Kate's touching tribute to the designer that made her a royal fashion star: Duchess wears Alexander McQueen jacket, skirt and bag on the 10th anniversary of his death
- Today marks 10th anniversary of late fashion designer Alexander McQueen
- Duchess of Cambridge appeared at an engagement in Loughborough today
- Kate donned black military-inspired jacket, long black skirt and matching bag
- All three are by McQueen, a favourite of Kate, who designed her wedding gown
The Duchess of Cambridge paid tribute to the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen today on the 10th anniversary of his death.
Kate Middleton, 38, arrived with Prince William, 37, for a rare joint engagement with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall at the new Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) in Loughborough.
The royal donned a black military-inspired jacket, teamed with a long black skirt and matching bag, all of which were designed by McQueen.
It seems only fitting that she would pay tribute to the late designer, whose label was behind her iconic wedding gown and has been a go-to of the royal since her marriage to Prince William in April 2011.
Stylist Susie Hasler, who runs Styled By Susie, told FEMAIL the Duchess' outfit was 'quite fitting' for the occasion, and told how the distinctly British ensemble was that of a 'future queen' rather than a duchess.
The Duchess of Cambridge paid tribute the late fashion designer Alexander McQueen, today on the 10th anniversary of his death, while attending a joint engagement at the new Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre (DMRC) in Loughborough
Make like Kate in a military jacket by Alexander McQueen
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall for a rare joint engagement, and of course Kate turned to her go-to label, Alexander McQueen for the occasion.
It seems only fitting that she would pay tribute to the designer whose fashion house was behind her iconic wedding gown today, on the tenth anniversary of his death.
She wore a black military-inspired jacket, which she teamed with a long black skirt and matching bag. All three are by McQueen and they come together to create a classic Kate look.
She's got a couple of McQueen military coats and jackets in her wardrobe, and it's easy to see why they have become something of a signature. Smart, versatile and very flattering, we love the distinctive buttons on this jacket.
Unfortunately it has now sold out, but click (right) to shop the current McQueen collection, or recreate the look with the help of our edit below.
She said: 'It’s very different to the type of outfit we are used to seeing on her. It has a very masculine twist to it, but I also like how she’s kept some femininity to her overall look with earrings.
'She’s dressing like a future queen rather than a duchess - she’s making a massively positive statement.
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'Kate has had an ongoing relationship with the design house for significant occasions. The designs are always wonderfully high fashion, and distinctly British.'
The luxury fashion house was founded by British designer Lee Alexander McQueen in 1992 and taken over by creative director Sarah Burton following his sudden death in 2010.
Kate worked closely with Burton to create the lace and satin custom-made gown worn on her wedding day, estimated to have cost around £250,000.
The Duchess has continued to commission the label to create bespoke clothing for official events, as well as customising ready-to-wear pieces and accessories.
Earlier this month, Kate dazzled in a stunning white and gold McQueen gown at the Bafta awards - which she first wore in 2012. The gown was tweaked slightly to make it subtly different from its first outing eight years ago.
Kate worked closely with Sarah Burton to create the lace and satin custom-made gown worn on her wedding day in 2011 (pictured), estimated to have cost around £250,000
The Duchess has continued to commission the fashion house to create bespoke clothing for official events as well as customising certain ready-to-wear pieces and accessories. She is pictured with the Duke of Cambridge on their wedding day
The team behind What Kate Wore pointed out this year's iteration featured more structured shoulders and more fitted sleeves than the original, which was worn to a state dinner in Malaysia in 2012. The sleeves of the BAFTA gown were also lined, taking away the sheer effect of the original.
The mother-of-three added a touch of glamour to the outfit by pairing it with new accessories, including a pair of shimmering £525 Jimmy Choo glitter heels and an Anya Hindmarch clutch bag, as well as a new jewellery set.
Kate reached for a familiar McQueen favourite when getting dressed for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in May 2018.
She wore a primrose yellow silk tailored coat by McQueen that she'd previously worn on no less than three high profile occasions.
Earlier this month, Kate dazzled in a stunning white and gold McQueen gown at the Bafta awards (right) which she first wore in 2012 (left) on the Diamond Jubilee Tour in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The royal was first seen in the designer piece for the christening of Princess Charlotte back in July 2015 and again a year later for the Trooping of the Colour in June 2016.
At Princess Charlotte's Christening in 2015, she wore the primrose yellow silk tailored coat to the ceremony at St Mary Magdalene Church at Sandringham.
Kate teamed her investment piece with an over-sized Philip Treacy hat and Jimmy Choo heels.
Kate reached for a familiar McQueen favourite when getting dressed for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding in May 2018, donning a primrose yellow silk tailored coat by the fashion house (pictured)
Kate wore the coat once again a year later for the Trooping of the Colour in June 2016, paired with a large fascinator with a pastel pink flower
Kate donned a stunning pale pink satin McQueen dress at the wedding of her sister, Pippa Middleton, to James Matthews in May 2017
For Prince George's Christening in October 2013, Kate wore a stunning cream ruffled suit by Alexander McQueen.
The Duchess once again wore McQueen to the the baptism of her third child Prince Louis in July 2018 at the Chapel Royal in St James' Palace, donning a cream coat dress.
She teamed the ensemble with a very striking hat by Jane Taylor, consisting of a wide cream band trimmed with white flowers, and accessorised with new pearl cluster earrings.
Susie went on: 'The Duchess has turned to McQueen because the style suits her colouring and her body shape.'
The royal wore similar McQueen ensembles to the christenings of all three of her children. Pictured left to right, Kate at the Christenings of Prince George in 2013, Princess Charlotte in 2015 and Prince Louis in 2018
'With a range of soft hues that complement her skin tone - from pale pinks, blues and greys - Kate always looks striking in McQueen.
'Because Kate has an athletic, boyish figure, she’s able to carry off those extra details on Alexander McQueen’s designs - such as peplum details, which adds shape to narrow hips.
'Kate’s style has significantly changes over the years - it’s taken on a more formal, conservative, structured styled.'
The Duchess also donned a stunning satin McQueen dress at the wedding of her sister Pippa Middleton to James Matthews in May 2017.
As well as her pale pink maxi dress from McQueen, Kate wore an elegant fascinator from milliner Jane Taylor and £7,500 Kiki McDonough earrings as she and her father Michael Middleton accompanied Pippa into the church.
In 2019, the royal wore McQueen clothing and accessories publicly on 17 different high-profile occasions.
Kate wore McQueen to attend Easter Service at St Andrews Cathedral, Sydney, Australia in 2014 (left) and the Trooping the Colour ceremony in London in 2017 (right)
Today's engagement is thought to be the Cambridges' and Prince Charles and Camilla's first joint official outing as a foursome since 2011, when they attended a concert in aid of The Prince's Trust.
It comes as the Royal Family continues to adjust to the shift in responsibilities in the wake of Megxit, which saw the Duke and Duchess of Sussex step back from their roles as senior royals.
Charles, Camilla, William and Kate will be given a tour of the facility where they will meet patients undergoing gym rehab sessions and visit the prosthetics workshop.
The royal swept her hair back into an easy-to-manage half-up hairstyle - perfect for keeping flyaways under wraps on a cold and blustery day - and added a pair of simple silver drop earrings. She finished the look with a pair of long suede black heeled boots.
