Kate Middleton wears the same jacket on March 13, 2007 (left) and on Feb. 26, 2025 (right).Photo:Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty; Jaimi Joy - WPA Pool/Getty
Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty; Jaimi Joy - WPA Pool/Getty
Kate Middletonis the queen of recycled outfits, but her latest look was nearly two decades in the making.
For their stop at the Meadow Street Community Garden and Woodland, Kate, 43, changed into the tweed coat, pairing it with a midi skirt and black turtleneck sweater. Royal fans realized that the jacket was the same one that she wore on March 13, 2007, at the Cheltenham Horse Racing Festival. Nearly 20 years ago, Kate paired the jacket with a matching skirt and sunglasses for the day at the racecourse with Prince William…four years before they married!
Kate Middleton and Prince William at the Cheltenham Race Festival on March 13, 2007.CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty
CARL DE SOUZA/AFP via Getty
Her latest sustainable fashion statement comes shortly afterKensington Palace released a rare statementregarding Princess Kate’s style. After a Feb. 1Sunday Timesarticle titled “Princess of Wales: Focus on my work, not my wardrobe,” several op-eds criticized the notion that the royal’s style should be downplayed, emphasizing the vital role it plays in shining a spotlight on British designers and boosting the country’s fashion industry.
Kate Middleton and Prince William visit Pontypridd, Wales, on Feb. 26, 2025.Jaimi Joy - WPA Pool/Getty
Jaimi Joy - WPA Pool/Getty
Susan Kelley, the founder of the first-ever style blog dedicated to Kate’s clothing choices, told PEOPLE, “It’s understandable that the Princess would like the emphasis to be on her work and not her fashion, and that’s a conundrum many women face, especially women in high-profile positions.”
However, Kelley said she has no sense of concern from the style blogging community, who identify Princess Kate’s outfits without any assistance from the palace.
Kate Middleton visits Pontypridd, Wales, on Feb. 26, 2025.Jaimi Joy - WPA Pool/Getty
Princess Kate has long been known for her tendency to recycle previous ensembles, sometimes many years apart.
Perhaps the items that have been in her royal closet the longest are the brown leather boots from British brandPenelope Chilvers, which she purchased in 2004 and has worn on numerous occasions since, including a five-hour hike in the Himalayas during a 2016 royal tour to Bhutan. The shoes are so synonymous with Kate that they even appeared in the final season ofThe Crown!
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Kate Middleton recycles her Alexander McQueen dress at the BAFTAs in 2023 (left) and 2019 (right).Chris Jackson/Getty, Samir Hussein/WireImage
The Prince and Princess of Walestook the trainto Pontypridd, where they were put to work atThe Welsh Cake Shop. The couple donned aprons as shop owner Theresa Conner showed them how to make traditional Welsh cake, with Kate and William kneading and cutting the dough.
Although Prince William was heard joking, “You’ll have to sell these for half price,” Conner seemed impressed with their baking abilities: “I should have roped them in to help with St. David’s Day while I had the opportunity!” she tells PEOPLE.
Prince William and Kate Middleton make Welsh cakes in Wales on Feb. 26, 2025.BEN STANSALL/POOL/AFP via Getty
BEN STANSALL/POOL/AFP via Getty
The couple then spoke to local business owners at the Fountain Café to hear how recent floods had impacted them.
At the Meadow Street Community Garden and Woodland — established in January 2021 to create an open space that welcomes the community to try gardening, woodwork, weaving and more — William and Kate were told how large parts of the site were disrupted again after the floods of December 2024. The garden promotes the benefits of nature while also helping to build resilience within individuals and forge connections between people.
Kate Middleton and Prince William visit Pontypridd, Wales on Feb. 26, 2025.Jaimi Joy - WPA Pool/Getty
source: people.com