We’re back with the overview of Kate’s Chelsea Flower Show ensemble over the years. But first, a ‘new-old’ image of the Duchess from last year’s flower show that Kensington Palace released today. 
In the newly released photo, you see the Duchess working on the construction of the Back to Nature Garden that debuted at last year’s show. Below, a portion of the completed garden. 
You may remember the garden was designed to highlight the physical and mental health benefits of being outside in the natural world. Below, Kate working on the garden build on a different day. 
Another view of the Duchess during the build, this time in the garden’s treehouse, with Andrée Davies and Adam White. The Duchess co-designed the garden with Davies White Landscape Architects in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society.
The garden was also created to inspire children, families, and communities to enjoy spending time outdoors. Here you see Kate taking a minute to enjoy the garden before it opened to the public. 
A quick note about what Kate wore in the photo released today, it looks like a past-season Zara Linen Shirt (with thanks to Georgie’s Mum on Twitter for the ID!) and her Superga Cotu Classic sneakers in the Sherwood Gum colorway (below left). This color is not available on the US site but offered at End Clothing ($65 and $9.99 shipping to the US), and also at Superga’s UK site ($57 with promo code THANKU20, but shipping to the US is $25, making the total $82.29).
One quick note: everything on the US Superga site remains discounted by 40% with promo code SNEAKER40; this includes Kate’s Cotu Classic in white.
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This year the Royal Horticultural Society is doing a virtual flower show because of the pandemic.
There are video tours, workshops, Q&A sessions, and more. Click here to visit the Virtual Show pages.
The show has long been one of the most popular events on the royal calendar. It is very much a favorite event for HM, who has been Patron of the Royal Horticultural Society since 1952; below, you see her at her first Show as Monarch. 
A letter from HM about this year’s show.
For this year’s Virtual Show, The Queen and other members of the Royal Family shared a selection of images of some of their favorite plants and flowers at this time of year. HM chose Lilies of the Valley, featured in her coronation bouquet, and shown below growing in the gardens at Buckingham Palace this spring. 
From the Prince of Wales: “For me, the magnificent, gloriously apparelled delphinium, with its impeccable bearing and massed in platoons, holds pride of place in my botanical affections.” 
The Earl and Countess of Wessex chose azaleas, which are “so breath-taking at this time of year and have the most intoxicating scent.” This image was taken by Sophie, Countess of Wessex.
You can see all of the choices by Royal Family Members by clicking here. (Evidently Kate and William did not take part in this.)
Now to the looks Kate has worn for the annual preview held on Monday afternoons before the show opens to the public. For her first official visit to the show in 2016, the Duchess repeated a Catherine Walker coatdress.
Below, looking at a rose display with Harry and William. 
This was the year Emily Nash of Hello! shared that terrific photo of everyone looking at a certain display through a tiny peephole.
And the year there was a display of almost 300,000 individually crocheted poppies created as a tribute to those who served in all wars. 
And it was the year providing a photo I very occasionally bring out to answer the question, “What does Kate carry in her handbag?” 
We know she carries tissues, or at least she did at the 2016 show.
The Duchess was in a green Catherine Walker coatdress for the show, a piece first seen at engagements in Canberra during the 2014 tour. 
The grass green piece featured a fit and flare silhouette with concealed front zipper, multiple fabric panels on the bodice, high collar, full A-line skirt, wide self-belt, and hand pick-stitching throughout the garment. Kate accessorized with her Nina Clutch ($250) by LK Bennett. 
And her Fern Pumps (no longer available) also by LK Bennett. 
The Duchess opted for her leaf-shaped Lauren earrings by Kiki McDonough.
For her second visit to the Flower Show in 2017, the Duchess chose a floral print dress by Rochas. The Parisian fashion house was a new label in the Duchess’s wardrobe. 
This was the year we saw Kate and Mary Berry chatting, although I don’t have very good photos of that encounter. 
It was also the year BBC Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans gave the Duchess a tomato to taste. 
Kate’s dress was from the Rochas 2016 pre-fall collection.
Crafted of silk crêpe de chine in an emerald and ivory floral print, the piece is midi-length with a fitted waist and flared skirt, side slit pockets, exposed back zipper, and silk lining.
The Duchess did not carry a bag in 2017, accessorizing with her LK Bennett Floret heels ($295). 
Her hair was in a ponytail. 
