NOTE: This was originally scheduled for publication on Wednesday. Clearly, that would not have been appropriate and yesterday still felt raw, like an open wound. I struggled with posting it today because we remain in such an unsettled situation. I am doing so in part because of past comments about the merits of ‘distraction’ from the continued turmoil.
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I am back with a couple of news updates and then the first of our annual polls on what Kate wore last year. Today we’ll look at the new coats worn last year by the Duchess. But first, the news updates:
- England has started a new lockdown phase. The Cambridge family will remain at their Anmer Hall country home where they have been for the last several weeks. Normally the family would have returned to London at this point and George and Charlotte would have headed back to school at Thomas’s Battersea. It’s also likely an announcement would have been made about Prince Louis starting nursery school. The restrictions are expected to be in place until at least mid-February, so it is back to homeschooling for George and Charlotte.
- Earlier this week Buckingham Palace announced that this year’s garden parties in London and Edinburgh have been canceled. The Telegraph reports: “Deadlines were approaching for contractors and work would soon have had to begin on drawing up guest lists for the 30,000 or so people who attend annually.”
- At this point Trooping the Colour is still on the books. This is not an event that involves enormous catering issues, among other things, so making a decision about holding the event can be delayed.
Now for our overview of the new coats worn by the Duchess in 2020. The year in coats began with a delightful new Roksanda Ilincic design worn in early January when the Duke and Duchess attended church. 
The couple was at Sandringham, and they were joined by the Duchess’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, along with several close friends, some of whom are godparents to the three Cambridge children.
Kate wore the Roksanda ‘Denton’ Coat from a 2016 collection. As I originally wrote, it is a striking fabric that mixes midnight-blue and orange hues in a midweight wool blend. 
Made in England, the piece features a funnel neck and double-breasted design with distinctive bar-shaped hardware closures in a copper color. It also has lightly padded shoulders, front slit pockets, and a back vent. The fabric is a wool blend described as a “midweight” blend of 65% wool, 30% other, 10% polyamide.
In mid-January the Duchess debuted a new coat by Alexander McQueen, worn for a day of engagements in Bradford.
Below, Prince William gives the Duchess a rose that was given to him. 
The structured garment featured a high collar, fitted bodice with multiple darts and flap pockets, exposed seams with topstitching detail, waistband, concealed placket, diagonal besom pockets at the hip, and princess seams on the back of the bodice. 
The coat was worn two more times last year, for events in Galway and also at the launch of the mini-tour aboard the Royal Train.
When rolling out her 5 Big Questions survey in late January, the Duchess was in a design by Massimo Dutti, a label appearing more frequently in her wardrobe. 
The coat was a classic camel color. 
The Limited Edition Cashmere Wool Camel Coat showcased double-breasted styling with front flap pockets, peak lapels, and a deep back vent for ease of movement. 
At another 5 Big Questions event at Stockwell Gardens Nursery & Preschool in London, Kate wore a new design. 
The piece remains UFO as of this writing. 
The petrol blue coat hit just below the knee with notch lapels and flap pockets. 
For February engagements in South Wales with Prince William, the Duchess sported a new design by Hobbs.
The couple’s visit to The Mumbles and Port Talbot was on a windy day.
Kate wore a military-inspired coat called the ‘Bianca,’ a blend of 78% wool/22% polyamide in a maxi-length style. The structured design showcased a double-breasted silhouette with distinctive burnished buttons, oversized patch pockets, and shoulder epaulets. 
When the Duke and Duchess began their three-day visit to Ireland in early March, Kate wore Catherine Walker. 
The Duchess’s Catherine Walker coat was a bespoke piece with a double-breasted fit and flare silhouette. It also featured a broad collar, a slight flare at the sleeve cuff, and a back vent. 
It was October before we saw the Duchess in another new coat, this one was another Massimo Dutti style. 
It was worn when the Duchess visited students at the University of Derby for engagements marking World Mental Health Day. 
