Royal Fashion: A Moment of Tribute at Trooping the Colour
Princess Kate made a highly anticipated and significant public appearance at King Charles III’s Trooping the Colour, the annual King’s Birthday Parade, in London on June 14, 2025. Her presence held particular weight as it marked her first major public engagement since announcing her cancer diagnosis and subsequently providing an update that she was in remission and able to attend the traditional event.
Beyond the personal significance, the Princess of Wales’s chosen attire for the day quickly became a focal point, appearing to weave together a deep homage to two iconic royal women: her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, and the late Queen Elizabeth II.
The Striking Aquamarine Ensemble
For the grand military parade, Princess Kate stepped out in a stunning aquamarine coat dress by British designer Catherine Walker, a style identified as the ‘Bria’. The vibrant wool coatdress featured distinctive ivory contrast lapels and cuffs, a detail that immediately resonated with royal fashion observers. Completing the elegant ensemble, she wore a matching hat by Juliette Botterill, nude high heels, and an Irish Guards regiment brooch, fitting for her role as Colonel-in-Chief of the regiment. Her hair was styled in a sophisticated chignon, complementing her natural makeup.
A Clear Fashion Homage to Princess Diana
The choice of a Catherine Walker coat dress in this specific style and color palette was widely interpreted as a deliberate and touching tribute to Princess Diana. Royal watchers drew immediate comparisons to an outfit worn by Diana at the 1988 Trooping the Colour – a similar shade of blue-green coat dress, also designed by Catherine Walker, that featured notably similar bold white lapels and matching hat. Catherine Walker was one of Diana’s most favoured designers, owning over 1,000 of her styles, highlighting the profound connection between Kate’s choice and her mother-in-law’s enduring fashion legacy. The resemblance was described by some as “almost uncanny,” solidifying the moment as a significant “fashion tribute” and the “ultimate twinning fashion moment.”
Honoring Queen Elizabeth II Through Jewels
Adding another layer of historical tribute, Princess Kate accessorized her look with the exquisite Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings. These significant jewels once belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II. The earrings have a rich history, having been created by the then Princess Elizabeth from a set of seven pearls gifted to her as a wedding present in 1947 by the Hakim of Bahrain. The design features round diamond studs with suspended Art Deco-style round and baguette-cut diamonds culminating in the two unique Bahrain pearls. Queen Elizabeth II was known to have loaned these earrings to Princess Diana in 1982, a piece Diana was fond of and frequently wore, often paired with the iconic Lover’s Knot Tiara. By wearing these historic earrings, Kate paid a heartfelt homage to her husband’s grandmother and underscored the continuity of royal heritage.
Mother-Daughter Style & Charlotte’s Own Tributes
Adding a sweet dimension to the day’s fashion narrative, Princess Kate’s daughter, Princess Charlotte, subtly coordinated her outfit with her mother’s. Charlotte wore a dress in a lighter shade of aquamarine, leaning towards baby blue, creating a charming mother-daughter style moment that signifies their close bond. This visual echo brought to mind a parallel from 1988 when a young Prince Harry matched his mother Diana’s blue-green outfit with aqua suspenders.
Princess Charlotte also paid a distinct and touching tribute to her late great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. She was seen wearing a small, delicate horseshoe-shaped brooch pinned to her lapel on the Buckingham Palace balcony – a clear nod to the Queen’s lifelong passion for horses. This historic brooch, originally owned by the Queen Mother, was gifted to Charlotte by Queen Elizabeth II herself and was previously worn by Charlotte at the Queen’s funeral in 2022. The intentional coordination between Kate and Charlotte, alongside Charlotte’s personal tribute, further reinforced the idea that royal fashion at such major events often carries deliberate messaging, as seen in their equally coordinated, yet contrasting, looks at the 2024 Trooping the Colour.
A Significant Royal Return and Position
Princess Kate’s prominent position during the 2025 ceremony held deep symbolic weight. She stood alongside King Charles and Queen Camilla on the dais at Horse Guards Parade and later on the Buckingham Palace balcony. This placement was interpreted as a distinguished honor and a significant moment in her royal journey. Coming after her period of treatment and recovery, it symbolized her strong return to a more visible and central role within the family, showcasing unity and resilience alongside the monarch. Royal observers noted that such carefully crafted imagery at key events is rarely accidental, suggesting this prominent appearance was a deliberate statement following her health update.
Other Royals in Attendance
The Princess of Wales was joined by other key members of the Royal Family for the celebration. King Charles III, who is also undergoing cancer treatment, attended the parade, riding in a carriage alongside Queen Camilla rather than on horseback as he had in previous years. Queen Camilla wore an elegant white ensemble. Prince William, in full uniform, participated by riding on horseback alongside Princess Anne and Prince Edward. Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis rode in a carriage with their mother before joining the senior royals on the balcony for the traditional RAF flypast. Young Prince Louis once again charmed onlookers with his enthusiastic waves and smiles. Prince George and Prince Louis wore suits with red ties, subtly echoing the colors in their father’s military uniform. Notably, King Charles and other senior royals were observed wearing black armbands as a mark of respect for the victims of the Air India plane crash.
Understanding Trooping the Colour
Trooping the Colour is an annual ceremonial parade that has marked the official birthday of the British Sovereign for over 260 years. The elaborate event involves more than 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses, and 400 musicians, culminating in a spectacular RAF flypast watched by members of the Royal Family from the Buckingham Palace balcony.
Princess Kate’s elegant appearance at the 2025 Trooping the Colour was far more than just a fashion moment. Through her carefully chosen outfit and significant jewelry, she paid layered tributes to both Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth II, while her prominent presence alongside the King symbolized continuity, heritage, and her own resilient return to public life within the Royal Family.
