Kate Middleton's Best Pantsuits Ever

Europe's royal families undoubtedly wield great influence in a number of ways, from politics and business to culture and art. Some popular royals like Catherine, Princess of Wales, are just as famous for their iconic outfits as they are for their work within the monarchy. Many of Kate Middleton's best fashion moments ever have influenced fashion trends around the world. From her elaborate wedding dress to her Trooping the Colour 2025 outfit, which was a bold nod to Princess Diana, the Princess of Wales has shown off her impeccable fashion taste time and time again.

Much like the royal herself, Catherine, Princess of Wales has an elegant style that has evolved over the years. Her fashion evolution is more than just a reflection of her personal style changing; as the princess gained more power and became increasingly involved in political affairs, her wardrobe became more professional. In the early 2020s, she made it a point to swap her elegant dresses with fitted pantsuits for many occasions.

According to fashion expert Christine Ross, Princess Catherine's switch to more professional outfits signified something bigger. "The ascent into pantsuits seems to follow her development into a very involved working royal," Ross mused. "We often see these pantsuits on more business-formal events, where her outfit may fit in better with the people she is meeting," the fashion expert explained (via Newsweek). Despite Princess Catherine's many fabulous fashions, she frequently re-wears outfits, pantsuits included. Her commitment to fashion sustainability just means that fans get to appreciate her eye-catching outfits more than once. Check out Kate Middleton's best pantsuits ever.

More natural tones like green, red, and brown often dominate the fall season, but Catherine, Princess of Wales tends to set the trends rather than follow them, so it was no surprise that she deviated from the season's typical color palette in favor of something more colorful. The Princess of Wales brightened the season in September 2021 when she wore a stunning purple custom pantsuit by designer Emilia Wickstead. Kate gave a whole new meaning to back-to-school style for her visit to Ulster University Magee Campus in Derry, Northern Ireland.

The brilliant purple color was eye-catching, and the pantsuit's stylish slim-cut fit added to its appeal. For the university visit, Princess Catherine paired the matching suit jacket and straight-leg trousers with a black turtleneck underneath, making it a perfect outfit for the transition from summer to fall. The jacket's large lapels added a bit of a dramatic element that she tamed with the sensible turtleneck, and a simple black belt and navy blue suede heels completed the look.

Not one to wear a fabulous outfit only once, Princess Catherine wore the purple pantsuit again in November 2023. Her bright suit commanded attention and for a good cause; she wore it to host the Shaping Us National Symposium, a program focusing on children's health, at London's Design Museum. She paired the trouser suit with what appeared to be the same blue suede pumps she wore two years earlier. However, in November, she switched up the look and wore her double-breasted blazer buttoned up but kept her pair of dazzling diamond and sapphire earrings to match her blue heels.

A classic blazer is one of the clothing items Kate Middleton can't live without, and it certainly shows. Catherine, Princess of Wales stunned in an all-white pantsuit perfect for summer at the Commonwealth Games in August 2022 with Prince William and their daughter, Princess Charlotte. For the sporting event, Princess Catherine paired the Alexander McQueen pantsuit with a white belt and light tan Camilla Elphick heels with pointed black toes for a timeless, classy look.

The sustainable princess previously wore the white pantsuit for a visit to Jamaica earlier that same year in March 2022, but she added a pop of color with an orange blouse underneath. Clearly a favorite pantsuit of the royal, she donned the chic Alexander McQueen suit jacket for another sporting event in September 2023: the Rugby World Cup in Marseille, France. However, this time the outfit had a bit more flare, literally. Princess Catherine swapped the slim-cut straight trousers for a pair of white suit pants with a wider leg and wore a white tank top underneath her suit jacket. She elevated the crisp, white monochrome look with pointed white heels and a white Massimo Dutti clutch as she cheered on England's rugby players in their match against Argentina.

For many travelers, a comfortable sweatsuit, neck pillow, and earbuds make up their airport outfit. However, Catherine, Princess of Wales chose chicness over comfort on November 30, 2022, when she brought British fashion to Boston. She arrived at Boston Logan International Airport in yet another powerful Alexander McQueen pantsuit alongside her husband, Prince William. The Princess of Wales wore an expertly tailored plum pantsuit; her jacket cinched at the waist, and she wore it unbuttoned to reveal more of the chic matching turtleneck underneath.

