What does one wear for the emotional moment of dropping one’s eldest son off for his first day at Eton? When you’re Catherine, Princess of Wales, the answer’s obvious: stick to an old reliable that delivers on comfort (both emotional and physical!) and style.
Both Prince William and the Princess of Wales accompanied 13-year-old Prince George to meet Eton’s headmaster, Simon Henderson, and Sir Nicholas Coleridge, the school’s Provost, before George’s first day of secondary school. While Prince George and Prince William wore matching looks comprised of a dark blazer, trousers, a crisp white shirt and a blue tie, Catherine opted for a style she’s reached for again and again over the years: a dark green, long-sleeved dress.
The dress is by Emilia Wickstead, and it’s been in the Royal’s wardrobe for quite some time. We most recently spotted Kate wearing the piece in 2023, to meet Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria at Windsor Castle.
The colour, too, is a firm favourite of Princess Catherine’s. She has previously opted for similar shades of deep forest or bottle green for everything from the Royal Variety Performance to appearances with the family. For this year’s Commonwealth Games, which she attended with the Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, she opted for a smart green blazer over her usual stripes. Whether it’s in the form of a simple shift dress, a sparkling gown or a gorgeous coat, if it’s deep green, Catherine’s going to wear it – and look great doing so.
The exact Emilia Wickstead dress the Princess wore today is not available for purchase, but you can still copy Kate’s style. Finery has a very similar deep green dress for just £69.
Finery Caley Bottle Green Crepe Midi Dress
The Royal couple were all smiles for the momentous occasion, in spite of the dreary weather. After walking through Eton’s cobblestone schoolyard armed with umbrellas, the family greeted the school’s staff, who reportedly told Prince George: ‘Good luck, enjoy it.’
