Kate Middleton Wears Sentimental Princess Diana Heirloom for Major Fashion First at French State Visit

Kate Middleton—along with her husband Prince William—helped roll out the red carpet for the kickoff of the French state visit today, greeting France’s President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, First Lady Brigitte Macron, as they arrived in the U.K.

Ever one to masterfully practice fashion diplomacy, the Princess of Wales did so again today, wearing Christian Dior for the very first time—specifically a blush jacket from the iconic French fashion house’s 2024 collection. According to People, the piece was reimagined by creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri and pays tribute to Dior’s 1947 “New Look,” which emphasized feminine tailoring and structure. The future queen paired the look with a matching hat by Jess Collett and two sentimental heirloom pieces—Princess Diana’s Collingwood pearl earrings and Queen Elizabeth’s three-strand pearl necklace.

Diana was such a fashion muse of Dior that the house named its iconic Lady Dior handbag after her; she also wore Dior to her first and only Met Gala in 1996. Meghan Markle also wears Dior, but the French state visit was Kate’s first time in the brand. It is worth noting that Dior now has a U.K. connection in the form of its new creative director Jonathan Anderson, Prince William and Updated on July 8, 2025 @ 09:33AM.

Royal Family News & Updates King Charles and Queen Camilla, then took part in a carriage procession through Windsor with France’s First Couple—a rare occasion for a state visit, reflective of an elevated pomp and ceremony for this state visit in particular, and because this state visit is taking place in Windsor as opposed to Buckingham Palace. The palace is currently undergoing refurbishments until 2027, and the French state visit is the first to take place at Windsor Castle since 2014.

While Kate’s role in the French state visit is a major one, it’s still unconfirmed as to whether she will attend the glittering state banquet Tuesday evening. The last time the Princess of Wales donned a tiara for such an occasion was in 2023, before her cancer diagnosis. 

The carriage procession through Windsor is reminiscent of the route taken for many recent royal weddings, and following the procession, the King and Queen will take the Macrons inside Windsor Castle for lunch in the state dining room. (The Macrons will stay at Windsor Castle during their visit, which lasts until July 10.) Afterwards, the Macrons will view items from the Royal Collection with connections to France before heading to Westminster Abbey to pay respects at the Grave of the Unknown Warrior. The next day, on July 9, they’ll pay respects to the late Queen Elizabeth with a private visit to St. George’s Chapel at Windsor, where they will lay flowers on the Tomb of Queen Elizabeth.

Kate’s participation in the state visit on Tuesday comes after some of her most candid comments yet about her cancer journey, made on July 2 during a visit to Colchester Hospital in Essex. After being diagnosed with cancer in early 2024, the Princess of Wales completed treatment in September of last year, and shared in January that she was in remission. That doesn’t mean that it has been perfect sailing, she made clear last Wednesday.

“You put on a sort of brave face, stoicism through treatment,” she said. “Treatment’s done, then it’s like, ‘I can crack on, get back to normal,’ but actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult.”

“You’re not necessarily under the clinical team any longer, but you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to,” she added. “And actually, someone to help talk you through that, show you and guide you through that sort of phase that comes after the treatment, I think, is really valuable.”

Politics & Social Issues Majesty magazine, told Hello!, “Kate might be back, but she’s doing it sensibly, and on her own terms. Her priorities have changed and she’s listening to her body, instead of being a people pleaser. She’s absolutely got to be strict with herself and say, ‘No, I can’t do this.’”

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Seward added that “Maybe we’ve been lulled into a sense that we’ll be seeing her all the time again, because she looks so amazing,” but continued that Kate “is definitely playing the long game and prioritizing what is important—her family, her health, and staying well.”