Princess Diana's sapphire and diamond earrings elevated the look to give the otherwise business-professional outfit an air of royal elegance. Any embellishments on the suit would have led to a look of extravagance, so her single piece of bling was not only aesthetically pleasing, but it was also a well-thought out decision. Catherine's dark pantsuit complemented her husband's, who was also clad in a dark blue suit.

Upon the couple's arrival, Prince William took a moment to acknowledge his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, who had previously visited the American city. "On this, our first overseas visit since the death of my grandmother, I would like to thank the people of Massachusetts and particularly of Boston for their many tributes paid to the late queen. She remembered her 1976 Bicentennial visit with great fondness," Prince William said (via Page Six). The late queen's fashion for her Boston trip was full of dresses and hats rather than the pantsuits and pumps that Princess Catherine wore to Boston decades later.

The Princess of Wales spent her 2022 trip to Boston in style, showcasing several stunning looks throughout her short three-day stay in the historical city. Only one day after she arrived in style in her Alexander McQueen pantsuit, the princess donned another designer suit. Princess Catherine looked festive and ready for the holiday season in a burgundy pantsuit designed by French fashion designer Roland Mouret.

As Christine Ross mentioned to Newsweek, the princess wore the designer on multiple previous occasions. "Kate has been wearing Roland Mouret for years, a French designer known for his clean lines and structural details," the fashion expert said. "Some of Kate's most striking and modern eveningwear looks have come from the designer. Roland Mouret's looks rely on expert tailoring and clean lines, which are sartorial features that Kate always appreciates," Ross said.

The structured Roland Mouret suit featured wide-leg trousers that nearly covered the pointy burgundy heels she paired with them. A pink blouse with a tied neck bow elevated the otherwise more professional look, the perfect feminine element with a '70s touch. Princess Catherine looked every bit the dedicated but approachable ruler at her public engagements in the city. The tailored pantsuit was one of Kate Middleton's best looks of 2022, and she loved it so much that she re-wore it one year later in 2023 for another Shaping Us event and again in 2024. For the 2023 event, instead of wearing the pink blouse underneath again, Princess Catherine paired the pantsuit with a contrasting white bodysuit by Holland Cooper underneath.

In 2023, Catherine, Princess of Wales started the new year in style. For a London event in January, she went for a bold look in a bright red tailored pantsuit with flared trousers. The suit was another Alexander McQueen creation, featuring slightly padded shoulders that gave the princess an air of power and importance. The asymmetric hem on the blazer gave the eye-catching outfit a bit of an edge, and her gold art deco earrings added to it.

Princess Catherine color coordinated the Alexander McQueen pantsuit with a bright red Miu Miu clutch and Gianvito Rossi pointed scarlet heels. Prince William wore a bright red tie to match his wife's "lady in red" look that night. Both of their outfits were eye-catching for a good reason; the BAFTA event they attended supported the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, and their bright outfits drew attention to the important cause. It is undoubtedly a special occasion suit because Catherine, Princess of Wales wore the bright red pantsuit for multiple other events, including the King Charles Coronation Concert in May 2023.

This Barbie was all business! Catherine, Princess of Wales, showed off her feminine side in a pastel pink pantsuit for a museum visit to the Foundling Museum in London in May 2023. While many Barbie fans were searching for the perfect outfit to wear to the Barbie movie premiere that summer, Princess Catherine had a preppy Barbie look in her closet already.

Princess Catherine often wears Alexander McQueen, and her collection of pantsuits made by the designer has expanded in quantity and color range over the years. For this Alexander McQueen moment, the princess paired the tailored pink suit with a matching blouse underneath, but her white pearl embellished belt broke up the otherwise monotone look nicely. The ankle-length suit pants showed off her simple white pumps, and pearl hoop earrings completed the outfit.

This pink pantsuit was one of Kate Middleton's absolute best looks of 2023, but Barbie summer was not the first time she wore the pantsuit. She previously wore it the summer before with a white scoop neck tank top underneath and rose suede heels. Princess Catherine looked confident and classy on both occasions; she served as a refreshing reminder that professional attire does not always have to consist of drab colors.

