On Friday afternoon, the Princess of Wales joined her husband, Prince William, to host the first Buckingham Palace garden party of 2026 on behalf of King Charles.
The royal couple looked resplendent in their finest attire as they led the festivities alongside the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, and their royal cousin, Zara Tindall. Mother-of-three Kate appeared in great spirits while chatting to attendees, wearing a stunning new outfit.
© AlamyThe Princess of Wales looked so elegant in her Self-Portrait gown
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Kate’s dress featured a polka dot, pleated skirt
The brunette royal wore a white blazer dress by one of her favourite brands, Self-Portrait. It was crafted with a gentle peplum, and the double-breasted number was finished with three-quarter length sleeves and a Carrie Bradshaw-style corsage. This looked wonderful teamed with the lightly pleated midi skirt, adorned with polka dots, which was expertly attached.
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The royal’s hat was very Audrey Hepburn-esque
She added the late Queen Elizabeth II’s earrings and topped her crowning glory, which was expertly pushed back and cascaded in sumptuous curls down her back, with a beautiful vintage hat that had an old movie star quality to it – very Audrey Hepburn.
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The garden party dress code is strictly formal
Kate has clearly adhered to the strict dress code – gentlemen are expected to wear morning dress or lounge suits to the Buckingham Palace garden parties, whilst women often opt for a dress, usually with hats or fascinators.
Kate’s love for Self-Portrait
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The Princess also wore a Self-Portrait dress at Easter
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The royal wore the dress alongside a hat by Juliette Botterill
The beautiful royal looked the picture of style in her fashionable yet classic outfit by Self-Portrait. Smiling joyously at onlookers, the 44-year-old wore her trademark brunette tresses in a lightly waved style and natural makeup highlighted her pretty features. Her mane was topped with a pretty hat by Juliette Botterill, which featured delicate blooms in the same off-white shade. Kate’s vanilla-toned dress was designed with a long-sleeved bodice that joined to a sumptuous midi skirt. It was crafted with a belt and two pockets, etched with an embroidered design.
© UK Press via Getty Images
Kate’s daughter, Princess Charlotte, also donned a dress by the brand
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The mother and daughter had a twinning fashion moment
We caught a subtle glimpse of the dress underneath Charlotte’s Catherine Walker coat – it was baby blue, and known as the ‘Blue Pleated Chiffon Dress’, part of the brand’s current collection, priced at £200.
A spotlight on Self-Portrait
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The royal is a long-time fan of the brand
The UK-based brand boasts an A-list clientele, including Beyoncé, Reese Witherspoon, Kristen Stewart, and Miranda Kerr. It was founded in 2013 by Malaysian-born designer Han Chong, and its headquarters are based in London.
Princess Kate’s love affair with Self-Portrait’s blazer dresses has been a devoted one.
She first wore the brand to the premiere of A Street Cat Named Bob in London in 2016, and hasn’t looked back since. The elegant gown daringly featured an Angelina Jolie-esque thigh-high split.
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