Leanne Delap | March 10th, 2025
Catherine, Princess of Wales, smiles as she attends the celebrations for Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey on March 10, 2025 in London, England. Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Catherine, Princess of Wales was a standout in a crisp, clear red Catherine Walker coat and Gina Foster pillbox-style hat this afternoon at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey. The service, an important date on the Palace calendar, was attended by King Charles and Queen Camilla (in pink, with the monarch matching her with his pocket square), the Prince of Wales, Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucestershire. Today is also the 60th birthday of the Duke of Edinburgh, whose special day was shouted out on the Royal Family Instagram account, but who did not attend the Commonwealth Day celebrations.
From centre left, Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, and Princess Anne attend the annual Commonwealth Day Service of Celebration at Westminster Abbey on March 10, 2025. Photo: Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP/Canadian Press
Both Kate and Charles were absent at last year’s service as they simultaneously underwent treatments for cancer. The Princess of Wales has slowly begun her return to work following her announcement last September that she was in remission. Most recently she was seen in late February for a visit to Pontypridd, Wales, alongside her husband.
The Palace has been clear that Kate would return to work on her own schedule, with her priority being her ongoing recovery, and her family, and her core focus social projects, such as early childhood education. Further, there was an announcement that the Palace would no longer release details about what Kate was wearing.
Thus it was significant that Kate re-wore such a strong coat for today’s high-profile outing. It could easily be suggested that the red was the subtlest nod of support for Canada. Diplomatic, or “flag” dressing is something the royals do often to show support for countries they visit, or honour in some way. Look to the low-key nod King Charles gave to Canada just last week when he wore his Canadian military regalia on his uniform the same day Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was invited to visit him at Sandringham (amid the ongoing tariff threats from the U.S.).
Oh Canada: Kate in red (March 10, 2025) and King Charles in Canadian military regalia, (March 4, 2025). Photos: Getty Images
Kate made a previous nod to our home and native land when she wore a sharp peplum suit by Canadian-born designer Erdem Moralioglu the last time she attended Commonwealth Day services in 2023.
Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales, in her Canadian-designed peplum suit, at the 2023 Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey, March 13, 2023 in London, England. Photo: Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images
Kate has worn this specific coat previously, for her 2021 Together at Christmas concert. The princess also owns the bow style coat in black, which she wore to both Prince Philip’s 2021 funeral and to a reception ahead of Queen Elizabeth’s 2022 laying to rest.
Also significant is the jewellery Catherine chose for today’s service. The four-strand pearl choker at her neck was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth’s, commissioned in the 1970s from pearls gifted to her by the Japanese government. Kate previously wore them with the black version of the bow coat at Philip’s funeral. The pearl earrings Kate wore are known as the Collingwood Pearl Drop Earrings, an engagement present to her late mother-in-law, Diana.
Kate at Prince Philip’s funeral in 2021, wearing a similar bow coat dress and the historic choker worn at today’s Commonwealth service (centre inset) that was also a favourite of Queen Elizabeth (top left, in 1983); Princess Diana wearing the pearl drop earrings, later gifted to Kate as an engagement present, 1981. Photos: Getty Images
Kate may no longer be issuing fashion news through the press office, but every outfit in royal life – especially for such a major occasion for the Royal Family – is soaked in history and is used to convey meaning. Kate has been re-wearing a number of outfits lately to underline the fact she would prefer we all focus on her work. Most notably, she pulled a 20-year-old tweed jacket out of her archives on that Pontypridd visit: the Ralph Lauren fitted jacket dates back to 2007, when she wore it to the Cheltenham Horse Festival while still dating William.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, in Pontypridd, Wales, 2025; at the Cheltenham Horse Racing Festival, March 13, 2007. Photo: Indigo/Getty Images
King Charles and Princess Anne, like their mother before them, are notable, life-long re-wearers of favourite outfits. The Royal Family has always tried to convey a mix of practicality and (very relative) frugality in the execution of their duties. Kate no doubt feels that after her difficult year negotiating treatment and fatigue in the spotlight – while mothering three young children – that fashion is the least of her priorities now. And yet, what she wears is the way that she can telegraph allegiance, continuity, stability and subtle messaging. It is a visual tool.
Today the outfit Kate chose signaled boldness and confidence – that she is getting ready to return to the spotlight, on new terms.
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