In her 15 years as a senior working member of theRoyal family, the Princess of Wales has undertaken more than 20official overseas visits, but this week she will land in Italy’s Reggio Emilia for her first foreign tour since 2022.
Each of these trips has featured a jam-packed itinerary, and an impeccably judged wardrobe that is practical, diplomatic and stylish in equal measure. There is always intention and meaning behind each outfit choice. Catherine’s “tourdrobes” have become such important storytelling tools that myfashion editor colleaguesand I plan evening and weekend rotas during royal tours so we can report on each outfit in real time.
Much of this organisation, planning and foresight was the responsibility ofNatasha Archer, the formersenior private executive assistantto the Prince and Princess of Wales. It must be a monumental task that now falls on the shoulders of her successor, Jamie Earlam.
Over the years, we’ve seenCatherine’s personal style evolvefrom 20-something newly minted Duchess with a taste for high-street fashion and espadrille wedges to future Queen with elegance, gravitas and a roster of go-to designers who understand what she’s trying to achieve.
As she prepares to embark on her visit to Italy, we look back at the Princess’s most memorable royal tour looks.
United States, 2011
This was such a “wow” moment. At the Bafta Brits to Watch gala in Los Angeles, even the A-list were star-struck by the newlywed Duchess (she met Tom Hanks, Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Lopez). Catherine turned to her wedding-dress designer, Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen, for this pale-lilac gown cinched at the waist with a silver belt. She wore the same gown 10 years later for the 2021 Earthshot Prize Awards – a strong sustainable style statement.
Tuvalu, 2012
This was the year of the late Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, and as part of those celebrations, William and Catherine travelled to Singapore, Malaysia, the Solomon Islands,Tuvalu, New Zealand and Australia. Catherine arrived in Tuvalu in a yellow broderie anglaise dress by a private dressmaker. With a floral crown and a strand of beads around her neck, herappearance echoed that of Queen Elizabethon her own visit to Tuvalu in 1982.
Australia, 2014
The couple returned to Australia in 2014, now with a baby Prince George in tow. For their arrival in Sydney, Catherine wore a vibrant yellow dress, a bespoke design by British label Roksanda. With a verdant bouquet in hand, she echoed Australia’s national colours: green and gold. The“Kate Effect”was at its peak, and sales of yellow dresses surged around the world.
Canada, 2016
By 2016, the couple had another child in tow, and on their departure from Victoria, Canada, Princess Charlotte’s cuteness was deployed in the name of soft diplomacy. With Catherine in a cream Catherine Walker coat adorned with the late Queen’s maple-leaf brooch, and Charlotte in a red cardigan and shoes, they reflected the colours and motif of the Canadian flag.
Advertisement
Bhutan, 2016
This was the stand-out look from the couple’s visit to Bhutan: a cape top from French label Paul & Joe, which paired beautifully with herKira-style skirt. It was made by a London tailor using handmade Bhutanese fabric. It typically takes five people three months to create the intricate textiles, which are dyed and woven with silk using traditional techniques.
Paris, 2017
What else but head-to-toe Chanel for an official visit to Paris? Catherine chose a dress made from tweed – the house’s signature textile – the use of which wasinspired by Coco Chanel’s visits to Scotland with her then-lover, the Duke of Westminster. It was completed by a belt, bag and shoes all bearing the double-C logo. It’s very unlike Catherine to wear accessories that are so overtly branded, but when in Paris...
Pakistan, 2019
Catherine arrived inIslamabadin a turquoise ombré tunic and trousers that paid homage to the salwar kameez traditionally worn by women in Pakistan. The draped neckline echoed the shape of a traditional dupatta shawl. The outfit was made by Catherine Walker & Co, a label much loved by Princess Diana that created a number of her most famous ensembles – including outfits for tours in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
The label’s designer (and the late Walker’s widower), Said Cyrus, alluded to the fact that they had looked back at Diana’s looks when coming up with designs for this tour. “I remember that discussion with Catherine,” he toldThe Telegraph. “We were trying to find some symbolism.”
Ireland, 2020
This was the couple’s last tour before the pandemic took hold, and one on which Catherine seized the opportunity to celebrate all things Irish in emerald green. The standout moment came on an evening visit to theGuinness StorehouseinDublin, for which she wore a metallic silk chiffon dress by The Vampire’s Wife. The “Falconetti” dress was a signature of the now-shuttered house, and would have cost £1,595.
The dress was cemented in fashion history in 2022 when it was chosen for British artist Jamie Coreth’s first portrait of William and Catherine as a couple.
Belize, 2022
Who knew Catherine was a savvy vintage shopper? This was proven to us on the Prince and Princess’s departure fromBelize, for which she wore a vintage Yves Saint Laurent safari jacket that, we were told, she purchased years ago when she was a student at St Andrews University. It was teamed with McQueen trousers, a Mulberry bag, Aquazzura courts, Anthropologie earrings and a Halcyon Days aquamarine bangle.
Bahamas, 2022
This icy-blue Phillipa Lepley gown was hailed as a fairytale moment, and a fitting finale of Catherine’s Caribbean tourdrobe. The shade of the dress echoed the aquamarine hue of the Bahamian flag, andVan Cleef & Arpelsjewellery, a Lulu Guinness clutch bag, and sheer, sparkly Gianvito Rossi heels, completed the Cinderella image.
Try full access to The Telegraph free today. Unlock their award-winning website and essential news app, plus useful tools and expert guides for your money, health and holidays.