Kate Middleton Continues Flag Dressing Tradition in Wales at First Outing Since Style Controversy

Kate Middleton reached for red for a meaningful visit to Wales with Prince William, choosing a coat in a color of the national flag after a surprise style controversy.

On Feb. 26, the Prince and Princess of Wales visited Pontypridd in south Wales ahead of the national celebration of St. David’s Day on March 1, making the trip to meet local people and hear from those affected by severe flooding from storms in December 2024.

Princess Kate popped in a long red coat, making a flag-dressing statement in one of the shades of the Welsh national flag. Kate layered the coat over a muted brown outfit, continuing with a recent proclivity for subtle colors. Both she and William also pinned on daffodils, the national flower of Wales and a symbol affiliated with St. David’s Day. 

Taking a page from Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana, Princess Kate, 43, is known to diplomatically nod to the places she’s visiting through her outfits, wearing a hue or two from another country’s national flag. She has done the same for the kickoff of state visits, and her red coat on Wednesday was a sure tribute to Wales, whose flag has a red dragon at its center. 

Wales is a poignant place for Prince William and Princess Kate, who lived there before and after they married for William’s job as a search and rescue pilot. The tie was verified when King Charles made William the Prince of Wales upon his accession to the throne in September 2022, continuing centuries of tradition by conferring with him the historic title for the heir to the throne. Kate became the Princess of Wales in the same sweep, connecting her to her late mother-in-law Diana, who was also known by that styling.

The visit to Pontypridd was the couple’s first trip to Wales in over a year as Princess Kate underwent treatment for cancer in 2024 and reduced her royal duties during that time. The princess shared in September that she completed chemotherapy and announced on Jan. 14 that she is in remission.

Shortly after, Kensington Palace released a rare statement clarifying the policy for releasing details about Princess Kate’s wardrobe at official events. The update came after a Feb. 1 article in the Sunday Times, which implied that Princess Kate wanted to draw attention to her causes, not her clothes, as she returned to work after completing cancer treatment.

“She wants the focus to be on the really important issues, the people and the causes she is spotlighting. There will always be an appreciation of what the princess is wearing from some of the public and she gets that. But do we need to be officially always saying what she is wearing? No. The style is there but it’s about the substance,” the Sunday Times quoted a palace source as saying.

The speculation sparked a frenzy and several op-eds criticized the idea that Kate’s style should be downplayed, emphasizing the vital role her platform plays in highlighting British designers and boosting the U.K. fashion industry. Critics also argued that Princess Kate’s fashion choices not only honor Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth but also serve as an important link for connecting with the public.

On Feb. 11, a Kensington Palace spokesperson responded with a statement to PEOPLE.

“Over the last week, I have received numerous questions about a story regarding The Princess of Wales’s clothing and how Kensington Palace shares information about her outfits,” a spokesperson said.

“To clarify, the comments that appeared in the article were from me, not The Princess of Wales,” it continued. “The comments that were reported should not be directly attributed to The Princess of Wales. To be clear, there has been no change in our approach to sharing information about Her Royal Highness’s clothing.”

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The palace has not always disclosed details about what Princess Kate wears, and fans inspired by her style have taken it upon themselves to try and identify her clothes. 

Susan Kelley, founder of the original Kate style blog What Kate Wore, tells PEOPLE that the princess’ signature style will always be integral to her public persona. 

“It’s understandable that the Princess would like the emphasis to be on her work and not her fashion, and that’s a conundrum many women face, especially women in high-profile positions,” Kelley says.

“However, two things can be true. Journalists like myself, as well as bloggers, can cover both the work being done by the Princess and her fashion. I consistently hear the same message from my readers: I came for the fashion but stayed to learn about the causes.”

The Princess of Wales made an understated statement for her first outing after the Sunday Times report about her fashion credits and the designer of the chocolate brown wool-blend blazer she wore to join a kindergarten field trip to the National Portrait Gallery says the aesthetic is refreshing.

“I think she looks much more modern in the way she dresses now,” Petar Petrov, the Austrian-based designer, tells PEOPLE. “She looks relaxed, and I think she can win the hearts of people even more because she feels like a real person that people can connect with, like Princess Diana. That’s special and makes her even more relevant than ever.”