Hidden Symbols behind Kate Middleton's Outfit at the Trooping The Colour Parade

On June 17th in London, the official celebrations for the birthday of Charles III, known as Trooping The Colour, took place. On this occasion, the Princess of Wales chose a look that carried significant meaning.

On Saturday, the official celebrations for King Charles III's birthday took place in London. Although the monarch's actual birthday is in November, the longstanding ceremonial event, Trooping The Colour, which annually commemorates the reigning monarch's birthday, is traditionally held in the spring due to the unpredictable weather in the United Kingdom. It was the first procession without Queen Elizabeth II since 1951.

For the occasion, the entire royal family adorned their finest attire, ranging from the traditional military uniform of the king to the smart suit and tie worn by young Prince Louis. Kate Middleton, on the other hand, chose an elegant outfit with multiple hidden meanings.

The Princess of Wales wore a mint green crepe coat dress with satin lapels, adorned with ornamental buttons embellished with gemstones. This piece, from designer Andrew Gn's Spring-Summer 2023 collection, was a nod to one of her honorary military titles: green is indeed the color of Ireland, of which Kate Middleton has been the Colonel of the Guards since December.

Kate Middleton's entirely green outfit for the Trooping The Colour parade was a tribute to her title as Colonel of the Irish Guards. (London, June 17, 2023)

For the accessories, the wife of Prince William decided to stick with the Irish color theme. She chose a Philip Treacy hat, a pair of green suede Aquazzura pumps, and an LK Bennett clutch, all in green. But what caught attention was her Shamrock brooch. Designed by Cartier, it depicts a clover, another emblem of Ireland. And for her earrings, the 41-year-old princess chose to pay tribute to her late mother-in-law, Lady Diana.

Paying tribute with subtlety

Princess Diana during a visit to the National Arts Center in Canada, in 1991. (Ottawa, October 29, 1991)

Kate Middleton did indeed wear, for the second consecutive year, a pair of double-flower sapphire and diamond earrings that once belonged to Princess Diana. Diana often wore them, notably at the 1996 Met Gala, on the cover of Vogue in 1994, and during a dinner in Japan in 1986. This jewelry was not the only tribute from Kate Middleton to Lady Diana on Saturday. Diana herself had also chosen an entirely green ensemble for her first Trooping The Colour as the wife of Prince Charles in 1982. The art of perpetuating family history.