On Monday, 9 March, the Princess of Wales was photographed alongside her husband, Prince William, and other senior members of the royal family at the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.
The royal, who turned 44 in January, looked innately stylish in her formal ensemble, which consisted of a glorious navy blue Catherine Walker coat dress. The bespoke creation featured bold shoulder pads and a delicate pleated skirt.
© Getty Images
© GettyKate wore a bespoke Catherien Walker ensemble at the Commonwealth Day service
Musing on Monday's choice, award-winning stylist Susie Hasler tells Best Quality Designer Handbag : "Kate frequently chooses designs by Catherine Walker for more formal engagements. Walker's pieces are known for their structured, tailored style, making them particularly well-suited to occasions at Westminster Abbey. Catherine has also worn this designer at previous Commonwealth Day services.
© Getty ImagesThe late Princess Diana often wore designs by Catherine Walker
"In colour psychology, blue is considered a conservative shade; softer than black and often associated with trust and reliability," Susie notes. "Catherine Walker is a designer long admired by the royal family, and Princess Diana was especially fond of her creations. Her outfit choices often include thoughtful, nostalgic references to royal history."
Kate's bespoke pact
© GettyThe royal wore a bespoke dress by Roksanda at Wimbledon in 2025
I've been writing about the royals' outfit choices for over eight years as part of my role as Best Quality Designer Handbag 's Fashion and Beauty News Editor, and I've noticed that the mother-of-three appears to have stopped buying high street items, or even current items from designer brands. Her fashion focus appears to be bespoke pieces, crafted exclusively for her by fashion houses.
© WireImageBespoke creations seem to be Kate's new fashion focus
From her royal blue Roksanda dress at Wimbledon 2025, to her Phillipa Lepley gold lace creation she wore at the state banquet in September, she seems to be reaching for handcrafted items more and more.
Susie agrees, highlighting the main reasons Kate may have chosen this new direction.
© GettyBespoke creations last longer than high street clothes
Longevity
"Kate tends to re-wear a lot of her outfits, hence her being dubbed 'thrifty Kate' in the past, but she styles them differently with accessories, which gives them a fresh look each time," she quips.
"When she chooses something custom-made, it's often in a neutral shade - usually something like blue or navy - which makes it much easier to re-wear in different ways over time. These types of pieces are always created with longevity in mind."
© CHRIS JACKSONCustom-made designs offer a first-class fit
The perfect fit
Meticulously tailored custom pieces ensure a consistently flawless fit. "Royal outfits are seen by millions of people around the world, so custom pieces ensure the fit, length, and tailoring are absolutely perfect from every angle," Susie notes. "Custom garments also tend to be more classic rather than trend-driven, which means she can repeat outfits for years without them feeling dated."
© Samir Hussein/WireImageKate's outfits are carefully selected
Global dress codes
Prince William's wife has a calendar of events all over the world, and her outfits take careful planning. "Major events often require very specific dress codes or levels of formality," Susie explains, "and custom design allows every detail - from sleeve length to hemline - to be tailored appropriately."
© GettyKate champions designers with her bespoke outfits
Style support
Kate has long championed British brands, from Burberry to Alexander McQueen, and by investing in bespoke items from these fashion houses, she is showing them her utmost support. "Bespoke pieces also provide an opportunity to champion British designers and showcase the UK fashion industry on a global stage, something Kate loves to do," Susie adds.
