8 of the best and 5 of the worst looks Kate Middleton has worn in 2026

Kate Middleton has had style hits and misses in 2026. Geoff PUGH / POOL / AFP / Getty Images Kate Middleton is busier than ever.The Princess of Wales has attended dozens of royal engagements in 2026, from charity events to film premieres.She's worn a variety of looks to her events, donning gowns for more traditional royal fashion moments and casual looks like trousers for less buttoned-up appearances.Some of Kate's outfits have been stronger than others, though. Here are the best and worst looks the Princess of Wales has worn so far in 2026. The Princess of Wales' recycled dress was a great choice for the BAFTAs in February. The Prince and Princess of Wales attend the 2026 BAFTA Film Awards at The Royal Festival Hall in February 2026. Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images To attend the 2026 BAFTAs, Kate rewore a Gucci dress she had worn to multiple public appearances over the years.The chiffon gown had a pointed, off-the-shoulder neckline, with the floor-length gown falling in different shades of pink. A deep-purple belt cinched her waist.The Princess of Wales accessorized the glamorous gown with the Greville chandelier earrings and bouncy waves. She chose a monochromatic coatdress for a Commonwealth Day Service in March. Catherine, Princess of Wales, attends the 2026 Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in March 2026. Karwai Tang/WireImage/Getty Images Kate stuck to one of her go-to styles for the 2026 Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey, donning a Catherine Walker coatdress.The look is a favorite of Kate's for good reason, as the dresses strike a balance between formality and style. This iteration was deep blue and featured a blazer-style top with pleating on the skirt.She paired the garment with a coordinating hat, pumps, pearl earrings, and a multi-strand pearl necklace. The royal's casual ensemble for a March engagement would have been better with a few tweaks. Prince William and Kate Middleton visit RNLI Tower Lifeboat Station in March 2026. Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images When she and Prince William took a trip to the RNLI Tower Lifeboat Station, Kate wore a more casual ensemble.She paired a blue blouse from With Nothing Underneath with a Prince of Wales Check blazer from Catherine Walker, nodding to her title. Brown Joseph trousers, a Me+Em belt with gold hardware, brown Jimmy Choo boots, and an RNLI ball cap completed the look.It was fun to see Kate in a more casual outfit, but her pants and boots looked a little clunky together since they were slightly different colors, particularly with the blue shirt. A more neutral top and pants that better coordinated with the blazer could have improved the ensemble. She made her green dress for a March state banquet pop with bold accessories. Catherine, Princess of Wales, attends a State Banquet in St George's Hall in March 2026. Aron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty Images When the royal family hosted the President of Nigeria for a state dinner in March, Kate appeared to nod to the Nigerian flag with her green Andrew Gn gown and matching Manolo Blahnik heels.The high-neck gown had ruching on the bodice and was cinched at Kate's waist before flowing to the floor. Semi-sheer, long sleeves broke up the denser fabric that made up much of the gown, giving it an ethereal touch.Kate leaned into the occasion's fanciness by pairing the dress with Queen Mary's Lover's Knot Tiara, sapphire-and-diamond earrings from the Queen Mother's collection, and her Royal Victorian Order attire, including a sash and badge. A different hat may have been a better choice for a Royal Garden Party in May. The Princess of Wales and the Prince of Wales at a Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace in May 2026. Aaron Chown - WPA Pool/Getty Images The Princess of Wales donned a Self-Portrait dress for a Royal Garden Party in May.The top of the white dress looked like a blazer with black buttons. It was belted at her waist before flowing out in a peplum, and a three-dimensional flower sat on her lapel. The white-and-black polka-dot skirt hit Kate at the ankle, swishing around her as she walked.The outfit was fun, but Kate's vintage hat changed the look's feel. The hat had a white base, and black tulle flowed up from the brim. The dark tulle made the look a bit more serious in tone, while the rest of the outfit was playful.A fully white hat may have been a better choice for the daytime event. In May, Kate made a blazer look relaxed by pairing it with a flowy skirt. Catherine, Princess of Wales, visits Remida in Reggio Emilia, Italy, in May 2026. Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images During a trip to Italy in May, Kate rocked a blazer and skirt for a fun twist on royal attire.Her Blazé Milano blazer was taupe with white, vertical stripes, while her Jenni Kayne skirt was cream, with the pleated fabric hitting her mid-calf. She wore a white blouse underneath the blazer and Camilla Elphick shoes.The silhouette was reminiscent of outfits Princess Diana favored for royal engagements, making it an even stronger fashion statement for the current Princess of Wales. Her red dress wasn't the best choice for an event at St James's Palace in June. Kate Middleton attends a Cancer Research UK reception at St James's Palace in June 2026. Jonathan Brady - Pool/Getty Images Kate attended a Cancer Research UK reception at St James's Palace in a Rodarte dress.The ankle-length dress was bright red with white polka dots, and