Princess of Wales at Trooping the Colour 2025

Princess of Wales Stuns in Catherine Walker and Philip Treacy at Trooping the Colour 2025

The annual Trooping the Colour ceremony never fails to deliver breathtaking royal fashion moments, and the 2025 edition was no exception. On Saturday, June 13, the Princess of Wales turned heads as she rode through the streets of London alongside her three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis — in one of the year's most anticipated royal appearances. Dressed in an elegant Catherine Walker creation and topped with a Philip Treacy hat, Kate Middleton once again cemented her reputation as one of the world's most admired style icons.

What the Princess of Wales Wore: A Closer Look at the Outfit

For this landmark occasion, the Princess of Wales chose a bespoke gown by Catherine Walker, the London-based couture house with deep ties to the British royal family. Catherine Walker has long been a favourite of royal women, most notably the late Princess Diana, making the choice of designer feel both historically resonant and deeply personal.

Completing the ensemble was a showstopping hat by Philip Treacy, the celebrated Irish milliner who has become synonymous with British royal millinery. Treacy's creations are known for their sculptural quality, artistry, and ability to elevate any outfit into a statement, and this piece was no different. Together, the Walker dress and Treacy hat formed a cohesive, refined look befitting the grandeur of one of the British monarchy's most beloved annual traditions.

Why Catherine Walker Is a Royal Favourite

Catherine Walker & Co has dressed members of the British royal family for decades. The late founder, Catherine Walker herself, was famously close to Princess Diana and dressed her for many iconic appearances throughout the 1980s and 1990s. The brand has since continued its legacy of exquisite tailoring under the stewardship of Stefan Kastner, maintaining the house's commitment to understated luxury, impeccable construction, and a timeless British aesthetic.

For the Princess of Wales, choosing Catherine Walker is never merely a fashion decision — it is a nod to royal heritage and a continuation of a sartorial tradition that connects her to the generations of royal women who came before her.

Philip Treacy: The Master of Royal Millinery

Philip Treacy has been creating hats for royals, celebrities, and fashion lovers for over three decades. His work is instantly recognisable for its theatrical yet elegant sensibility, and he has designed headpieces for some of the most high-profile occasions in modern British history. From grand royal weddings to prestigious horse racing events at Royal Ascot, a Philip Treacy hat signals occasion, artistry, and a deep respect for the traditions of British fashion.

His collaboration with the Princess of Wales continues a long-standing relationship between the Treacy atelier and the British royal family, making his inclusion in her Trooping the Colour look feel both natural and wholly appropriate.

The Royal Family at Trooping the Colour 2025

Trooping the Colour, formally known as The King's Birthday Parade, is one of the most significant events in the British royal calendar. Held annually on the second Saturday of June, the ceremony celebrates the official birthday of the sovereign and has been a cherished tradition for over 260 years. Thousands of soldiers, horses, and musicians take part in the parade, which begins at Buckingham Palace and proceeds down The Mall before returning in a magnificent display of military precision and pageantry.

This year, the Princess of Wales joined her three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis — riding together in a carriage, a sight that delighted the enormous crowds lining the streets of central London. The children, who have become beloved figures in their own right, drew cheers and waves from the public, adding a warmly human dimension to the otherwise stately proceedings.

Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis Steal Hearts

While the Princess of Wales was undoubtedly the centre of sartorial attention, her three children were equally captivating. Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis have each developed a public presence that resonates warmly with royal watchers both in the United Kingdom and around the world. Their appearance at Trooping the Colour is always one of the most anticipated moments of the ceremony, and 2025 was no different. The children's visible enjoyment of the occasion — from the colourful procession of guardsmen to the aerial flypast by the Royal Air Force — made for some of the most charming images of the day.

Trooping the Colour: A Tradition Steeped in History

For those unfamiliar with the ceremony, Trooping the Colour dates back to the 17th century, when military regiments would parade their regimental flags — or "colours" — in front of the troops so that soldiers could recognise them on the battlefield. Over the centuries, the event evolved into a grand public celebration of the sovereign's birthday, becoming one of London's most iconic annual spectacles.

Today, it draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to London each year and is watched by millions more via television and digital broadcasts worldwide. The combination of military precision, royal pageantry, and the informal warmth of the royal family's public appearances has made Trooping the Colour an enduring symbol of British national identity.

Kate Middleton's Enduring Influence on Royal Fashion

Since her marriage to Prince William in 2011, the Princess of Wales has been one of the most closely watched and widely admired figures in global fashion. Her ability to balance accessibility with elegance — supporting both emerging British designers and storied fashion houses — has made her a uniquely influential style presence. Appearances like Trooping the Colour, where the world's cameras are trained firmly on the royal family, serve as a reminder of just how deliberately and thoughtfully she approaches her public wardrobe.

By choosing Catherine Walker and Philip Treacy for the 2025 ceremony, the Princess of Wales paid homage to the rich traditions of British fashion while looking unmistakably modern, poised, and entirely herself — a balance she has mastered over more than a decade in the public eye.

Designer: Catherine Walker (dress)
Milliner: Philip Treacy (hat)
Occasion: Trooping the Colour 2025
Date: Saturday, June 13, 2025
Location: London, United Kingdom
Accompanied by: Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis

As the royal family returned to Buckingham Palace and the Red Arrows streaked across the London sky in a final flourish of patriotic colour, one thing was clear: the Princess of Wales had once again turned a beloved national tradition into a masterclass in royal elegance.