Kate Middleton's $9,600 Dior debut included hidden details that nodded to Princess Diana
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- Kate Middleton wore Dior at a public engagement for the first time on Tuesday.
- The ensemble celebrated France during Emmanuel Macron's visit to the UK.
- It also had ties to Princess Diana.
"It's Dior, darling," Kate Middleton likely thought to herself as she looked at her outfit on Tuesday.
Prince William and the Princess of Wales welcomed Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron to the UK on Tuesday for a state visit.
Kate, 43, stepped out of her fashion comfort zone for the occasion, forgoing her favorite designers, Catherine Walker and Alexander McQueen, in favor of a pink Christian Dior ensemble.
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Kate has never worn Dior at a public event before, and making her debut in an outfit from the French fashion house as she greeted the country's president was a savvy diplomatic move.
Plus, the princess's outfit was full of hidden details that made it stand out even more.
Kate Middleton's Dior debut
The star of Kate's outfit was a 30 Montaigne Rose Des Vents Bar Jacket from Dior's 2024 collection.
The brand's Bar Jackets have been iconic since Christian Dior first designed them in 1947. Maria Grazia Chiuri created the reimagined version Kate wore on Tuesday. Chiuri became Dior's first female creative director when she took on the role in 2016, and she announced in May 2025 that she would be stepping down.
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Kate paired the jacket with a midi-length tulle skirt in the same shade that flared out around her calves, offering a royal spin on the balletcore trend. Although blush versions of the products aren't available on Dior's website, the jacket retails for $5,000 in three colors, while the skirt comes in white and black for $4,600.
Kate kept her monochromatic look going with a bespoke hat from Jess Collett Milliner, a UK-based hat designer, and a Mulberry clutch, both of which were the same blush color as her jacket and skirt. She also added $795 Gianvito Rossi pumps to the look.
Royal roots
Kate completed her outfit with pearl jewelry that previously belonged to other royals.
Queen Elizabeth frequently wore the three-strand pearl necklace Kate sported on Tuesday, and the Princess of Wales was first spotted wearing it in September 2022 in the wake of the queen's death, as Town & Country reported.
Kate paired the necklace with Princess Diana's pearl drop earrings, which she also wore to a remembrance service in 2021.
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Diana's earrings were a particularly appropriate accessory for her Dior ensemble, as Diana became a muse for the fashion house in the 1990s.
For instance, she attended the 1996 Met Gala, which celebrated Christian Dior, in a gown custom-designed by John Galliano, fresh off her finalized divorce from then-Prince Charles.
The navy slip dress made quite a statement for the royal, as it was inspired by lingerie and featured lace detailing on the neckline.
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Likewise, Diana was given a Dior bag in 1995 by Bernadette Chirac, the first lady of France at the time. She went on to tote several versions of the bag to royal engagements before her death. Dior renamed the bag "Lady Dior" in her honor.
Kate continued Diana's legacy with her ensemble on Tuesday, stepping into her tenure as Princess of Wales even more firmly.
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