One of the Princess of Wales’ most memorable outfits of 2026 was the sumptuous butter-yellow coat dress she donned at St George’s Chapel to attend the annual Order of the Garter service in June.
The 44-year-old delighted onlookers in her elegant outfit, and her pastel-toned ensemble stole the show. Designed by Patrick McDowell, the custom-made number featured a button-down front, oversized statement pockets, and subtle embossed details. The mother of three donned a resplendent boater hat from Jane Taylor and wore her hair in a lightly waved style, with subtle touches of makeup highlighting her beautiful features.
Patrick, who is the creative director of his own eponymous sustainable luxury label, recently told The Telegraph that Kate is a joy to work with.
© Getty ImagesLifting the lid on creating one of Kate’s best-loved looks this year, he mused: “It was super special for me as a designer. I think she’s everyone’s dream client. But the most amazing thing was that she championed British manufacturing throughout.”
© POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesThe designer explained that Kate wanted every part of the sleek design to “show the best of British”, so the materials used were made here in the UK.
This decision had a profound effect on Patrick. “As a future queen, she’s championing British craftsmanship and manufacturing, which I think is very special and very important, and she also looks incredible,” he explained in the interview.
© Getty ImagesThe princess presented Patrick with the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design in 2025. At the show, a dozen schoolchildren sat in the front row. Reminiscing on the scene, Patrick added: “They were here through the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood and their partner charity, Place2Be. Hopefully, they can be inspired by fashion, and I think it’s super important that children are seeing these things so that they know they can do this one day.”
The Kate coat
Interestingly, Patrick’s latest collection paid tribute to the royal – ‘The Wales Coat Dress’ is named in her honour, and it’s a breathtaking, elegant look. The tailored, classic design costs £1,990 and is “designed to envelop the wearer with grace and presence.”
Naming an item after someone is the ultimate accolade; many designers have done so after Kate wore their garments.
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