Today, June 13, is Trooping the Color. Trooping the Color has always been a highlight of the royal calendar, for me, because we get to see everyone together and it’s one of the rare opportunities to see the littlest royals. This year, a small Trooping ceremony was held at Windsor Castle, with only The Queen in attendance. Since we didn’t get any hat action from Kate nor any meme-able moments from the wee Cambridges, I thought I’d take a look back at all of The Duchess of Cambridge‘s previous Trooping appearances.
2011
This year, 2020, would have marked Kate’s 10th appearance at Trooping the Color. But all the way back in 2011, Kate made her Trooping debut. She chose a white, double-breasted pique coat from Alexander McQueen with some pleating at the waist to give the skirt a fuller look.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe hat was a black basket weave from Sylvia Fletcher for Lock & Company. Kate chose her Kiki McDonough “Grace” studs. This was back in the day when Kate didn’t wear such expensive earrings – these Kikis were only £795 (I say “only” because most of Kate’s Kikis are several thousands of pounds).
Embed from Getty ImagesBack in 2016 when I did my Top 25 favorite outfits from Kate, I had this at number 6. I’ve always really loved this coat, and while the hat is just meh, I think this is a great look from Kate.
Embed from Getty Images2012
After the Trooping outfit high of 2011, Kate descended into Erdem floral for 2012. This is by far one of the least offensive Erdem designs, but it’s still just not my thing.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis Erdem design is a bespoke light blue-grey sheath with embroidered flowers and a modified portrait neckline. Kate accessorized with a Jane Corbett hat, gray suede Alexander McQueen clutch, and her Links of London Effervescence Bubble Stiletto earrings – a brand we haven’t seen in years, although she used to wear them quite regularly.
Embed from Getty Images2013
Kate was about a month or so away from giving birth to Prince George when she attended Trooping the Color in 2013. For this year, Kate went back to Alexander McQueen for a light pink coat with a wide collar and large pearl buttons.
Embed from Getty ImagesKate went with another Jane Corbett hat, her grey Alexander McQueen clutch, and her beloved Annoushka pearl drop earrings.
Embed from Getty Images2014
In 2014, Kate wore an icy blue skirt suit by Alexander McQueen which included skulls as part of it’s design embroidery. She wore a matching hat from Jane Taylor which featured lace embroidered leaves.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe skirt suit was different for Kate, which I can appreciate, but the part I like most about this outfit is the hat. The leaves offered an interesting detail and volume but it’s not overpowering like many of Kate’s hats.
The grey McQueen clutch made a reappearance, as did her Annoushka pearl drops.
Embed from Getty ImagesAlso making an appearance was a brooch debut: a pearl brooch, featuring five large pearls, which I don’t think has ever been identified. I still think it looks like tacky costume jewelry.
2015
Unlike the Order of the Garter ceremony – which she has never attended in the years she’s given birth – Kate always makes an appearance at Trooping the Color. In 2015, Kate was a little over a month postpartum when she attended Trooping.
Embed from Getty ImagesKate chose a Catherine Walker “Astrid” coat for the occasion – an icy blue coat with an ivory floral pattern. This has got to be my least favorite of the Trooping outfits. Not only is it floral, which I’m never a fan of, the fabric is shiny. Just not flattering.
Embed from Getty ImagesA white Lock & Company “Marisabel” hat (£895) and her aquamarine and diamond earrings completed the look.
2016
For her 2016 Trooping appearance, Kate repeated a white Alexander McQueen coat she first wore to Princess Charlotte’s christening the year prior. This was the first, and so far only, year Kate wore a repeated outfit for this event.
Embed from Getty ImagesKate accessorized the repeated white coat with a new Philip Treacy hat; new Balenciaga faux pearl earrings; her Mappin and Webb “Empress” necklace; and an oatmeal version of her favorite Mulberry Bayswater Clutch.
Embed from Getty ImagesThis was also the first year Kate wore a full updo; and not her normal updo either. I do like Kate’s hair here.
2017
Kate’s 2017 Trooping outfit was divisive at the time given how bright it was, especially since Camilla wore soft pink and The Queen wore light blue. I still have no problem with the color, but the pleating at the waist isn’t my cup of tea.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe bright pink dress with shoulder pads and waist pleating was a custom Alexander McQueen creation based on an existing design. Jane Taylor got the nod this year for a new hat; and Kate carried an Etui Bags nude clutch.
Embed from Getty ImagesKate wore The Queen’s Diamond Pendant Earrings, which marks the first time Kate wore expensive or heirloom pieces for this event.
2018
I really like the overall look from Kate’s 2018 Trooping outfit. When I look at the individual pieces and start dissecting things, I find there are things I dislike, but overall I think it’s a pretty outfit.
Kate debuted another new dress by Alexander McQueen – Kate’s queen of important daytime outfits – this time a light blue design with three-quarter sleeves, puffed shoulders, and a square neckline. I don’t care for the puffed shoulders, but the rest is quite nice.
Embed from Getty ImagesThe matching hat was a new one from Juliette Botterill. It’s fine, I suppose, but it’s not my favorite design. I don’t like the hats that impair the vision for one side of the face.
Kate’s jewelry is Kiki McDonough – her Blue Topaz and Diamond Drop Earrings (£3,500) debuted in 2017; and her Eden Blue Topaz necklace (£1,166.67) which also debuted in 2017.
Embed from Getty Images2019
Kate doubled down on odd pleating and giant flowers for Trooping the Color in 2019.
The hat is actually a repeat – she first wore this hat to the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in May 2018. It’s a Philip Treacy design in soft yellow featuring two giant flowers and some swirls.
She brought out another selection from The Queen’s jewelry: the Bahrain Pearl and Diamond Drop Earrings – which I think are very pretty. Kate also wore her cross necklace.
Embed from Getty ImagesAlexander McQueen got yet another year of designing Kate’s Trooping outfit. This one is light yellow with a pleated, elongated v-neck collar, and pleated flappy things at the waist. This dress would have looked fine if it weren’t for those flappy bits.
Embed from Getty ImagesKate has wore only three designers over her nine year Trooping career: Erdem once; Catherine Walker once; and Alexander McQueen a whopping 7 times.
She’s had a steady rotation of hat designers; never wearing one designer more than twice – of course she sticks to her favorites, though, which is to be expected.
The earrings are where I find the most interest. Kate began her Trooping appearances wearing relatively low-priced Kikis and Links of London, but gradually wore more expensive jewelry until she started wearing The Queen’s pieces.
Which Trooping outfit is my favorite? Not going to lie, it’s still the first one from 2011. I think Kate looked so pretty in that outfit, and no other Trooping appearance has even come close to matching that – although, I do like the 2018 outfit quite well.
I’ve done a similar round up post of all of Meghan’s Trooping appearances over on MMR – there are only two but I didn’t get to cover them previously.