Which showed off her Siren Wire Earrings in green onyx ($175) by Monica Vinader. 
In 2018 the Duchess was expecting Prince Louis and did not attend the show. Last year we saw her at the show several times: wearing a dress by & Other Stories in photos of the Cambridge family exploring her Back to Nature Garden, wearing casual separates from Massimo Dutti and MiH for the official unveiling of the Back to Nature Garden, then in an Erdem design for the formal preview event at the show, always on Monday before the show opens to the public.
For the purposes of today’s post, we’ll limit our coverage to the afternoon preview event.
Below, the Duchess greeting HM. 
A quick video with the Duke and Duchess showing HM the Back to Nature Garden.
Gardening Charity The Royal Horticultural Society was founded in 1804 by Sir Joseph Banks and John Wedgwood and the charity aims to “enrich lives through plants and make the UK a greener place”. pic.twitter.com/CxcZRH9b5E
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) May 20, 2019
At this point, Kate had to be relieved with the preparation, construction, and official preview of her Back to Nature Garden behind her.
The Duchess wore Erdem’s Sheba Floral Silk-Cotton Gown. 
Made of a linen-cotton blend with a floral print, the Sheba was described as “showcasing the Victorian influence on the British label; this high-neck style is accented with white crocheted lace and raw-edge ruffled trim.”
The dress has a hidden back zipper, three-quarter sleeves with a ruffle or flare, and the distinctive flounce or ruffle on the lower portion of the skirts. In this montage below you can see how much fabric the Duchess had taken off the bottom. 
This better shows the crocheted lace and ruffle at the skirt (L), and on the center collar (R).
Kate accessorized with Castañer Carina style espadrille wedges ($170). 
She wore her hair partially back. 
And had on her Cassandra Goad Cavolfiore Studs (£4490, about $5700 at today’s exchange rates) in 18ct yellow gold with pearls accented by diamonds.
A couple of readers suggested a poll on the flower show looks, so here we go!
VIDEOS:
In this video, you hear Kate talk about the Back to Nature Garden and you see her working on it as well.
The very first photo where Kate is in work clothes on rocks and is reaching out to take a fern from another woman – her hair is a little bit messy which I love because it shows she has been really working, and probably for some time. It isn’t just a token effort for the cameras.
I love that catherine walker coatdress and kate looked so cute on that swing
I wanted not to like the Erdem dress, but it looked so pretty in the setting of the garden, I voted for it!
I really love the action shot of Kate, I don’t recall seeing such a rolled-up sleeves royal gardener before. She looks just great, too, I could never manage chic in the garden, but the dark top with jeans and coordinating trainers is attractive as well as highly practical.
It had never occurred to me that a Chelsea Show outfit poll would have so few entries, and it became a no-brainer, the Rochas is a stand-out all-time favourite. It manages the floral theme with class and chic, and no excess of fussiness, while retaining plenty of loose femininity appropriate for a garden setting. The dark green looks wonderful on Kate.
The Erdem on the other hand is a write-off imo, too fussy in the print, too many style details in lace trim, buttons and ruffle, and all-round too much like an old nightdress. All of which seems to make it a hit with the young and fashionable these days so I should really keep my head down! It was much harder to pass over the Catherine Walker, fabulous tailoring, fit, and colour, I was so glad to see it turn up again at the Show. I think the Rochas may have had the edge by virtue of being a debut, not a repeat.
Love the Rochas dress and the ponytail, and I love the garden and the whole emphasis on being in nature, especially getting children into nature. The Erdem dress is pretty and she definitely wears it well, but it’s not for me. I did that look when I was growing up in the 60s and 70s. It’s fun to see it coming back into fashion again (and who likes and doesn’t like it. Clearly, the Duchess does.)
Thanks for the walk down the memory (garden) lane, Susan. I always enjoy the gardening posts.
I am particularly taken with the video at the end, about the importance of nature and of children spending time in nature. Kate clearly knows what she is talking about and evidences such concern for the well-being of children.
I totally agree
I also felt „meeh“ about the dress but in the context of the garden it all came together! Much more suitable for this event than the green Catherine walket, from which I love the cut but that just doesn’t give the „garden“ vibe.
I loved Kate’s hair last year, too, I wish she‘d braid it more often.
I wasn’t thrilled about the leather portion of the shoes, though, I think canvas would have been a little better. Also so fan of the cauliflower earrings, but I guess they pick up the garden-theme 😉
All together I voted for the Erdem, in my opinion the best (and only) context for this particular dress!
