Kate Middleton’s Effortless Farm Look: How She Nailed the Quick Change in Northern Ireland.HL

On October 14, 2025, Prince William and Princess Kate made an unannounced trip to Northern Ireland, embarking on a surprise away day filled with visits to local organizations. The royal couple, both 43, kicked off their day at the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service’s (NIFRS) new Learning and Development College in Cookstown. There, they participated in firefighter drills and learned about the training of the next generation of emergency responders.

Kate Middleton’s two outfits in Northern Ireland on Oct. 14, 2025.

For the first part of their visit, Kate wore an olive green Alexander McQueen coat dress, a piece she has had in her wardrobe for at least five years. Known for her skillful recycling of outfits, Kate had previously worn the dress during a 2020 visit to Bradford Town Hall and again for a royal Christmas outing in 2022. As the royal pair left the firefighter education center, Kate quickly changed her outfit, swapping the long jacket for a shorter coat, revealing a brown skirt underneath. She also exchanged her heeled boots for flat shoes, readying herself for the next stop on their itinerary.

Their next destination was Mallon Farm, a flax farm located in County Tyrone, which is dedicated to reviving flax production for linen in an eco-conscious way. At the farm, Kate got hands-on, trying out a restored heritage machine used for “breaking and scutching” flax—a critical part of the linen-making process. She and Prince William learned from farm owners Helen Keys and Charlie Mallon about how flax goes from “field to fibre to fabric.”

Prince William and Kate Middleton visit Northern Ireland on Oct. 14, 2025.

As part of the visit, the royal couple met with Northern Irish linen designers and manufacturers, continuing Kate’s longstanding support for the British textiles industry. This sector has been an important part of the U.K.’s cultural and creative heritage, and Kate’s interest is also personal—her paternal ancestors were involved in the woollen industry through the company William Lupton & Co, based in Leeds.

Kate Middleton in Northern Ireland on Oct. 14, 2025.

The couple’s trip to Northern Ireland was a return visit, as they had last been to the region in October 2022, shortly after assuming their roles as Prince and Princess of Wales. Prince William had also visited Belfast in November 2024, where he experienced a motorbike simulator at a local university. This visit further emphasized their ongoing commitment to supporting local industries and fostering meaningful connections with communities across the U.K.