Kate Middleton changed up her style during her latest public appearance, going for a more muted look as she visited the National Portrait Gallery with a group of kindergarten children on Feb. 4.
The 43-year-old looked chic yet subdued in a black knit turtleneck with a brown blazer on top. She also wore black pinstripe pants with simple heeled boots.
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While the look remained in line with Kate’s regular elegant styling, the neutral colors might be a reflection of a recent announcement from Kensington Palace about the Princess of Wales’ wardrobe in regard to public appearances.
Recently, Kensington Palace announced that it would no longer be sharing details of Kate’s outfits for public engagements except for “significant outfits or jewellery worn by the princess for the most important family and state events,” as reported by The Times.
A source told the publication of the decision, “There is an absolute feeling that it [the public work] is not about what the princess is wearing. She wants the focus to be on the really important issues, the people and the causes she is spotlighting.”
“There will always be an appreciation of what the princess is wearing from some of the public and she gets that. But do we need to be officially always saying what she is wearing? No. The style is there but it’s about the substance,” the source went on.
Since the start of 2025, Kate has been increasingly active, with a focus on her work with the Centre for Early Childhood. She also just became the patron of Tŷ Hafan, a children’s hospice in Wales, which Princess Diana was a patron of early in its history.
Next: Kate Middleton Unveils “So Sweet” New Portrait Taken by Her Youngest Son, Prince Louis