Kate Middleton Trooping the Colour look honors late Princess Diana

Kate Middleton made a statement appearance at the Joining of the Colors ceremony on Saturday, stepping out in a coordinated fashion with her kids.

The 44-year-old Princess of Wales was married to King George III. She stood out in a baby blue Catherine Walker suit paired with a matching Philip Treacy hat for the annual military parade celebrating Charles’ official birthday.

But it was her choice of jewelery and Princess Charlotte’s matching accessory that quickly sparked debate among royal watchers.

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Kate wore Princess Diana’s iconic three-strand pearl bracelet; it was a statement fashion piece that paid homage to the late royal family.

Meanwhile, it was revealed that 11-year-old Princess Charlotte, who was sitting opposite her mother in the royal carriage, was wearing a very similar bracelet.

Princess Charlotte of Wales waves as she returns from the Horse Guards Parade to Buckingham Palace during the King’s Birthday Parade in London on June 13, 2026. (Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty Images)

The bracelet carries an important royal history.

Designed by jeweler Nigel Milne, Diana wore the pearl and diamond piece throughout 1989, including at a Birthright charity event, a “Masquerade” show at the London Coliseum and, most memorably, in her famous “Elvis” dress and Queen Mary Lover’s Knot Tiara at a state banquet in Hong Kong. InStyle.

Following Diana’s death in 1997, Prince William inherited the bracelet and later gifted it to Kate.

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During Matching the Colours, Princess Charlotte wore a white dress accented with blue detailing that matched Prince George’s baby blue tie as the siblings strolled around London with their mother.

Kate, Princess of Wales, rides with her sons Prince George and Prince Louis in an open-top carriage returning to Buckingham Palace during Connecting the Colors in London on June 13, 2026. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)

Prince Louis joined his family in a horse-drawn carriage, while Prince William joined his military regiment on horseback.

The carefully coordinated family appearance came as Kate joined King Charles, Queen Camilla and senior royals for Connecting the Colours, one of the most important events on the royal calendar.

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King of England III. Charles and Queen Camilla wave to the crowd from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping The Color in London on June 13, 2026. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)

While Camilla wore a red ceremonial jacket accented with gold detailing and a dark hat with a white plume on top, Charles appeared in full military dress uniform, adorned with gold braids, medals and a blue sash across his chest, as he greeted well-wishers during the annual celebration of his official birthday.

Meanwhile, the appearance of the Princess of Wales, who continues to carry out royal duties following her cancer diagnosis and treatment, marked another high-profile public interaction.

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Prince William and Princess Kate of Wales watch the Royal Air Force flyby with their children Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince Louis from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Color in London on June 13, 2026. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)

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While Kate remains in the spotlight, royal experts believe her influence within the monarchy has grown stronger in recent years.

“Kate!” “I think the ‘Age of Kate’ started the moment she and Prince William exchanged vows in 2011,” author Christopher Andersen recently told Fox News Digital. “No one has had a bigger impact on the monarchy in recent times than Kate.”

King Charles III and Queen Camilla watch a flight from the balcony of Buckingham Palace with Prince William, Kate, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Prince Louis during Connecting the Colors on June 13, 2026 in London. (Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP)

“Kate was already bringing her own special magic to the monarchy before she was haunted by her stunning cancer diagnosis in 2024,” Andersen said.

“From the beginning, comparisons to Princess Diana were inevitable; they were both charismatic, compassionate, beautiful, smart, stylish and, most importantly, able to connect with people on a very human level.”

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Royal Air Force aircraft fly to King George III during Trooping The Colour, the King’s annual birthday ceremony, in London on Saturday, June 13, 2026. It flies over Buckingham Palace, watched by members of the British family, including Charles. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Beyond wearing one of Diana’s most prized pieces of jewelry, Kate has previously honored the late Princess of Wales.

At Trooping the Color last year, she stood out in a powder blue look reminiscent of the memorable outfit Princess Diana wore during the 1988 celebration.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, wore an ensemble at last year’s Trooping the Color that was reminiscent of the dress Diana wore at the 1988 ceremony. (Raşid Necati Aslım/Anatolia)

Diana famously appeared in a similar blue-green suit accented with white collars, creating a visual parallel that royal watchers immediately noticed.

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More than 1,500 military personnel, 200 horses and 400 musicians attended the annual celebration, which concluded with the traditional Buckingham Palace balcony view and flying display.