Carole Middleton and the Princess of Wales have made a strong case for sustainable fashion, often pulling from a shared wardrobe that they can style for different occasions.
This dates back to the first time Catherine's mother stepped into the royal spotlight, making her debut to support her future son-in-law, Prince William, at the Sovereign's Parade at Sandhurst Military Academy in December 2006.
The Party Pieces founder joined her daughter in the VIP stands for Catherine's first high-profile event alongside the late Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip, and now-King Charles.
Carole wore a chocolate-brown midi coat, broken up with contrasting red buttons and a matching collar, which she layered over fishnet tights and knee-high boots. Amping up the winter glamour, the mother of three topped her straight brunette bob with a brown fur hat, much like one her daughter had worn months earlier.
Catherine first wore the Russian-style hat to the final day of Cheltenham Races in March of that year. It marked a big milestone for the future Princess, as she made a solo appearance in the Royal Box alongside Charles and Camilla, despite the fact that William remained at Sandhurst for officer training.
© Getty
© GettyDressed in a beige-and-brown Katherine Hooker coat, she added suede gloves, a silk scarf and a statement brown fur pillbox hat, cementing her place as a major fashion phenomenon.
Years later, she was pictured in a very similar design by British-Peruvian label Lacorine for a festive church service at Sandringham in 2017 and at the Royal Palace in Oslo in 2018.
Carole Middleton's style evolution
© GettyDespite being hailed as a fashion icon, Carole admitted she "hates" clothes shopping and opened up about dressing for her figure in an interview with The Telegraph.
"I'm bigger round my top half than I was, so that’s why I prefer dresses to trousers and I don’t like anything tight. One of the reasons I don’t like shopping for clothes is that there aren’t enough for women my age. I know what I want, but I can’t find it. There’s a way of dressing that’s what I call 'correct,'" she said.
While she confessed she preferred a "casual" wardrobe of jeans in the past, Carole said her style has evolved, with her moving away from looking "really tired most of the time" to elegant, modest ensembles as she has spent more time in the public eye.
