It looks like the wine red color trend ruling fall 2024 is so inescapable, it landed on Princess Kate's radar. But she added her special touch to the burgundy hue splashing collections from Saint Laurent to Staud by reaching back into her royal archives.
The Princess of Wales appeared to re-wear a Roland Mouret suit that debuted on her December 2022 trip to Boston, in photos shared on her official Instagram account on Wednesday, Oct. 2. Meeting with 16-year-old photographer Liz Hatton, in the royal's first appearance since completing chemotherapy treatments in September, Princess Kate can be seen in a wine red, single-breasted blazer and coordinating trousers. Close-up shots of the royal hugging Hatton also showcase a pair of gold earrings by Cassandra Goad.
In another shot, a camel-colored shirt can be seen layered underneath Princess Kate's blazer. At her side, Prince William wears his navy blue military uniform.
Princess Kate's Oct. 2 engagement was in service of Hatton and her family. The young photographer is currently undergoing treatment for desmoplastic small round cell tumour. Upon learning her diagnosis in January, she set out to tackle a photography bucket list. That list included meeting the royals—which happened when Prince William invited her to take photos at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, per the Daily Mail.
The photos give royal followers insight into a special, rare appearance before the public eye. Princess Kate announced in March that she herself had been diagnosed with an as-yet undisclosed form of cancer. Before sharing that she had completed her treatment last month, she had limited her engagements to June's Trooping the Colour ceremony and the Wimbledon Men's Finals in July. On both occasions, she chose to either re-wear pieces from her existing wardrobe or tap a favorite designer: first a white ribbon-embellished dress by Jenny Packham, then a purple dress by Safiyaa.
Roland Mouret, the purported designer behind this Wednesday's wine red suit, is a frequent contributor to Princess Kate's wardrobe. In addition to the 2022 Boston visit where she likely wore the same set, she has also tapped the designer for a camel suit (on a 2023 charity organization visit) and several evening gowns. Her specific burgundy set has also appeared two more times in her official engagement outfits, per the style blog What Kate Wore. Back in January 2023, the Princess wore the same suit for a reception honoring England’s World Champion Wheelchair Rugby Team at Hampton Court Palace. Ten months later, in November 2023, she chose the same separates again for a reception ahead of the Shaping Us National Symposium in London.
Princess Kate's color choices often carry special meaning and symbolism. Her purple Safiyaa dress at Wimbledon, for example, was interpreted as a "sign of courage" while she was still undergoing treatment. Theories surrounding her dip into the wine red trend haven't yet surfaced at press time. Perhaps the bold shade is a reflection of how she's reportedly "amazingly brave and is doing so well" following her treatments this year. Nonetheless, it made a strong impression.
