Kate Middleton truly dressed like a princess for King Charles III’s first Trooping the Colour as reigning monarch. The Princess of Wales opted to wear a green set this time, pairing an Andrew Gn ensemble with a wide-brimmed matching hat by Philip Treacy. She accessorized with the late Princess Diana’s earrings, a poignant tribute to the last Princess of Wales. She rode in the carriage alongside her three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, and Queen Camilla. Kate’s hair was styled elegantly up.
The green itself in Kate’s outfit is symbolic and serves as an homage to the Irish Guards, of which Kate is colonel.
Kate actually wore a similar shade of green during her last engagement. The princess opted to wear a leopard print dress in the color with her hair down while visiting Riversley Park Children’s Centre on June 15:
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry did not join this year’s Trooping the Colour with Kate and the rest of the family. People reported that the duke and duchess were not even invited.
The relationship between Meghan, Harry, and the royal family remains strained. During the coronation, Kate and William notably were not seated by Harry nor did they interact with him.
Royal expert Eloise Parker, told Entertainment Tonight prior to the event that Meghan choosing not to attend was seen as a good thing by Kate and the royals. “I think there’s bound to be some relief from William and Kate that Meghan won’t be attending the coronation simply because less emphasis is going to be on them, who’s looking where, who’s lip reading, what’s going on between them,” Parker said. “There’s such a fever of interest in these relationships and the truth is we’re never going to see a Real Housewives moment between these women. Everything is going to be kept firmly under wraps and I think for Kate, the fact that Meghan isn’t attending, helps her keep it that way.”
A royal observer additionally told Daily Mail at the time, “Charles will be pleased. The rest of the family will be relieved that Meghan won’t be there—it would have been particularly uncomfortable for Kate.”
Senior News and Strategy Editor
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.