Kate Middleton arrived with her husband, Prince William, at Dublin Airport on Tuesday afternoon on a commercial Aer Lingus flight for the British royal couple’s first visit to Ireland. Kensington Palace referred to the three-day trip by the duke and duchess of Cambridge as “a focus on the relationship between the two countries and build on the theme of remembrance and reconciliation”.
A master of fashion diplomacy, Middleton uses her style choices to pay subtle tributes to the host country, whether nodding to their culture, deploying clever colour combinations or wearing home-grown designers.
At Áras an Uachtaráin on Tuesday the duchess wore the same shade of green as her sister-in-law Meghan Markle did on her royal visit to Ireland in 2018.
Middleton’s forest-green double-breasted coat is by the British brand Catherine Walker, a go-to label of the duchess, and once of Princess Diana. Her green printed midi dress is by the Italian-born, London-based designer Alessandra Rich, who is known for her daylight glamour and has become a label of choice for the duchess. Rich is the go-to designer for a number of other high-profile clients, including Samantha Cameron, Michelle Obama and Kate’s sister, Pippa Middleton.
Middleton, who is known for mixing designer with high-street labels, opted for an emerald-green clutch by LK Bennett, with forest-green courts, and topped off the look with a velvet hairband.
Prince William co-ordinated with his wife, selecting a dark-green tie to match Kate’s statement green ensemble.
