5 times Kate Middleton rocked regal fashion at Royal Ascot: the Princess of Wales’s best looks, starring designer dresses by Dolce & Gabbana, and Alexander McQueen – and Queen Elizabeth’s earrings
It’s tradition, darling – every year, the well-heeled of Britain don their finest suits, dresses and hats for the Royal Ascot.
The Berkshire racecourse for which the event is named – founded in 1711 by Queen Anne – naturally always hosts members of the royal family for the event. But Kate Middleton had been married to Prince William for more than five years before she made her debut.
Since her inaugural appearance in 2016, she’s been seen annually wearing elegant dresses, eye-catching hats and heirloom jewellery. For this year’s event, she stepped out in her boldest Ascot look to date with a vivid red dress by Alexander McQueen.
Here Style remembers Kate’s best race-day looks over the years.
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1. White lace Dolce & Gabbana dress, 2016
For her first Royal Ascot appearance, she wore an A-line dress by the Italian luxury label, which had a high neckline, long sleeves and a full skirt, with nude pumps by Gianvito Rossi, a woven clutch bag by LK Bennett and pearl drop earrings.
For her hat – a Royal Ascot must – she wore a gold-hued number with a large cream rose. It was designed by one of her favourite milliners, Jane Taylor.
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2. Alexander McQueen dress with Queen Elizabeth’s earrings, 2017
“This year Kate made a return appearance, and … if you thought you were in fact looking at a picture of her at last year’s Royal Ascot, it would be understandable,” wrote Vanity Fair’s Josh Duboff in 2017, despite also noting that the latest dress had a higher neckline.
Her custom white hat was also similar to the 2016 design, although it had additional, delicate floral embellishments.
She also wore earrings reportedly borrowed from Queen Elizabeth.
3. Sky-blue Elie Saab dress with velvet polka dots, 2019
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The sky-blue dress features velvet polka dots, sheer sleeves and a large bow detail. She finished the look with a hat by royal favourite Philip Treacy.
Her topaz and diamond earrings were by Kiki McDonough.
4. Polka dot dress by Alessandra Rich, 2022
Beyond the polka dots, her 2022 outfit shared other elements with her 2019 look, from the cuff sleeves and fitted waist to the high neckline. This midi-length dress also had a pleated design across the chest.
She paired it with brown pumps and a brown clutch.
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She also wore a saucer-style hat by Sally-Ann Provan and a pair of diamond and pearl earrings that had once belonged to Princess Diana.
Her brown hat was designed by Sally-Ann Provan – another favourite milliner of the royals, and it featured white orchid embellishments.
5. A bold red dress by Alexander McQueen, 2023
Middleton returned to the races earlier this month in a dress featured a V-neckline, a belted waist and long sleeves with a slight puff. She wore coordinating red heels by Jennifer Chamandi.
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Her coordinating hat by Philip Treacy featured large flowers, keeping with her floral-hat theme, and she finished the look with a pair of black and gold earrings by Sézane – a departure from the heirloom jewellery she’s worn to the event in the past.
- Middleton stunned next to Prince William in a bright red Alexander McQueen dress at Royal Ascot last month – but it’s far from her first designer turn at the races
- She debuted a white lace Dolce & Gabbana dress in 2016 and recycled her 2019 Elie Saab look at Buckingham Palace in March – but what meaning lies behind he heirloom jewellery?