a coordinating belt sat at her waist. White fabric trimmed the neckline and short sleeves, and a red flower sat on the lapel. Red Gianvito Rossi pumps and a Miu Miu clutch tied it together.The outfit was stylish, but it unfortunately blended in with the red carpets and chairs that adorn St James's Palace. Kate should have saved the dress for an occasion with a different backdrop. The blue linen suit she wore to Wimbledon the same month was a strong look for the princess. Kate Middleton attends day four of the 2026 Wimbledon Tennis Championships in July 2026. Ray Tang/Anadolu via Getty Images Kate attended a handful of Wimbledon matches in 2026, but she wore her best look on day four of the tournament.Gabriela Hearst designed her powder-blue suit. Made of linen, the ensemble included an oversize, double-breasted jacket and wide-legged trousers.She wore the bright suit with a Ralph Lauren top, as well as brown shoes and sunglasses from the designer. Carousel earrings and a perky ponytail completed the stylish look. Kate's gingham dress for the Charity Polo Cup in July felt fresh. Kate Middleton at the Royal Charity Polo Cup in July 2026. Samir Hussein/WireImage/Getty Images She arrived at the match in a black-and-white Temperley London dress with a square neckline and a tea-length skirt.A gingham pattern covered the dress, giving it a summery feel. She accessorized the look with camel-toned Camilla Elphick slingbacks and Ralph Lauren sunglasses.Kate looked effortlessly chic. A blazer-and-skirt look she wore in August would have been better with one swap. Kate Middleton at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in August 2026. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images Kate gave the blazer-and-skirt look another go for the Commonwealth Games, pairing a green Ralph Lauren blazer with a striped La Ligne top and a white pleated skirt.She completed the look with her Camilla Elphick slingbacks. While the silhouette was pretty, the combination of the striped top and the green jacket felt a bit busy.The outfit would have been stronger if Kate had chosen a simpler top to go with the blazer. The colors of Kate's outfit for a September engagement in Scotland didn't quite work. Kate Middleton at the Bute Shinty Club in Rothesay, Isle of Bute, Scotland, in September 2026. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images The Princess of Wales wore a more casual look for an engagement in Scotland.She wore an olive-green sweater with brown jeans from Holland Cooper and a Maison Hotel belt. She added a Burberry trench coat over the look, which seemed to be deep purple, as well as Chelsea boots and a tweed hat designed by House of Bruar.The fall tones of the look felt festive, but there was a bit too much color going on between the brown pants, green shirt, and purple jacket. If two of the garments had been more similar in color, it might have felt more cohesive. Her gown for the "Digger" UK premiere was one of her most daring looks of 2026. Prince William, Kate Middleton, and Tom Cruise attend the "Digger" world premiere in London in September 2026. Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Warner Bros. Kate arrived at the "Digger" premiere in a violet Jenny Packham gown that was full of glamour.A V-neckline dipped low on Kate's torso, and the long sleeves were made of transparent fabric that billowed around her before cinching at her wrist. A train spilled out of the floor-length skirt, trailing behind the Princess of Wales.She further elevated the look with Jimmy Choo pumps and the Queen Mother's Amethyst Sautoir Necklace, which has a heart pendant at its center. The Princess of Wales' plaid skirt for a visit to Northern Ireland stood out in October. Kate Middleton visits Northern Ireland in October 2026. Chris Jackson/Getty Images She headed to Northern Ireland in October, attending engagements in a green tartan skirt from Emilia Wickstead.The skirt flared around Kate's calves, as did her Catherine Walker coat. She paired the skirt with a white Knatchbull top, which was lined with ruffles down the center.Black Gianvito Rossi heels and a green Mulberry bag tied the sophisticated ensemble together. Read next Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Business Insider tells the innovative stories you want to know Samantha Grindell Pettyjohn is a Senior Lifestyle Reporter at Business Insider with more than eight years of experience in the lifestyle space.At Business Insider, Samantha's coverage focuses on unique living situations, interior design, celebrity style, and books. Her work includes features on multigenerational living and one-of-a-kind houses, timely articles on celebrity fashion, live coverage of award shows and pageants, and fun pieces about popular book series. Samantha also loves reporting on celebrities on her beats, from HGTV stars Christina Haack and Tarek El Moussa to authors such as Sarah J. Maas and Rebecca Yarros.Samantha appeared on Scripps News and CBS in 2022 to discuss the royal family, and in 2023, she won an Anthem Award for her work on Business Insider's package "Better Me."Samantha received her B.A. in English from Birmingham-Southern College in 2017, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She later earned her M.S. in Publishing from New York University in 2019. Samantha was previously a staff writer at Romper, and her writing has appeared in Cosmopolitan, Mic, and Oprah.com. Today, Samantha lives in Atlanta with her husband and dog.Email her at sgrindell@businessinsider.com and follow her on X. 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