The Princess of Wales last made an appearance at the Chelsea Flower Show in 2023, but it was her look from 2017 that remained in her wardrobe for the years to follow. Kate, now 44, made an appearance on the press day of the annual London event wearing a green Rochas dress.
It featured a scoop neckline, short sleeves and a high waistline. The midi-length skirt was full of volume to create a classic A-line silhouette, but the most standout feature was how the dress came in an oversized floral print. Since 2024, Kate has refrained from wearing floral outfits, instead opting for block colours for a sleeker, more refined look.
A style departure
© Getty ImagesThis look strikes stylist Leanne Jones as being outside of Kate's sartorial comfort zone. She explains: "This colour is a departure from Kate's usual palette, yet it suited her well. As someone who's a 'summer' in colour analysis, she often opts for pinks and muted neutrals - think of the beautiful pink maxi shirt dress she favoured at Chelsea in 2023."
© Getty ImagesLeanne adds that Kate was also clever with the accessories, bringing in green‑toned earrings by Monica Vinader to lift the palette. The dress is also an indicator of Kate's style evolution.
Royal fashion evolution
© Getty ImagesLeanne tells us: "Where floaty dresses and pleated skirts once defined her wardrobe, she now favours sharper, more structured silhouettes - blazers, tailored coats with structured shoulders, or coat‑dresses that neatly outline her shape.
© Alamy Stock Photo"Even when she revisits softer pieces, she often anchors them with a tailored layer." The stylist highlights the example of Kate's attendance at a Buckingham Palace Garden Party earlier this month, which saw her in a floaty polka‑dot dress finished with a crisp white, cropped blazer.
© Getty Images"It all feels like an intentional choice and a move towards authority and confidence that reflects the woman she is today," she says. "In 2017, she was juggling young children - any mother knows that's a time for floaty, practical and comforting styles. Today, though, her structured looks are a strong signature, and I for one love the evolution."
Kate's first Chelsea Flower Show
© UK Press via Getty ImagesKate's Chelsea Flower Show debut came the year before her Rochas dress moment.
Stepping out in emerald green, she rocked Catheriner Walker in the form of a knee-length belted dress with long sleeves and a zip-up front.
