Princess of Wales

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​by Mick the Ram

Kensington Palace have informed the media that moving forward, they will not be releasing information with regards to the Princess of Wales’ wardrobe choices.

Catherine has long been regarded as something of a style icon, with a keen eye for the best in British brands, resulting in what has been widely described as a billion-pound influence upon the fashion industry.

However, the princess is now said to be eager for attention to shift away from her outfits and rather it be the actual causes that she so fondly serves receiving all the intense scrutiny.

This significant change of tact is another sign of Catherine’s new approach to royal duties in the wake of her cancer diagnosis last year. Royal insiders have advised that the Princess is ‘a different person’ since stepping back from public life in March 2024 to undergo chemotherapy treatment.

Ever since she married into the royal family back in 2011, Kate Middleton as was, has seen her fashion selections wield unparalleled impact on the public’s shopping habits, with more or less everything she is seen in selling out almost immediately and prompting the phrase: “The Kate Effect”.

British designers are naturally going to be a little concerned with this development as her endorsement can be career-changing, so they will be encouraged by the additional note from the Palace which indicated that her most significant outfits will continue to be listed. 

Distraction away from true cause

The fact that the princess’ royal engagement outfits will no longer be made public does not of course mean that Kate does not still take enormous pride in her appearance.

Nevertheless, it has become a distraction and a source of frustration for her, because the people and causes around the country that she visits are of so much more importance to her.

Unnecessary addition

What Catherine wears will inevitably continue to fascinate a certain sector and therefore an appreciation will still trigger a mention in correspondence, but those photographers, editors, bloggers and fans, will have to work a little harder to gain the details.

Undoubtedly Kate’s cancer scare has seen a shift in priorities and both Prince William and herself have always made it absolutely clear that family is the most important thing.

Indeed, many close observers say that whilst her focus was always on the care and well-being of those she visits, she now sees the detailing of what she wears as trivial and an unnecessary inclusion.  

Change in priorities

There definitely seems to be a priority for highly personal engagements for the princess as she slowly returns to public-facing duties after her announcement that her cancer treatment had concluded in September 2024.

She made a moving visit to bereaved families in Southport, and an emotional return to the Royal Marsden Hospital who looked after her so well.

Substance over style

The Princess of Wales recently spoke of how “we must invest in humankind and that means taking a profound look at ourselves and our own behaviours, emotions, and feelings.”

Over the years she has regularly topped “best dressed” lists, but as a palace insider said: “The style is still there, but it’s now about the substance”.

Ex Vogue chief not surprised

Former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, Alexandra Shulman, said this change comes as no surprise, having worked with the princess before.

“You have to look at this in the context of the experience she has been through, and it is a reassessment of her priorities for the time being it is about re-examining your life.”

She went on to say: “When people have gone through what she’s gone through, they should be entitled to be seen how they want to be seen, which is with a serious mission, not where the focus is on her clothes.”

Top names benefited previously

Despite being some of the biggest names in global fashion, even those at the very top benefit greatly from “The Kate Effect” including the likes of: Alexander McQueen, Jenny Packham, Catherine Walker, Jimmy Choo, Whistles and Reiss.