The Handcrafted Checked Wool Coat was made of an 89% wool/11% nylon blend in a small gingham print. It had a straight cut, notch lapels, front buttons, and large patch pockets. 
Kate debuted a rich red Alexander McQueen design for the community launch of the Hold Still photo project in mid-October. 
Design elements of the double-breasted style included peak lapels, front flap pockets, contrasting black buttons at the cuff, and front closure. 
Our final new look was worn for Remembrance Sunday. 
The Duchess chose a military-inspired design by Catherine Walker for the annual service. The fitted piece had a high mandarin collar, angled braided embellishment at the waist, epaulets, flared sleeves at the wrist, and silver buttons. 
Now it is time to cast your vote!
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This portion of the post was written today, motivated in part by the hope that nothing distracts like a pretty party frock. (With the possible exception of a tiara.) Our fashion flashback is from nine years ago today when the Duke and Duchess attended the UK premiere of War Horse. 
The event was a fundraiser for the Royal Foundation. 
The Duchess wore a gown by Temperley London. 
It was the label’s Amoret Black Lace Maxi Dress. 
The dress showcased a deep vee neckline with black French lace atop a blush slip lining. The sheer, bracelet-length sleeves were finished with scalloped eyelash lace, as were the neckline and hem. Other design elements include a keyhole back, removable silk crepe bow belt at the waist.
Here is a closer look at some of those elements. 
The Duchess accessorized with a black velvet bow bag by Mascaró. 
She wore the diamond earrings and bracelet believed to be a wedding gift from Prince Charles. 
Many readers will recall the Duchess wore the Amoret two more times: in November 2012 for a fundraising dinner and again in December 2013 for an engagement at the Natural History Museum.
One more view of the couple nine years ago today. 
We close with Happy Birthday wishes for the Duchess – tomorrow is her 39th birthday!
I voted for the Roksanda Ilincic coat, the first one she wore in 2020. The purple-blue-orange wool blend was just so exquisite looking and it’s a huge departure from the usual single color coats she typically wears. I thought she accessorized it really well with the navy blue hat and the boots. My second favorite was the teal UFO as it is a great color on her. And I also liked the Massimo Dutti in the gingham print.
As for the flashback, I remember when Kate first wore that Temperley gown. I think that was the dress where I realized she really loves lace. I loved the dress when I saw it the first time but on repeated outings, it lost its impact on me for whatever reason. She also has since worn several evening dresses that I much prefer over this one. This was one of the first “fancy” dresses we saw her wear early on in her marriage to William and she has diversified a lot since then.
I voted for the remembrance day coat it was rather quirky and chic.
Thank you sincerely for the post. This site truly brings a little joy and welcome distraction for so many around the world.
The UFO coat is my favorite. Absolutely gorgeous cut and color, and perfect for the occasion. The coat worn to church in Jan 2020 is a fun second-favorite – though a main reason it was a hit was how she accessorized it – the hat and boots were a bold, unique way for creating a fantastically fun look. (Had the coat been worn without the hat and with her more typical heels, it just wouldn’t have had the impact.)
I love the Roksanda coat with the fedora—the whole ensemble is stunning—but my vote went to the checked Massimo Dutti. It’s a different style of coat from what the Duchess usually wears, was appropriate for the venue, and looks comfortable. I’d wear it myself!
This is my first post. I love this website! I have been following for about 2 years. I am from Ohio and as was said previously, this website provides a wonderful break from all the mayhem and destruction of the past week here in the United States.
My vote is for the Roksanda coat. The colors are beautiful as are the features of the coat. The hat though is what made me take a second look! I love it! I am not a fan of flap pockets and the military theme. Both are seen very often in her coats.
I look forward to future posts of Kate’s fashion choices.
