The Princess of Wales may be royalty, but she’s no stranger to shopping on the high street.
Kate has been spotted in a range of affordable pieces over the years, which she has a knack for elevating with simple styling tricks.
While her favourite designer brands, such as Alexander McQueen, Mulberry, Erdem and Emilia Wickstead, may not feature on everyone's radar due to their price tags, the likes of Reiss, & Other Stories and Hobbs might be just the ticket.
If you’re a fan of Kate’s style, keep reading to find out her top 13 favourite high street brands...
The Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton's favourite brands:
Boden
Kate has always shown Boden a lot of love. She’s worn a couple of pieces knitwear from the brand over the years including a powder-blue cardigan with scalloped trims. It promptly sold out back in 2020, but we’ve linked some similar styles below that are new-in on the Boden website.
In her first public appearance of 2021 (visiting a recently re-opened school in Stratford with Prince William) the royal wore a gorgeous pink Max&Co coat teamed with a tonal jumper from Boden – complete with a scalloped crew neckline, just like her favourite cardi.
Boden Merino Detail Cuff Shirt
Boden Ribbed Fluffy Top
Boden Ribbed Pointelle High Neck Top
Monica Vinader
Monica Vinader's jewellery is popular because it’s just as affordable as it is beautiful. The range starts from gold-plated pieces at a mid-tier price and goes up to diamond-encrusted items retailing around the £1,000 mark. Kate's go-to accessory has to be Monica Vinader's Siren earrings that are a reasonable £125. She's worn this simple green design for a total of eight different public appearances since 2016.
But most recently, Kate wore the brand's Nura necklace on a trip to Copenhagen. The pearl pendant was the ideal subtle accessory to complement the Princesses' outfit – it sat perfectly across the royal's ruffled white shirt and Zara bouclé jacket outfit. Although the original single chain Nura style is currently available, we've spotted a new twisted chain version pop up on the MV site.
The Princess has also dipped into the brand’s more expensive section. She wore the pavé diamond Riva earrings and a matching necklace to the 2014 Wildlife Photographer of the Year gala and again in 2016 to attend the Vogue 100 exhibition.
Monica Vinader Riva Diamond Circle Stud Earrings
Monica Vinader Nura Tiny Keshi Pearl Necklace
Monica Vinader Riva Hoop Cocktail Diamond Necklace
Needle & Thread
In December 2022, the Royal family shared a picture of Kate looking beautifully festive in a red sequin gown. From British occasionwear brand Needle & Thread, the Aurora dress was perfect for Christmas with its sheer sleeves and ballerina skirt. This style is also available in a maxi and mini iteration. Although we’ll be following the Princesses’ lead and wearing Needle & Thread pieces for special events, the brand also create timeless ready-to-wear pieces (such as sparkly knitwear) for everyday.
Needle & Thread Aurora Ballerina Dress
Reiss
Rumour has it that the Princess of Wales was responsible for an uptick in Reiss sales back in the early 2010s, after sightings of her in the brand kickstarted what people called ‘The Kate effect’. The now-Princess wore the Reiss’ Nanette dress for her official engagement photo in 2010 and a purple blazer style (borrowed from her mother!) to a Hospice opening in 2012. It was a trip to meet the Obamas in 2011 though, that epitomised her influence. The nude origami Shola dress not only sold out within hours, Reiss’ website crashed in fans’ frenzy to get their hands on one.
Reiss Knitted Bodycon Midi dress
Reiss Wide leg trousers
Reiss Cashmere blend roll neck jumper
Reiss Double Breasted Wool blazer
Marks & Spencer
Another British brand Kate's been championing is Marks & Spencer. In February 2020, The Princess of Wales was spotted in a £30 pair of trainers from the high street store whilst visiting the London Stadium. This appearance started an online frenzy, with fans desperate to get their hands on a pair.
In June 2020, Kate hosted a virtual school assembly for the Oak National Academy, speaking to the children about kindness over Zoom. She chose yet another Marks & Spencer item for the occasion: a blue floral-print midi dress with an '80s-inspired peplum shape reminiscent of Princess Diana's famous outfits.
We've picked some great midi dresses from the high street brand that are of a similar style to the Kate's and will carry you through the seasons.
M&S Collection Lace Up Trainers
M&S Animal Print Tie Neck Midi Waisted Dress
M&S Collection Leather Lace Up Trainers
M&S Printed V-Neck Tie Waist Midi Shirt Dress
Mango
Back in November 2022, the Princess was spotted wearing a khaki knitted dress from high street brand Mango on a visit to Colham Manor Children’s Centre in Middlesex. Kate accessorised her ribbed jumper dress with a black leather belt, Gianvito Rossi courts and another fabulous coat from Hobbs. Luckily, this season Mango has released even more versatile dresses that are perfect for the transitional seasons.