Really enjoyed this post! Thank you for posting the flower picks by members of the royal family. I thought most of them were spectacular, although i didn’t really care for the pick by the Duchess of Cornwall.
I liked Kate’s Erdem dress best. The Rochas dress would be nothing special on a hanger, but it did look fabulous on Kate especially with that perfect ponytail.
Margaret, I agree with you and see the flower choice of the Duchess of Cornwall as being an odd pick. I’m not familiar with Alchemilla Mollis, but if I saw it growing in my garden, I might pull it out thinking it was a weed.
Alchemilla mollis is a gem, I must rush to its defence and that of the Duchess of Cornwall who has made a very classy pick!! I will concede that it does indeed grow like a weed, but I can just about keep mine under control! It produces the most delicious long gold-green fronds rather than actual flowers, which are heaven to use in flower-arranging, indispensable even, adding a sort of faint gold haze to an arrangement without needing any great skill. It is equally pretty dotted about the border between the showpiece flowers. The leaves in the garden are fascinating after rain, holding large photogenic drops of water which litter my Twitter feed where I love showing off their pretty fan-shapes.
Alchemilla Mollis everywhere thanks you ElizaMo. I shouldn’t judge because I’ve never seen it. It just seemed an odd choice as a favourite. It is more like foliage than wonderful flowers with colour, petals and pizazz. But I see that the Royals were to select their favourite plant or flower. So I suppose Alchemilla Mollis fits into the plant category.
She’s picked it for its quiet beauty and its indispensable usefulness to the flower arranger. Its chief problem from my point of view is that that gold fronds tend to shed a lot of bits, so needs careful placing. Prob best in the garden for me!
Thanks for another poll! My favorite is the Erdem dress. It reminds me of a beautiful garden and I thought it was a perfect choice.
I agree. In the original post, I remember thinking that if I saw the dress on its own I wouldn’t give it a second look. But Kate wearing it in the gorgeous natural surroundings, it all came together gorgeously. The close-ups of the dress with the crocheted ruffle and the gorgeous floral pattern show that it really is a stunning dress. Her hair braided in the half up-do sets if off perfectly. As you said, the perfect choice. I’m one of the few who chose it as my favorite.
I‘m totally with you!
I’ve always loved the green floral Rochas dress. It’s one of my favorites, in fact. But Jessica is right that it got a lot of negative feedback back in 2017, which surprises me. I think this dress is pretty, polished and feminine without being fussy. The color is very flattering on Kate. I also love the earrings. And in my opinion, nobody does a ponytail better than Kate.
Long time reader (try… 7 years!!), first time commenter. I visit this site almost daily for my Kate Fix! Thank you, Susan, for years of joy! I am loyal to this site first and foremost 🙂
Totally agree, Betsey!! One of my favorites, too! Now that I know there’s a repliKate on Amazon I MAY just go for it.
Susan, I love these throwback posts. Maybe you could do one that shows items that Kate has multiple of in different colors (IE the Superga’s, the Emilia Wickstead sheath dresses,…). That would showcase what she truly loves, loves enough to have multiples of!
I voted for the Rochas, but I really do like this Erdem, most I do not. The longer floral dresses are just so suited to the garden. The coat dress was a good color but too much of a safe choice. I liked her hair and earrings in 2019 better than 2017, but the ponytail and drops were very nice also.
Thank you so much for another wonderful post! I loved the ponytail from the Rocha dress. I too agree with the others that I’m not a big fan of the Erdem dresses that the Duchess seems to like, I just find them overly fussy. But, as I always say, she always looks lovely, she could put on a sack and somehow manage to look approachable and nice.
For a future post. I was thinking it would be nice to see some highlights of one of the many tours she and William have gone on, with a poll on our favourite outfit on one of the tours.
Anyhow thanks so much for all your hard work, Susan! It is a much-needed break from what is going on.
Thank you!😊
It was fun to see that last year Kate wore jeans and work gloves and actually did some planting for the garden, that she helped to design. She is such a good sport in participating in a wide variety of activities.
