It's clear that the Princess of Wales has entered her autumn style era. Now that October is upon us, the 44-year-old has embraced the seasonal change with a plethora of darker-toned items.
Last week, Kate hosted a secret tea party for Three Peaks Challenge participants and their families at Windsor Castle. The royal looked elegant in a chocolate brown-coloured belted dress by the famously English heritage label Burberry. The structured fit-and-flare silhouette offered a clean, monochromatic look.
A new item in Kate's wardrobe, the £1,760 tailored dress is cut in a fit-and-flare silhouette that's cinched in with a striking, gold twist-lock belt. It also has slip pockets, which Kate was spotted appearing to use at certain moments. The dress appears to be bespoke as the sleeves are three-quarter length, whereas the frock on the shelves featured capped sleeves.
© Andrew Parsons / Kensington PalaceA year earlier, Kate wore the very same dress, but in black. During the German State visit in 2025, the mother of three was pictured viewing exhibits from the Royal Collection relating to Germany in the Green Drawing Room at Windsor Castle, alongside her husband, Prince William.
Kate's respectful, sleek belted check wool dress was designed by Burberry, and once again, the style was tweaked to add longer sleeves.
Memorably, Kate accessorised with a classic 1980s five-strand faux pearl necklace from vintage jeweller Susan Caplan, which is reported to retail at £275. She first wore the piece in January 2025 at an event to mark Holocaust Memorial Day. Earlier in the day, Kate’s dark-hued dress was hidden beneath a brightly-coloured coat by Alexander McQueen.
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesPrincess Kate's bespoke creations
Over the years, Princess Kate appears to have stopped buying high street items, or even current items from designer brands. Her fashion focus appears to be bespoke pieces, crafted exclusively for her by fashion houses.
"Kate tends to re-wear a lot of her outfits, hence her being dubbed 'thrifty Kate' in the past, but she styles them differently with accessories, which gives them a fresh look each time," stylist Susie Hasler tells HELLO!.
© Getty Images for Warner Bros.Meticulously tailored custom pieces, like Kate's altered Burberry dress, ensure a consistently flawless fit. "Royal outfits are seen by millions of people around the world, so custom pieces ensure the fit, length, and tailoring are absolutely perfect from every angle," Susie notes. "Custom garments also tend to be more classic rather than trend-driven, which means she can repeat outfits for years without them feeling dated."
