The Royally Strict Fashion Rule Princess Kate Rarely Breaks

When it comes to fashion, the British royal family is well known for its extremely strict protocols. The hemlines, the colors and accessories are to be chosen carefully. Although some royals have been known to bend those expectations, others like Catherine, Princess of Wales, tend to take a more traditional, conservative approach to dressing.

One of the guidelines that sticks out the most concerns the color black. For us regular “peasants,” black is a staple of pretty much every modern wardrobe. But historically, the royals have associated this color with mourning, so unless they happen to be attending a funeral, memorial service, or another solemn occasion, tradition dictates that dressing head-to-toe in black is a big no-no.

Princess Diana was a famous example of a royal who gave precisely zero ducks about that particular convention. She embraced the color black as an important part of her personal style, often wearing black dresses and gowns simply because she was going to do whatever she pleased. Kate, on the other hand, has taken a vastly different approach. She is most frequently seen wearing bright colors, soft colors, or carefully coordinated prints when she appears at public engagements. When she attends weddings, she opts for colorful dresses and sophisticated neutral ensembles, but at the same time she is careful not to upstage the event itself.

It should be noted that we are in no way implying that black doesn’t suit Kate. We would never suggest such a thing! On the contrary, the Princess of Wales looks like the future Queen of England in color, and if some fashion insiders had their way, she’d be wearing black regularly.

In an interview with The Times in 2023, Carine Roitfeld, the former editor of Vogue France, expressed the opinion that if she were Kate’s fashion consultant, she’d fill her royal closets with all manner of black outfits. She’d even take things up by a notch by suggesting black eyeliner and more influence from French designers such as Chanel. Ooh la la.

We think Carine is onto something here. Black has such a natural elegance that suits Kate’s understated style. The color instantly turns a formal outfit into something sophisticated without the need for elaborate embellishments. And since the Princess is all about clean silhouettes, it’s something she could pull off without it being associated with mourning.

When the Princess Broke this Rule

Okay, even Princess Kate isn’t beyond breaking the rules and wearing black as a fashion choice on occasion. For instance, in 2011 she attended the Sun Military Awards in London donning a black strapless gown. The form-fitting velvet dress garnished a lot of attention and was universally seen as a bold choice. It was also easy to perceive it as being a nod to her husband Prince William’s late mother, who, as we’ve noted, loved wearing black dresses throughout her life. But at the same time, Kate’s gown wasn’t a direct copy of Princess Diana’s style.

Another memorable example of Princess Kate dressing in black came in 2012, when she attended the London premiere of War Horse. This time she wore a stunning black lace gown. It was a dramatic look to be sure, but the lighter details and intricate lace differentiated it from somber attire. She kept the rest of the look relatively simple. Instead of adding all sorts of accessories, she wore subtle jewelry and went with a curly hair style that didn’t distract from her outfit.