The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived in South Wales on February 26. Kate appeared in Pontypridd wearing a bright red coat that she had worn to the December Christmas service. She paired it with a chocolate-colored turtleneck and a plaid midi skirt from Gucci, which she had also worn previously.
During the visit, the couple also toured the Meadow Street Community Garden and Woodland. For this part of the visit, Kate swapped her coat for a cropped brown Ralph Lauren jacket. Known for her practical approach to fashion, Kate often re-wears or alters her outfits, but this time she surprised the public. The frugal princess kept a piece in her wardrobe that she had owned four years before marrying the heir to the throne.
Kate wore a tweed jacket 18 years ago. She first appeared in it at the Cheltenham Festival on March 13, 2007. At that time, Kate Middleton was accompanying Prince William as his unofficial girlfriend. The couple’s engagement was only announced in 2010, and they married in 2011.
Almost two decades ago, Middleton paired the jacket, which featured patch pockets and metallic buttons, with a light blue shirt and a matching flared midi skirt. She completed the look with sunglasses, a black leather barrel bag, and black suede boots. At the racetrack, the then-student, who hadn’t yet entered the royal family, tried to stay in the background behind Prince William. Fans noted that at 43, the jacket still fits Kate perfectly, just like it did when she was 25.
During the visit to the Meadow Street Community Garden, the Princess of Wales remarked that the green space meant a lot to the local residents as it could serve as a place for healing and community connection. The park had suffered significant damage during a flood at the end of last year. However, staff and volunteers worked tirelessly to restore it within weeks. “Despite the worsening floods in Trichinibus just before Christmas, loyal volunteers worked hard to restore the place. By mid-January, everything was back up. Nature is thriving—and so are our communities,” said the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Kate and William also broke royal protocol, which discourages public displays of affection. During the visit, they held hands tightly, which was quite unusual for the reserved couple.
Earlier, Kensington Palace had announced that they would not be providing information about the Princess of Wales’s outfits, as she wanted people to focus on her work rather than her appearance. Kate’s new policy is already visible as she gives new life to forgotten items from her wardrobe.