I’m so glad you commented, Gail. Thank you for the kind words. 😊
As a 64 year old American, I have enjoyed your site for several years now. I am a teacher and after a long day of ZOOM-ing with kids, seeing that lovely Kate Middleton smile and style is a day brightener. It’s even better with a glass of white wine, which I raise in a toast to your wonderful nation! Kate and William and their kids is SUCH a treat. Thanks
Thank you, Roxanne! 😊
It is a long time ago since, but I would like to see some of Catherines short and young dressses. I know that they are not a jour, but as we can not have any recent pictures, I think, it would be nice to go back and see what she wore in the early days. So we really could see the difference to what she is wearing today.
Just to remind all of us how yuouthful she dressed early on.
As we do not have any recent pictures 🙂
Because it would make us see how different she looks now a days. More like a Queen in waiting, than just Wills gilrfriend.
I too appreciate this posting. A wonderful respite from the recent barrage of unthinkable events. Thank you admin. for all that you do.
My top choice in this poll has to go to the Roksanda. A striking ensemble in every way, enhanced with that terrific fedora. So stylish! My second pick would be the Catherine Walker green coat, worn in Ireland. Flawless tailoring and so beautifully fitted. I liked the broad collar and open neck showcasing her dress. I thought she looked exceptionally pretty that day.
Re.. the lovely lace dress. My favorite detail is the scalloped neckline. It reminds me a little of the deep neckliine seen in Kate’s beautiful weddiing gown.
Happy Belated Birthday Duchess – from across the pond!
Thank you for this post. I’ve been checking very frequently, hoping to see something new.
I had two favourite coats. I loved the Roksanda with that great hat! However, I placed my vote for the checked Massimo Dutti coat. It was fun to see a different style. Almost all of the duchess’ coats are fitted with lots of buttons and/or pockets and flaps. This coat just looked so easy to wear and a lot more contemporary than most her coats.
I’m not a huge fan of the lace dress. I think I would like it better without the black trim that is just below the hips. I love the neckline and bottom section. That black trim kind of spoiled it for me.
Exactly my favorite coat and my feeling about the lace on the hip section as well. Made it look a little like a 1950’s bathing suit and spoiled an otherwise beautiful dress for me.
I’d like to wish our favourite duchess a belated happy birthday and hope she has another great year ahead. And how delightful for us to start our own fashion year with a poll.
Looking back on 2020, I was impressed by how many fresh outfits Kate had, not to mention how many engagements. By the end of the year, I was half beginning to wonder if we’d seen much apart from repeat dresses in home videos. I was wrong, as the poll clearly shows.
The first three months were pretty much business as usual, of course, as the pandemic didn’t fully take off until March. So it’s huge pleasure to be able to give my top vote to the delightful Roksanda Illincic, which I see has also come out first in the poll. The mix of dark blue with orange in the weave gives a lovely coppery effect to a beautifully cut princess line, over which that Hicks & Brown fedora is a stylish finishing touch.
Out of the new arrivals, there wasn’t really a coat I didn’t like, and other highlights for me were the bright UFO and the houndstooth Massimo Dutti, both of which I found fresh and youthful on Kate, and both showing an extra touch of dash in colour and fashion choice. That said, the superlative tailoring of both McQueen and Packham continue to rule the roost for quality. Elsewhere, I’ve never been a big fan of the Temperley gown, with its lace rendered so stark by flashbulbs.
That was admirably sensitive of you to hold the post back as a mark of respect. You mention distraction, and once again I fear our focus is seen as a guilty pleasure, when I feel it’s what the grown-ups do when the chips are down. Our consideration of Kate’s carefully selected wardrobe is serious, as well as thoroughly enjoyable, and our well-tempered discussion remains a tribute to civilised behaviour. Thank you.
I voted for the Bradford coat. I adore pretty much anything green, and the DOC looks simply amazing in that colour!
I also adore a good lacey frock. You can never go wrong with lace, and I love how the duchess wears so much of it. It’s gorgeous!
Also hard to believe that War Horse is nine years old. Such a good movie. Makes me feel old.
2020 – the year of the long coat!
