Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales arrives to attend the “Together At Christmas” Carol Service” at Westminster Abbey in London on December 8, 2023. (Photo by Chris Jackson / POOL / AFP) (Photo by CHRIS JACKSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
As the festive season beckons, it’s clear that few embody the art of yuletide dressing with as much timeless appeal as Kate Middleton. Throughout her life as a working royal, the Princess of Wales has spent more than a decade perfecting the balance between tradition and modernity, specifically during the holidays.
With an affinity for championing British craftsmanship from designers like Alexander McQueen and Jenny Packham, her seasonal ensembles have consistently served as a regal blend of structured tailoring and feminine silhouettes—while still appropriately warm for the winter chill.
While our festivities might not require the formalities of the royals—or the same season—questions of what to wear have long been a concern during this time—especially when you consider all of those photo ops your family insist on. And having accumulated a curation of elegant wardrobe staples, Middleton has consistently provided inspiration for us.
This season, as we begin putting together our many, many holiday outfits, we reflect on her style as timeless blueprints for festive dressing.
Scroll on for Kate Middleton’s best holiday looks throughout the years.
2012
Camilla, Duchess Of Cornwall, Prince William And Catherine, Duchess Of Cambridge Attend St Mary Magdalene Church, On The Royal Estate In Sandringham, Norfolk For The Christmas Day Church Service. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
2013
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrive for the Christmas Day service at Sandringham on December 25, 2013 in King’s Lynn, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
2014
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge attends a Christmas Day church service at Sandringham on December 25, 2014 in King’s Lynn, England. (Photo by Danny Martindale/WireImage)Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge leave the Christmas Day Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2014 in King’s Lynn, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
2015
KING’S LYNN, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 25: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attend a Christmas Day church service at Sandringham on December 25, 2015 in King’s Lynn, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
2016
Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attend a Christmas party for volunteers at The Mix youth service on December 19, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Neil Mockford/GC Images)Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge attend Church on Christmas Day on December 25, 2016 in Bucklebury, Berkshire. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage)
2017
Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge attends Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene on December 25, 2017 in King’s Lynn, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Princess Anne, Princess Royal, Prince Andrew, Duke of York, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene on December 25, 2017 in King’s Lynn, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
2018
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge host a Christmas party for families of military personnel deployed in Cyprus at Kensington Palace on December 4, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate on December 25, 2018 in King’s Lynn, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage)
2019
KING’S LYNN, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 25: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Princess Charlotte of Cambridge attend the Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate on December 25, 2019 in King’s Lynn, United Kingdom. (Photo by Pool/Samir Hussein/WireImage)
2020
Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge arrives at Cardiff Castle on December 08, 2020 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
2021
Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge attend the ‘Together at Christmas’ community carol service at Westminster Abbey on December 8, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
2022
Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the ‘Together at Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 15, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2022 in Sandringham, Norfolk. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
2023
Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2023 in Sandringham, Norfolk. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)Princess Charlotte of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince George of Wales attend The “Together At Christmas” Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 08, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
