Decode Kate Middleton’s Royal Christmas style : exact colors, coats and tartan ideas from 2018 to 2023, plus easy steps to copy the look today.
A flash of red on a frosty morning, a long tailored coat that skims the knee, a touch of festive tartan that reads classic not costume. That is the Royal Christmas style many search for – and Kate Middleton sets the benchmark. The formula feels warm, polished, and achievable, which is precisely why it trends every December.
Since December 2021, Catherine, Princess of Wales has hosted the Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey, while cameras also follow the Sandringham church walk on Christmas Day. Those two fixtures shape her seasonal wardrobe: saturated reds and burgundies, forest greens and winter whites, elevated textures like velvet and cashmere, and heritage checks. Labels rotate from Catherine Walker and Alexander McQueen to Eponine London and high street drops that sell out fast.
Why Kate Middleton sets the tone for Royal Christmas style
Royal December appearances arrive with clear stakes: family moments, national broadcast, and thousands of eyes. The Westminster Abbey service, first staged in 2021 and televised by ITV, places Catherine, Princess of Wales at the center of a candlelit setting that can seat around 2,000 people. Visual clarity matters, so she reaches for bold monochrome looks that read instantly in photos and on TV.
The Sandringham walk offers a different stage. It is outdoors, often windy, and up-close. Here the Princess leans on structured coats with covered buttons or tie-neck details, neat hats, tonal gloves, and sleek pumps or block-heel boots. The effect signals continuity with royal tradition while staying modern and wearable.
Colors and fabrics Kate Middleton trusts for December events
Color leads. Red and burgundy communicate warmth in winter light. Deep green nods to the season without slipping into novelty. Winter white appears for elegance in daylight. When texture joins the palette – velvet headbands, cashmere coats, suede pumps – the look gains depth on camera.
Heritage patterns show up with precision. Tartan works best as a statement skirt or scarf, paired with a solid knit or coat to avoid visual noise. A standout example landed in December 2018, when Kate Middleton wore a red tartan pleated midi skirt by Emilia Wickstead for a Kensington Palace Christmas party with Royal Air Force families. That one look sparked a wave of similar skirts across retailers through the holidays.
Real-world looks : the tartan skirt and the Westminster Abbey effect
Track the carol service timeline and a pattern appears. In 2021, 2022, and 2023, the Princess arrived at Westminster Abbey in saturated winter tones and long tailored coats, creating a consistent visual identity for the event that viewers recognized instantly on ITV highlights. Monochrome accessories keep the line clean and the silhouette uninterrupted.
Footwear and accessories stay quiet but exacting. Think Gianvito Rossi 105 pumps in suede, small top-handle bags, and refined earrings. The palette does the talking, the shapes do the framing, and the details – covered buttons, a bow neck, a velvet trim – deliver the seasonal cue without gimmicks. One rule repeats: nothing fights the coat.
How to recreate Kate Middleton’s festive outfits on any budget
Great news : this style translates to real life, school concerts, office parties, and church on the 25th. The secret is editing, not spending.
- Pick a mid-length tailored coat in red, burgundy, deep green, or winter white. Single-breasted reads cleaner in photos.
- Build a one-color base under the coat : knit, skirt or trousers, tights, shoes. Monochrome elongates and looks expensive.
- Add one heritage touch only. A tartan skirt or scarf is enough – keep everything else solid.
- Choose texture for richness : wool-cashmere knits, velvet headbands, suede shoes. One plush element is all you need.
- Keep jewellry minimal. Small drops or studs frame the face without clutter.
- Repeat and rewear. The Princess does this often – same coat, new scarf, different bag. Fresh, not wasteful.
- Heel height that works : 85 to 105 mm for pumps, or block-heel ankle boots for cobbles and cold.
A quick check before heading out helps. Does the coat dominate in a good way? Do colors stay in one lane? Is there a single seasonal cue rather than five? That is how Kate Middleton lands a festive look that photographs beautifully and still feels practical. The approach has held from the 2018 tartan moment to the Westminster Abbey services of 2021 through 2023, and it keeps delivering because the choices are simple, readable, and rooted in real winter needs.