They are all beautiful – such a difficult decision. I have made no secret of my love for that red McQueen, but my vote eventually went to that beautiful blue UFO – an inspired and fun choice atop a very nice businesslike outfit.
Thank you as always, Susan, for the sensitivity and class with which you do your work.
Susan,
From mid-Michigan here… I was never interested in the British Royal Family until I semi-retired and needed a break some days from writing online. So, Catherine and William and their lovely family and extended family add a nice break to my days. Your site is one of the most fun, entertaining, and supportive communities online. Thank you for all that you do. Your site is a positive spirited breath of fresh air. Regards, Susan
Thank you Susan from a fellow mid-Michiganian named Susan. 😊
Its hard to pick a favorite, Kate looks amazing in everything but Im a sucker for a good green coat. Id love to see a post of just all the green ones or blue ones she has in her wardrobe, just for memories sake and fun.
Thank you so so much for posting. Wednesday was absolutely shocking here in the states and I havent fully wrapped my head around it. I have enjoyed following this site since the beginning (when everyone was wondering about that cozy green shawl Kate wore to the grocery store!?) Its been fun to keep up with all the fashion and fun things over the years and I adore the positive tone in the comments section too. You guys are pure class! ❤ You have been a positive light in this sometimes dark world and I always look forward to reading posts. Thank you!!
Thank you, Brandi. Boy, that green shawl debate brings back memories! 😊
Her coats are all amazing! It was so hard to pick a favourite…I really liked her Massimo Dutti ones as they are both something I would wear personally. But the petrol blue UFO coat stood out for me – I adore the cut & colour of it. Also, the red Alexander McQueen was such a lovely shade, though the length was too long.
Keep up the great work, Susan x
I have enjoyed What Kate Wore for many years, but never more than during this pandemic. Thank you for continuing your excellent work. I especially appreciate the information that has been shared on the Hold Still project. Very inspiring.
The Duchess has the best collection of coats! I voted for the Roksanna because the whole look (coat, fit, hat, boots, hair) was perfect.
The third photo of the post, with people just smiling in the background… my heart swelled a bit. It’s been so long since I’ve seen a bunch of smiling faces and it just really hit a chord tonight.
My favorite coat of 2020 is definitely the Catherine Walker green. Then the UFO one; such a pretty color!
Lastly, this fashion flashback is one of my favorites! I loved her in this dress… and I think I’m a bit partial to the whole thing because I absolutely adored “War Horse.”
Thanks again, Susan, for everything you do!
Love the Roksanda coat with the striking copper hardware, but for me the best part of her ensemble that day was her gorgeous navy hat! Really fits Kate. I think the green McQueen is not the best shade of green for Kate. The lace gown is not a favorite, the light lining just doesn’t work. What a nice “round up” of Kate’s coat wardrobe! Thanks Susan for a great way to start WKW 2021!
Although I have followed this site for years, this is only the second time I have left a comment. As an American, I would like to sincerely thank you for not posting on Wednesday. Many Americans, and our allies around the world, were deeply disturbed and saddened by the events of that day. We are looking forward to healing and starting anew. We have a long road ahead, not only in terms of politics but also regarding COVID-19 related issues. Sadly, our country is not alone there. With all of that said, it’s lovely to have distractions such as What Kate Wore. Thanks for a much needed burst of beauty, style, grace, and happiness! I’m looking forward to the day when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will be able to visit The USA!
Thank you, Sara. I’m sending you good thoughts. 😊
I know that I am in the minority here but I never cared for the Roksanda coat from a year ago, all due to the color(s). Orange is one of my least favorite colors and I thought the fabric itself looked muddy. I would have liked the coat much more in a different, solid color. The red McQueen looked great on the train tour when paired with boots and that wonderful tartan scarf, but I did not like it with the pumps as worn first. I have a very long black coat that requires black boots; shoes and stockings, even black ones, just look silly sticking out the bottom!
I was so happy to see this post tonight. I probably would not have even looked at it or been able to enjoy it on Wednesday. Everything just feels so precarious. Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Susan, you have an abundance of tact and grace.
