortable and confident in her royal skin with each passing year. Whether it’s a chic modern gown or a classic tiara, Kate continues to captivate the world, showing that royal fashion can be both regal and relatable.
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