I always loved the Rochas dress that Kate wore in 2017. It wasn’t just the best dress of her Chelsea Flower Show looks, it was also one of my all time favourite springtime day dresses. I like the way the sleeves extend from the bodice and aren’t set in. The flare of the bias cut skirt is beautifully done. I really love the print, which is floral, but in an abstract sort of way. The contrast between the deep green and white is very effective. Kate’s hair looked especially nice that day and she should wear it in a casual ponytail more often. I’ve never cared for those earrings. Wish she’d worn the simple small diamond/large pearl earrings that the Queen has given to many female members of the Royal Family. The Queen wears those earrings herself almost every day.
The Catherine Walker coat dress was fine, but it is rather heavy and closed up looking. The Erdem can join her other Erdems in the too fussy, too wacky pile.
I love that — the wacky pile!! I struggled to be polite about that dress on its first outfit out of respect for those who love it, but I’m letting rip this time, and would put it there myself. However, I agree that the way Kate wears these items can frequently add much charm to them, and it was undeniably appropriate to the occasion
One of the intriguing things about reading comments on WKW is how diverse we are. Most of Kate’s Erdems make me shake my head, but there are always others who really like them. Vive La Différence! You are right, ElizaMo, in saying that Kate adds charm to so many outfits. Were I to wear an Erdem, it would be Hallowe’en personified.
I loved all 3 looks, but I voted for the 2016 dress. It is the dress that I would probably want the most. 2017 Kate looked a bit big but I like the dress and 2019 was a bit too cheap-looking in my opinion. Ironically, I just bought an almost identical RepliKate off amazon of the 2017 dress. I really like the 2017 dress, I just don’t like the way Kate wore it. I am wearing it right now with nude flats from Target. It is the best!!
Definitely 2017 dress and 2019 hair style (but 2017 ponytail is ok also……). TBH I do not rate any of Catherine’s Erdem dresses, way to fussy, busy and I do not think she suits them, although she appears to like them.
The green Rochas was always my favorite!
The most interesting photos to me are the ones with Mary Berry. They’re striking for the fact that everyone is clearly watching Mary, instead of Kate (the usual subject of attention!). It must be a relief for Kate, and I think Mary is probably as much of a treat in person as she is as a presenter!
Eveyone hated that Rochas dress at the time, but I loved it! Her ponytail was SO perfect that day.
That was one fabulous ponytail! And it’s early, but it looks like the Rochas is ahead in the poll! 🙂
I don’t remember everyone hating it, but I agree with everything you said and I keep my eye out for a RepliKate! 😉
Hi Liana, there is an absolutely PERFECT RepliKate on Amazon for the Rochas dress. I just bought it and am wearing it right now!
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F8L4VZV/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A18XF08L807B4F&psc=1
Meghan, were you pleased with the service and the quality of the dress? (I’m thinking so, or you wouldn’t have shared the link, but want to double-check.) 😊
WOW, Meghan that is a really great copy of the original. I was thinking the other day that I don’t have one green item in my closet, although I like green. This might be a good dress to buy. I’m always a tad hesitant to purchase something that I haven’t tried on. But I’ll give this one some thought.
Free shipping and free returns! 😉
Okay, I was seriously considering buying this RepliKate from Amazon. I read the reviews, however, and changed my mind. One person, who is 5’5″ said the dress came to just below her knee. I am 5’6″ so it would be a tad shorter on me. One of the things I loved about the Rochas dress was the mid calf length on Kate. So without this feature I don’t think I’d be happy with the dress. Plus there was an additional shipping and import fee to Canada of $34.11, which was most off putting…being more than the price of the dress.
That is an amazing RepliKate! Thank you so much for sharing. I remember loving this at the time, and it was easily my fave in the poll too. Keeping that page open ready for when I get a chance to measure myself later – the sizing chart looks a little whack-a-doodle, so combined with my recent 25lbs ish weight loss and more to go, I think I need to be careful in ordering!
Wow, that is perfect. Thanks for sharing!
I also have this dress. I was shopping around on Amazon one day and came across the dress. I instantly thought it looked just like Kate’s dress. I really wondered about it due to the price, but it is very nice. As someone else remarked, I am 5’5″ and the dress comes to just below my knee which is perfect for me. I enjoy collecting Kate or Kate-like items. Thank you so very much for this site!!!
I also want to share that, if you like Kate’s style, the Lady’s Maid is another great site to follow on Instagram or her web site for similar outfits. Alicia posts almost every day.
https://theladysmaid.com/
I loved the Rochas at first sight too and can remember having a tough time defending it from complaints at the time! Such a shame we haven’t seen it again.