Kate Middleton’s German State Visit Kick-Off Look Is Full of Hidden Meanings

Kate Middleton’s outfit for the start of the state visit from Germany was full of subtle symbols.

On Dec. 3, Princess Kate and Prince William greeted German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and first lady Elke Büdenbender at Heathrow Airport on behalf of King Charles as the incoming state visit began.

The Princess of Wales, 43, wore a blue coat by Sarah Burton (her bridal gown designer!) for Alexander McQueen, rewearing a piece that she previously sported on Christmas in 2023 and matching it with the same hat she wore on the holiday.

She layered the coat over a black Burberry dress with heeled boots and brought the sparkle with some sentimental jewelry.

Princess Kate wore a pair of sapphire and diamond earrings that belonged to Princess Diana and her all-diamond Prince of Wales Feathers Brooch without the emerald drop.

The Princess of Wales’ style championed British designers as she helped welcome the German president, bringing national fashion into the spotlight for the diplomatic duty. Princess Kate has increasingly made the British textiles industry a focus of her royal work in recent years, and her outfit on Wednesday reinforced that support.

It was also a poignant choice for her to wear jewelry that belonged to her late mother-in-law, Diana, who died in 1997, and the Prince of Wales Feathers Brooch, a nod to her husband and her Princess of Wales title.

Following his accession to the throne in September 2022, King Charles used his first speech as sovereign to announce Prince William as the new Prince of Wales, the traditional title for the male heir to the throne. 

Like Diana before her, Kate became the Princess of Wales as the heir’s wife and has gone by that title ever since.

The Prince of Wales Feathers Brooch was originally made as a wedding present for Princess Alexandra of Denmark in 1863, in a design inspired by the Prince of Wales’ badge. The badge features three feathers blooming out of a crown and has been affiliated with the royal title since the 14th century. 

She previously wore the heirloom brooch to officially welcome South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to the U.K. for a state visit in November 2022, just two months after becoming the Princess of Wales.

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Princess Kate and Queen Camilla had a matching moment in their blue hues on Wednesday, as the Queen also dressed in the color. Camilla, 78, sported a cashmere top-stitch coat by Anna Valentine over a silk dress, topped with a feather hat by Philip Treacy. She completed her look with a sapphire and diamond brooch that once belonged to Queen Victoria.

The royals are known to coordinate their outfits for group occasions, and the matching blue looks created a cohesive style as the big day began.