For Kate, the tour presented many opportunities to pay homage to the countries and her hosts through thoughtful references in the wardrobe she brought with her. Famous for her sartorial nods, Kate’s tour wardrobe has drawn admiration from the fashion press and royal watchers alike in the wake of the visits.
Though the couple received a warm welcome on each stop of their tour, it was marked with some controversy. Anti-colonialism protests in Belize and Jamaica broke headlines ahead of the couple’s arrival and an open letter addressed to William from 100 prominent Jamaicans calling for an apology for slavery and reparations was also sent. The couple’s visits carefully navigated territories which, though still retaining the Queen as their head of state, may be fast moving towards becoming republics.
Despite the controversies—which form a part of most royal tours not exclusively William and Kate’s to the Caribbean— the couple drew large crowds to their appearances and used the opportunity to address important issues such as the Caribbean’s COVID-19 response and environmental preservation efforts.
Throughout, Kate deployed her diplomatic wardrobe to its best advantage, combining a mixture of new, old and vintage pieces to create a fresh and modern collection of looks.
Here Newsweek summarizes the fashion highlights from Kate and William’s Caribbean tour:
Arrival in Belize
For her arrival in Belize, the first major foreign royal tour undertaken by the Cambridges’ since before the COVID-19 pandemic, Kate wore a lace blouse and skirt by designer Jenny Packham. The ensemble was in a shade of blue that paid tribute to both Belize’s flag and the famous blue ocean that hugs the country’s beautiful coastline. The outfit struck a conservative note as before the royals landed in Belize an engagement had to be canceled due to protests from a local group ahead of a planned visit to a cocoa farm. The classic silhouette is one that Kate relied on heavily in the early years of her marriage and helped set a regal yet respectful tone for the rest of the tour.
Dancing Queen at Garifuna Festival
On the second day of the Belize tour William and Kate took part in a traditional Garifuna festival, a celebration of Garifuna culture which includes traditional dancing. Much more relaxed on this occasion, Kate wore a printed Tory Burch day dress with smocking detail and layered ruffled skirt. The occasion was highlighted in the press for the easy-going nature of both Kate and William, who took part in the dancing and playfully teased one another in front of the assembled crowd and press corps.
Glittering Reception at Cahal Pech
For the final night reception hosted by the governor general of Belize, Queen Elizabeth II’s representative in the country, William and Kate were hosted at Cahal Pech, the site of ancient Mayan ruins. Kate glittered for the occasion in a pink topaz dress by brand The Vampire’s Wife with a slicked back hairstyle. The dress featured delicate flutter sleeves with a defined waist and flowing skirt. In the evening, William gave a speech closing the couple’s visit by saying, “Now we know why Belize is so lovingly referred to as ‘The Jewel.’ We hope to return again soon, and to show our children this wonderful country.”
Vintage Belize Departure
Kate has displayed her environmental attitude through her wardrobe by wearing items repeatedly, sometimes 10 years apart. On leaving Belize, she took this to a new level by debuting in public a jacket which she has had in her wardrobe for over 20 years. Appearing at the airport in Belize on her way to Jamaica for the second leg of the Caribbean tour, Kate wore a striking red jacket with box pockets and statement buttons. The press corps accompanying the tour were told that the jacket was a vintage Yves Saint Laurent piece which Kate bought while still a student at university. Kate paired the jacket with white flared trousers and a Mulberry handbag to complete the look.
Sunny Arrival in Jamaica
Kate brought the sunshine to Jamaica when she landed in Kingston on an overcast and windy fourth day of the royal tour. The duchess changed mid-flight from her vintage YSL jacket and pant look into a stunning marigold yellow dress by the British design brand ROKSANDA. The dress’s voluminous skirt billowed in the wind as the royals made their official greetings on the tarmac of the Norman Manley International Airport and the architecturally structured bodice helped Kate stand out in the crowd. Kate paired the dress with shoes from Meghan Markle’s favored footwear designers, Aquazzura. The choice of yellow for the dress was deliberate. As in Belize, Kate honored a primary color of Jamaica’s flag in the first outfit of her visit.
Vintage Look in Trench Town
Though Kate is known for wearing and re-wearing older pieces of her clothing, a case in point being the Belize Yves Saint Laurent jacket, it is rare we see the duchess wear a vintage piece that she has only recently acquired. Following their arrival in Jamaica, William and Kate made a special visit to Trench Town, the birthplace of reggae music, where they met sports personalities and celebrated the music of local icon Bob Marley. Kate wore a dress identified in the Daily Mail as a vintage piece dating back to the 1950s that was bought recently from vintage retailers Willow Hilson Vintage. Kate has had the piece altered to provide more generous straps than the original spaghetti strap design and the overall effect of the chic printed dress was relaxed and stylish.
Meeting with Prime Minister of Jamaica
Kate wore a white Alexander McQueen suit with an orange blouse and matching handbag to meet the prime minister of Jamaica, Andrew Holness, and his wife Juliet at the Vale Royal, the official residence in Kingston. The handbag is yet another vintage piece debuted by Kate on the tour. Reports suggest that the bag was purchased through the same retailer as the duchess’s printed dress worn on a visit to Trench Town.
Governor General’s Dinner—King’s House, Jamaica
To a dinner hosted by Jamaica’s governor general at King’s House in Kingston, Kate wore a regal, ruffle neckline, emerald green ballgown with crystal embellishments by designer Jenny Packham. The duchess wore the family order (badge) of Queen Elizabeth II, the star of the Royal Victorian Order and earrings with a matching bracelet comprised of diamonds and emeralds set in gold loaned to her from the Queen’s private collection.
Jamaica Defence Force Commissioning Ceremony
To attend the Jamaica Defence Force’s inaugural commissioning parade for graduates of the Caribbean Military Academy’s Officer Training Program, Kate wore a white lace Alexander McQueen dress with capped sleeves and hat by Philip Treacy.
Jamaican Departure
Kate chose a vibrant green Emilia Wickstead dress for her departure from Jamaica as she travelled to the Bahamas for the final stage of the Caribbean tour. Kate paired the dress with another jewel borrowed from Queen Elizabeth II, a hummingbird brooch which she was presented with in 2002.
A Warm Welcome in the Bahamas
For her arrival in the Bahamas, Kate changed out of her emerald green Emilia Wickstead dress and into a turquoise look from the same designer. This, following the trend established by the duchess on each stop of her tour, paid tribute to one of the colors in the Bahamian flag. Kate paired the outfit with nude suede heels, a turquoise clutch bag and statement fashion earrings.
The Dazzling Finale
For the final evening reception of the tour Kate wore a stunning ice blue evening gown by London-based dress designer Phillipa Lepley. The slip-shoulder shape of the gown’s neckline highlighted the duchess’ Van Cleef & Arpels necklace and earrings from her own collection. The dress by Lepley harks back to the timeless eveningwear designs of the 1950s and marks Kate’s first major commission from the house.