“Precarious” is a very good word, Lake Girl, thank you. 🤗
I’m with you about the Roksanda coat. While I admire the cut, I can never get behind the colour orange. And I agree that the red McQueen is too long – makes me think of a kid borrowing mom’s coat. My vote was for the classy Catherine Walker on Remembrance Day, and my second choice is the gorgeous petrol blue coat.
You are giving us hope and a renewed sense of normalcy. Thank you so much for your efforts! Roxanda and Hobbs were my favorite!
XO,
❤️
Thank you, Jacquie. 😊
Thank you, Susan. Sending good wishes from Canada, and longing to return to the days when coat envy registered as a problem in the scheme of things!
Thank you for the positive thoughts, Mary! 😊
Fashion can be considered frivolous compared to all the drama going on in the world. As others have said throughout the past year, Susan, WKW is a happy distraction and a comfortable community, that provides an escape. May the vaccine soon be distributed so that life can return as we remember it. To neighbours in the USA, may you soon heal and be united again.
Kate has one of the best coat collections in the world. It is hard to pick a winner from this selection. I decided to go with the Roksandra, that I thought to be very sophisticated and unlike others she has worn. For my own use, I’d wear the Hobbs navy, military-inspired, Bianca, or the camel Massimo Dutti. Both are neutral in colour and very classic, meaning that one would be able to wear them for years and still look stylish.
Thank you, Bonnie. I send to you a big, grateful (distanced) hug. 🤗
Thank you for your wonderful website. Wishing you all the best from the UK
Thank you, Teri. All good wishes back to you and everyone in the UK. 🙂
I think the Roksanda (mostly because of the hat Catherine wore with it, such a dashing look – needs to be repeated!), followed by the camel Massimo Dutti (not so keen on the check MD one, looks way too big). The ones I liked least were the drab olive McQueen one and the awfully long red one – it needs at least a foot taken off the length, imo.
We all had such hopes that this year, one way or another, would start better than last year ended: so far, depressingly, not to be. In the UK we are back in lockdown (sounds as though we are going to be kept there for months) so presumably the Cambridges will be back on ‘Zoom’ duty very shortly.
Personally, I do have to say that I hope that means no more new coats this year, and please no new ageing matronly, tie neck dresses either…….
Susan, thanks for keeping our spirits up; who knew that the short train tour and the panto were to our live action lot for some months!
Sue, I agree. No more new coats (she already has many fantastic new additions to her collection) & I couldn’t bear another tie neck dress!
I will share in admitting that my main reason for preferring the Roksanda coat is the pairing with that wonderful hat!
Thank you for this……I logged on and saw the post and was so pleased! These are difficult times and it’s good to be reminded that things were not always so. I appreciate all the details you point out. The only difficulty is deciding which coat to vote for! How lovely that they are still so happy. I love the photo from mud-January where they each have an arm round the other! Thanks again.
Sp glad for this distraction. I voted for the Massimo Dutti, with the Roksanda close behind. In both cases, I really loved the whole look, different as they are.
I have not posted before but I want to thank you for all the time and work you put into this site. It is so refreshing and comforting to know that there is someplace to go online that is informative, entertaining, and safe. In times like these where much feels unsafe and unsettled I appreciate the thoughtfulness and balanced viewpoints found here. And the beautiful clothes and photos are a VERY welcome distraction! Thank you!
Awww, thank you, Jennie. It’s been a pretty dark week, and that means a great deal. 🙂
Thank you so much.Keep Up your brilliant work. following since 2017 but commenting for the first time
Thank you for commenting, Khadiza, and the kind sentiment! 🙂
Thanks and cant wait to see the duchess again
The Duchess’ coat collection continues to make me envious! I voted for the Multicolor Roksanda ‘Denton’. It’s so unique, and I especially love the hat she wore with it.
Thank you for this very welcome distraction, Susan.
I am glad it provided a distraction, Melissa. 🙂