Kate Middleton delivered an ode to one of Princess Diana’s most iconic looks as she joined Prince William to watch England versus Wales in the Six Nations in Cardiff on Saturday.
The Princess of Wales, 41, who is patron of the Rugby Football Union, nodded to the national stripes of both teams by choosing a white and red houndstooth coat by Catherine Walker, which she debuted on a 2018 visit to Stockholm. The striking piece, which features playful oversized red buttons and a flattering knee-length hemline, bears more than a passing resemblance to a chic Moschino suit worn by Diana, Princess of Wales, to the christening of Princess Eugenie in December 1990.
And just like her daughter-in-law, Diana rewore the statement ensemble, featuring a red and white blazer and contrasting black and white skirt, on a number of occasions, including on an official visit to Canada the following year.
While Diana took sartorial risks, pairing her houndstooth creation with a wide-brim hat (complete with ultra-feminine veil), a wide, patent leather belt, and red-tipped black pumps worthy of a Hollywood screen siren, Kate preferred to play it safe by opting to wear her coat over a black roll neck with leather gloves, heeled boots, and a simple white handbag.
Famously competitive, the Prince and Princess of Wales no doubt relished the challenge as they watched their respective teams go head-to-head. Prince William, patron of the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU), and Kate, who took over from Prince Harry as patron of the Rugby Football Union last year, turned out to support the players at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Showing his support for Wales, Prince William accessorize his classic suit with a striped red tie and a red scarf, which he tucked into his blazer. The couple appeared in good spirits as they took their seats ahead of the match.
Before the match the prince and princess met injured players who are supported by the Welsh Rugby Charitable Trust, of which Prince William is a patron, before officially opening the Sir Tasker Watkins Suite, a new space at the stadium that is dedicated for use by the injured players and their families ahead of matches.
It marks the end of a busy week for the couple. On Sunday night the royals put on a dazzling display on the BAFTA red carpet—Kate was particularly striking in an Alexander McQueen gown and Cornelia James gloves inspired by Queen Elizabeth II—before Kate flipped pancakes during a nursing home visit on Shrove Tuesday. On Thursday, Prince William paid a visit to one of his patronages, The Passage, a charity that works toward the end of homelessness.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are keen sports fans and have made appearances at a number of rugby matches over the years. In 2007, in the early days of their romance, the then Prince William and Kate Middleton joined Prince Harry to watch England versus Italy in a Six Nations match at Twickenham. The trio returned to the stadium in 2015 for England versus Wales in the Rugby World Cup (it was a particularly charged match as Harry was, at the time, patron of the Rugby Football Union). More recently the pair were joined by Prince George at the Six Nations in 2022.
Kate Middleton is an accomplished sportswoman who is said to often beat her husband on the tennis court and is always willing to incorporate an athletic activity into her royal engagements. The same is true for William, who has gamely challenged his wife to sailing, dragon boat, and running races—all before the watchful eyes of royal reporters.
This article was originally published in Tatler.
