Princess Kate’s regal style has been praised by fans online after footage captured in the aftermath of the death of Queen Elizabeth II has resurfaced on social media.
Since joining the royal family in 2011, Kate has become one of the monarchy’s most-celebrated style icons. Her outfits are regularly reported upon by the world’s fashion press and inspired countless trends, articles and social-media posts. Reports estimate Kate’s value to Britain’s fashion economy at over $1 billion, and she is one of the most-prominent promoters of British designers on the world stage.
In January, Kate stepped out of the public eye to undergo abdominal surgery after which it was announced last month that she had been diagnosed with cancer. During a video message providing the public with a health update, Kate said that she was undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy and that, though she was looking forward to returning to royal duties when she could, her focus now was on her recovery.
In the absence of any new and current appearances, fans of the princess have taken to social media in recent weeks to share highlights from past engagements online.
Ian Vogler-WPA Pool/Getty Images
Uploaded to TikTok by user @paulsonssfilms on April 10, footage of Kate dressed in a symbolic black outfit in 2022 has won praise, marking an important moment in her evolution as a member of the royal family.
The footage was captured by news cameras on September 22, 2022, covering a visit by Kate and Prince William to volunteers and operational staff in Windsor, Berkshire, England, who had played a role in organizing and manning the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II that took place three days earlier.
The queen died at the age of 96 on September 8, 2022, and her life and reign was commemorated throughout Britain, with a number of ceremonies and tributes attended by members of the royal family.
For these ceremonies and engagements, the royal family members were ordered by the new King Charles III to observe “court mourning.” This is a period where, out of respect for the dead, the royals and their staff wear black and scale back their public appearances.
Being celebrated for her style, Kate’s wardrobe of black outfits worn during this period out of respect for the late queen won her more praise from fans and the fashion press. This was an important transitionary moment for Kate personally; she saw her position in the royal family change from Duchess of Cambridge to Princess of Wales and, ultimately, the queen-in-waiting.
For the meeting with funeral volunteers and organizers in Windsor, Kate wore an elegant black, double-breasted coat dress designed by Dolce & Gabbana. It was styled with a simple black suede pair of the princess’ favorite high-heeled pumps and pearl earrings.
The TikTok footage of Kate’s appearance at the event has received more than 23,000 likes and over 250 comments, many of which have praised her appearance.
“Her style is everything,” wrote one user. “All of her black outfits after the queen died were just so perfect.”
“She’s beautiful and classy. Everything Diana was has transcended into her while still being herself,” posted another, with a further comment reading: “Her aura is something else.”
James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek‘s royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.