“Matching Princess Charlotte”: Princess of Wales’ best ever Trooping the Colour look – & what she’ll wear next
A look back at every outfit Kate's worn for the occasion - and what she's wear this year
The annual Trooping the Colour event is one of the most important staples in the royal calendar, and marks the official birthday of the monarch. This year, King Charles will be celebrated on Saturday 13 June at Horseguards Parade, with members of the extended Royal Family joining a carriage procession, witnessing a parade, and then waving from the balcony of Buckingham Palace beneath an RAF flypast. For the occasion, the family will be dressed in their Sunday best, including military attire.
When it comes to The Princess of Wales' outfits, Kate tends to favour British designers, with Alexander McQueen and Philip Treacy being frequent choices. For a public-facing occasion as important as this one, every detail will have been carefully considered months in advance, says royal commentator and branding expert, Nick Ede. 'Colour is incredibly important because members of the Royal Family need to stand out in photographs, on television broadcasts and to crowds watching from a distance,' he says, via Cafe Casino. 'The cut needs to be elegant and structured, creating a strong silhouette, whether standing on a balcony or sitting in a carriage. Fabrics are chosen not only for appearance but practicality, taking into account movement, weather and comfort during a long day of engagements.'
Overall, the royals are aiming to 'strike the perfect balance between tradition, authority and accessibility', which the Princess of Wales is particularly adept at. 'At Trooping the Colour, she isn't dressing as a celebrity or fashion influencer; she's dressing as the future Queen. That's why her looks resonate so strongly.'
Our favourite Trooping the Colour look so far was Kate's 2025 aquamarine outfit, which co-ordinated with her daughter, Princess Charlotte. Could we expect another matching look this year? 'I wouldn't be surprised at all,' says Nick. 'Coordinated dressing between Catherine and Charlotte has become one of the most talked-about aspects of recent royal appearances because it creates such a powerful visual representation of the future of the monarchy.' If so, Nick predicts it will once again be done subtly 'through colour palettes, detailing or accessories,' rather than identical outfits.
The Princess of Wales' outfit for this year hasn't been publicly confirmed, but Nick is confident we can expect 'impeccable tailoring, a beautifully structured coat dress and elegant millinery', which are both 'sophisticated and symbolic.' He adds that Kate 'often uses fashion to send subtle messages, whether that's supporting British designers or choosing colours that reflect the tone of the occasion.' We're therefore expecting she's be wearing a block colour look, made by a British design house.
It's not long until we'll be able to see exactly what The Princess of Wales will be wearing at the event. Until then, we're taking a look back at every outfit The Princess of Wales has worn at Trooping the Colour, including her matching looks with Princess Charlotte:
2025
'The Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte have mastered the art of coordinated dressing without it ever looking forced or contrived,' says Nick. 'The reason this particular Trooping the Colour look worked so beautifully is because it projected a lovely family unit, which are all values at the heart of the monarchy.' Kate turned to Catherine Walker for her aquamarine look.
2024
In 2024, The Princess and her daughter matched once again. Here they are seen in subtly nautical inspired looks. Kate wears a Jenny Packham dress with a statement striped bow, paired with a Philip Treacy hat sitting at an opposing angle. Princess Charlotte echoes the lines and colour-palette of her mum, with a sailor-style dress for the occasion.
2023
The Princess of Wales' stunning green look in 2023 was a favourite of Nick's. 'I loved her vibrant emerald-green ensemble by Andrew GN, which showcased her confidence in using colour while remaining respectful of royal tradition.' The event was the first in celebration of our new monarch, King Charles. We were also treated to some iconic expressions from Prince Louis!
2022
'The Princess of Wales' white Alexander McQueen coat dress was a standout because it felt incredibly regal and modern at the same time,' says Nick. 'It was topped off with a sublime Philip Treacy hat that just matched perfectly.' This would be final Trooping the Colour celebration in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away three months later.
2019
In this year, The Princess of Wales opted for a sunny yellow Alexander McQueen dress and Philip Treacy hat, cementing the designer pairing as her go-to for the event. 2019 also marked Prince Louis' first Trooping the Colour balcony appearance, meaning it was the first time all five of the family had appeared together for the occasion. The traditional parade and celebrations would be halted for the following two years due to the pandemic.
2018
In 2018, The Princess of Wales chose McQueen again, this time in powder blue with a floral statement hat. It was the first and only year Meghan, Duchess of Sussex appeared on the balcony at the event. She and Prince Harry had married the month before in a globally broadcast ceremony at St George's Chapel, in the grounds of Windsor Castle.
2017
Back when the Wales' were still a family of four, The Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte had their first co-ordinating look, with Kate choosing pink for the formal day. 'Kate understands how to dress for history-making moments and rarely gets it wrong,' says Nick. 'In as early as 2017 she wore a delicious pink McQueen dress and hat that just elevated her style and sophistication to another level.'
2016
2016 was the year that The Princess of Wales debuted the McQueen and Treacy combo she would come to rely on at Trooping the Colour. It was also Princess Charlotte's first appearance on the balcony for the event, which marked Queen Elizabeth II's 90th birthday.
2015
Back in 2015, Kate opted for a silk coat with covered buttons and a statement collar by Catherine Walker. Princess Charlotte was born just over a month earlier, and was therefore too young to join the family for a public appearance.
2014
In 2014, The Prince and Princess of Wales had become proud parents for the first time, welcoming their oldest son, Prince George (not pictured) the year before. For Trooping the Colour that year, Kate went for a silvery grey jacket and skirt ensemble by Alexander McQueen.
2013
While pregnant with Prince George, The Princess of Wales appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside her husband, Prince William and brother-in-law, Prince Harry. She wore a pink McQueen coat with a wide collar and added a sleek clutch bag.
2012
For her second ever Trooping the Colour appearance, The Princess of Wales chose a floral Erdem look in pale blue. She was pictured alongside The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, chatting to their daughter, Lady Louise.
2011
The Princess of Wales - then Duchess of Cambridge - made her Trooping the Colour Debut in 2011, just weeks after her wedding to Prince William in Westminster Abbey. She chose a dramatic McQueen coat in white, and added a contrasting hat in black mesh.
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