Mango Striped ribbed knit dress
Mango Pleated knitted dress
& Other Stories
In 2019, the Royal family shared some snaps of their family at the Chelsea Flower Show on their official Instagram page. Fans were loving Kate's floaty, floral print dress complete with a ruffled bib and balloon sleeves, and were desperate to know where the number was from. Kate's exact style was from & Other Stories and cost less than £100. The piece promptly sold out, with the Scandi brand quickly re-stocking a range of similar pieces. This is one of Kate's most iconic high street looks to date.
& Other Stories Oversized Voluminous Sleeve Blouse
& Other Stories Relaxed Double-Puff Sleeve Dress
& Other Stories Wrap Cardigan
L.K.Bennett
Kate shops in L.K. Bennett religiously. From elegant midi dresses to ‘80s-inspired suits that Princess Diana would have been proud of, the Princess of Wales has made the high street brand work for numerous public engagements. Without a doubt though, it’s the retailer’s court shoes that she’s worn the most; she's been spotted wearing leg-lengthening nude tones, a round toe and high-shine patent-leather pair.
L.K Bennett Simmi White Leather Mary Jane Heels
L.K Bennett Devon Blue Patent Leather Buckle-Detail Flats
L.K Bennett Floret Nude 2 Leather Pointed Courts
Superga
When Kate isn't in her go-to nude courts, she goes off-duty in a pair of Superga trainers. Her favourite are the classic Cotu plimsols, which she's worn with everything from jeans and a Breton top or parka, to more elevated outfits such as wide-leg trousers and a Broderie Anglaise shirt.
Fun fact: Princess Diana was also a fan of these trainers, and sported the navy Cotu style with jeans and a nautical navy blazer back in 1979.
Superga 2750 COTU CLASSIC
Superga 2750 EFGLU
Superga Navy Cotu Classic
Superga Sherwood Gum Cotu Classic
Missoma
Missoma is one of Kate's go-to jewellery brands. The demi-fine label is a big hit due to its affordable price points, but there's also a grown-up offering of elegant pieces that'll stand the test of time.
Back in 2019, during a tour of Pakistan, the Princess was spotted in the brand's Zenyu earrings. This gold-plated pair, that double drop into a beaded fan pendant, were more of a statement compared with her usual subtle studs and mini hoops – but fans loved the bolder look on Kate.
Kate's most-worn Missoma earrings are the mini pyramid hoops that drop to a pink Rhodochrosite stone. The Princess first wore these during a trip to London's Brick Lane, and they've since re-appeared for several public appearances.
By far the most affordable Missoma earrings Kate's ever worn are the mini Molten hoops, made from gold-plated sterling silver. She teamed a pink Marks & Spencer suit with this £65 find, making it one of her most down-to-earth looks yet. These beautiful earrings are luckily still in stock, so you can bag a pair right now.
Missoma Mini pyramid charm hoop earrings
Missoma Zenyu Chandelier hoop earrings
Missoma Baroque pearl ovate earrings
Missoma Lucy Williams square charm necklace
Whistles
Some of Kate’s most memorable dresses haven’t been designer numbers, but affordable pieces from Whistles, like the burgundy chiffon number she was photographed in during the unveiling of her first official portrait in 2013. Or like the polka dot shirt style she wore to host BBC Radio One's Teen Hero Award finalists.
Whistles Stella pocket cardigan
Jigsaw
Jigsaw is another British high street street brand that Kate loves to wear – she’s been shopping in the store since her advent into the royal family.
One of Kate’s favourite pieces from the brand is a pair of navy trousers. The high waistband and flared wide legs are not only chic, but versatile – no wonder the Princess has recycled this look several times.
Kate first wore these trousers to an exhibition at the V&A Museum in London at the end of 2021, styled with a retro paisley shirt and gold hoop earrings. A month later, she wore the same pair again to the Foundling Museum in London for her first joint royal engagement with William of 2022. This time Kate pared things back, opting for a tonal navy jumper and tailored coat.
Kate’s exact style is now sadly sold out but, luckily, it is a brand signature – so we've been able to find many a lookalike in Jigsaw’s spring/summer 2023 collection.
Jigsaw Crosshatch Mason Trouser
Jigsaw Tate Silk Cotton Polo Jumper
Hobbs
Kate is partial to a ladylike Hobbs dress every now and again but it's the brand's classic outerwear – that looks way more expensive than it actually is – that she goes back to time and time again. Kate’s worn the belted Celeste style and a gorgeous emerald green Persephone coat more than once to public engagements. She wore the structured fit and flare Gianna while pregnant with Prince Louis, as well as a striking Dalmatian-print number whilst expecting her first son Prince George.
