Kate Middleton's Trooping The Colour Outfits Throughout The Years, Ranked

Every June, there is a parade called Trooping the Colour to mark the Sovereign's official birthday. The parade consists of over 1,400 parading soldiers, along with hundreds of horses and musicians. The Sovereign also comes together with other members of the royal family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch the Royal Air Force fly by. 

Of course, all eyes are usually on Kate Middleton, one of today's major fashion icons. We've already admired her pricey outfits that highlight how lavish her life really is and her most sophisticated monochrome outfits. But, some of her best outfits are the ones she's worn during Trooping the Colour. From her elaborate fascinators to her perfectly coordinated sets, we love the outfits she's worn for the event. Here they are, ranked by timelessness and elegance.  

Trooping the Colour in 2023 was a special occasion, as it was the first to commemorate King Charles' birthday. Kate Middleton wore an emerald green coat dress by Singaporean designer Andrew Gn. The coat dress featured blue and silver square buttons and Middleton added a gold shamrock brooch. She also wore sapphire and diamond earrings, which belonged to Princess Diana. She completed the look with a wide-brimmed hat. Middleton was named honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards in 2022, so the green colour of her outfit served as a homage to that. 

There was a special meaning behind Kate Middleton's 2025 Trooping the Colour outfit. She wore an aquamarine coat dress with ivory lapels, designed by Catherine Walker, one of Princess Diana's favorite designers. She also paid homage to Queen Elizabeth II by wearing her pearl earrings. She wore an Irish Guards brooch and a hat with a structural design to top off the look. According to a body language expert who spoke to Marie Claire, Darren Stanton, the color of Middleton's coat dress signifies tranquility, protection, and healing. Princess Charlotte also wore a dress which was a similar shade to Middleton's. 

Trooping the Colour 2015 marked Kate Middleton's first public appearance since giving birth to Princess Charlotte. Middleton opted for a silk blue and white Astrid floral coat dress by Catherine Walker. She accessorized with a light-colored hat with curled feathers. The outfit is a bit out there in terms of timelessness, but it is a fun choice for a parade and still stylish. Even before joining the royal family, she was still somewhat of a style icon and there are  several pre-royal Kate Middleton outfits we can't stop thinking about.

At Kate Middleton's second Trooping the Colour event in 2012, she arrived wearing a pale blue and gray floral dress by Canadian designer Erdem. The dress featured a scooped neckline and long sleeves. She accessorized by wearing a matching hat, Links of London earrings, and a gray suede Alexander McQueen clutch. The silhouette of the dress is classic and reminiscent of Meghan Markle's wedding dress during her marriage to Prince Harry. Middleton's hair also looked stunning, with her shiny locks flowing down. 

In 2017, Kate Middleton wore a pink Alexander McQueen dress and a matching Jane Taylor hat to Trooping the Colour. The dress featured a pleated skirt and pleated neckline, too. Middleton coordinated her outfit with Princess Charlotte, who looked adorable in a pink and white dress. Middleton also wore diamond earrings to go with her look, while her hair was worn in an elegant updo. We ranked this look higher than the previously mentioned ones because the silhouette, long sleeves, and pleated skirt make it a timeless choice. 

Kate Middleton's 2016 Trooping the Colour outfit may look familiar if you follow royal fashion. That's right, she previously wore the white Alexander McQueen coat dress to Princess Charlotte's christening in 2015. At first, Middleton's practice of repeating outfits led to her nickname, "Thrifty Kate," but we love a royal who recycles outfits! It goes to show she is all about sustainable fashion. Middleton completed this look by wearing a peach hat with a floral detail. We believe you can't go wrong with a white dress. We also like this outfit for its fit and flare silhouette and oversized collar. 

Kate Middleton sure seems to love Alexander McQueen's designs. In 2011, she attended her first Trooping the Colour parade and she wore a white coat dress by the designer. The coat dress featured a pleated skirt, padded shoulders, and double-breasted front. She paired the coat with a contrasting black hat by Sylvia Fletcher. We like this look for its classic colors (shades of black and white) and its overall elegance. The double-breasted front is a look we see in offices, and at formal events throughout history. 

Trooping the Colour in 2018 was a significant one because it was the first time Meghan Markle attended the event. But, all eyes were still on Kate Middleton, whose outfits have been beautiful ever since her first time attending the event. In 2018, Middleton chose yet another Alexander McQueen dress. This one was in a pastel blue color, with a square neckline and band at the waist. Again, she wore a matching hat, along with blue topaz earrings and necklace. 

In 2013, Kate Middleton attended her second Trooping the Colour wearing a very classy baby pink coat dress. It featured a large collar and pearl buttons. She styled it with a matching hat by Jane Corbett and a gray box clutch. Again, Middleton did repeat a piece. The hat was previously worn to one of the Queen's garden parties in 2012. We like this outfit because the pearl buttons, especially, signify class. Pearls were a favorite of Queen Elizabeth II, as well. 

Going into the top three of Kate Middleton's Trooping the Colour outfits, we have her 2019 look. If you guessed that this is an Alexander McQueen dress, you're right. The pale yellow dress featured a V-neckline and a peplum detail at the waist. She wore a matching yellow hat with a floral design, the same one she wore to the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. She accessorized with Queen Elizabeth II's Bahrain pearl earrings and a matching necklace. We love this classy look, especially the peplum detail. The color of the outfit isn't too loud, either.

Kate Middleton's 2014 Trooping the Colour outfit is the definition of elegant. The blue and gray matching skirt and jacket was designed by Alexander McQueen. The jacket was structured and featured a peplum silhouette with a V-neck and short collar. She accessorized with a Jane Taylor hat with floral details, and rectangular clutch. We love the toned-down color of this ensemble, as well as the structure and silhouette. Those two things have granted this outfit a high spot in our ranking. 

Landing in the top spot is Kate Middleton's 2024 Trooping the Colour outfit. This look was very classy and timeless, giving us nautical vibes. Middleton wore a Jenny Packham dress with a matching hat and pearl earrings. The silhouette of the dress was very structured and it features a bow at the neckline. Middleton wore her Irish Guards brooch on the dress, too. Her kids all matched her look, by wearing navy and white, as well. This event marked Middleton's first royal engagement since announcing her cancer diagnosis earlier in 2024, making it even more significant and special. 

Kate Middleton always appears so mega stylish that ranking her outfits can be quite a daunting task. But, we used a specific methodology when ranking her Trooping the Colour outfits. We gathered all of them together, then arranged them based on elegance and timelessness. For this, we looked at the colors chosen, the silhouettes, and overall style of each outfit. We also considered how easily the outfit could be dated and how well they suited Middleton's personal style.