2023 seemed to be the year of the power pantsuit for Catherine, Princess of Wales. In September, the royal chose another straight-leg pantsuit for her visit to H.M. Prison High Down in Surrey to learn more about addiction recovery programs there. For the serious occasion, she opted for another monochrome look; the Princess of Wales wore blue pumps and a matching blue shirt under her fitted blue Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen pantsuit.

Catherine, Princess of Wales also attended the opening of a new surgery center at Evelina London Children's Hospital in the same sensible pantsuit in December  2023. Princess Catherine posed in her power suit with patients and employees alike for selfies and gave off major girlboss vibes.

The princess wore this classic pantsuit by one of her favorite designers again in June 2025 when she visited the Victoria and Albert Museum. For the more relaxed occasion, she paired the pantsuit with a casual white T-shirt and gold chain necklace for a perfect mix of high and low fashion. No matter how many times the Princess of Wales repeats an outfit, she manages to make it look like something new by styling it differently as each occasion calls for it.

While the Princess of Wales is clearly a fan of Alexander McQueen pantsuits, he is not the only designer whose suits the royal favors. In September 2023, the princess switched it up and wore a classic pantsuit by Holland Cooper that fit her perfectly.

Princess Catherine went back to black during her visit to the Royal Naval Air Station Yeovilton in Somerset; she wore a double-breasted dark black blazer with gold buttons and Gianvito Rossi black heels that stood out among the sea of green pilot uniforms. As the newly appointed commodore-in-chief of the Fleet Air Arm at the time, Catherine, Princess of Wales got the full field experience. She visited traffic control where she accessorized with a headset, and later, she wore an inflatable bright orange life vest with which she demonstrated proper life jacket usage. Princess Catherine then took part in a flight simulator during her visit to the busy military airfield and even got inside a helicopter at the base.

As if her fashion were not inspiring enough, her visit to the Royal Naval Air Station was sure to inspire many of the nation's children who want to grow up and become pilots or mechanical engineers one day. The princess shows that girls can do anything and look sharp while doing it.

The Princess of Wales often seems to match her outfit to the day's events. On September 26, 2023, just days after she wore the navy Alexander McQueen pantsuit, she wore an expertly tailored Burberry pantsuit made of high-quality fabric for a visit to a textile factory, A.W. Hainsworth, in Leeds. Catherine, Princess of Wales showed her appreciation for fashion and learned even more about it while setting a fashion trend herself. Princess Catherine donned an emerald green pantsuit with flared pant legs that showed off her green suede heels and made for the perfect autumnal look. She wore a white blouse underneath the pantsuit, and the suit jacket's brown buttons added to the outfit's fall palette.

While Princess Catherine may not own a pantsuit actually made with fabric from A.W. Hainsworth, it may only be a matter of time before she incorporates another piece of the brand's clothing. She previously wore a Madderson London maternity dress made with A.W. Hainsworth fabric that she was reunited with years later during her visit to the textile factory.

Earlier in 2023, the Princess of Wales wore the same green pantsuit when she hosted Norwegian royals at Windsor Castle with Prince William. For the royal occasion, she went more upscale and paired the designer pantsuit with a green tie-neck blouse. 

Forget a little black dress; a classic pinstriped pantsuit is the item that should be in everyone's closet. Catherine, Princess of Wales sported a double-breasted pinstripe suit twice in one week in the fall of 2023. This pantsuit was another iconic look designed by Holland Cooper and is a wardrobe staple for any girlboss, princess, or 1940s Italian mobster.

The dark blue pantsuit featured large, round gold buttons on both the fitted jacket as well as on the front of the flared trousers. The princess first paired the timeless suit with a white turtleneck for a meeting with the CEO of Apple. Just a few days after, she wore the pinstripe suit again for a U.K. Black History Month event but swapped the professional turtleneck in favor of a looser-fitting white blouse.

The fact that Princess Catherine wore this pantsuit twice in one week not only shows the quick dry cleaning turnaround for royals, but it also demonstrates her commitment to sustainable fashion. Rather than wear a new, expensive outfit each time she has a public appearance or royal engagement, the princess puts her energy into her work. The charitable organizations and causes that she aligns herself with mean more to her than just another photo opportunity.