What Kate wore: The Princess of Wales's style evolution in 46 photos

The royal has had to adapt to the complex codes of royal dressing since marrying Prince William more than a decade ago

Kate Middleton, in a duck-egg knit and heart pendant, attends the Gatcombe Park Festival on August 6, 2005 near Tetbury, England. Getty Images

Kate Middleton, in a wool jacket and striped shirt, visits the Annual National Hunt Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 13, 2007, in Cheltenham, England. Getty Images

Kate Middleton, in a navy trench, attends the Annual National Hunt Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 14, 2008, in Cheltenham, England. Getty Images

Kate Middleton, left, in a white dress and black cardigan, attends the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on June 28, 2008 in London, England. Getty Images

Prince William and Kate Middleton, in Spagnoli, visit the University of St Andrews on February 25, 2011 in St Andrews, Scotland. Getty Images

Kate Middleton, in Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, arrives at her wedding to Prince William at Westminster Abbey on April 29, 2011 in London, England. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Jenny Packham, attends the Ark 10th Anniversary Gala at Perk's Field on June 9, 2011 in London, England. Getty Images

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Katherine Hooker, watch the Garter Service on June 13, 2011 in Windsor, England. Getty Images

Queen Elizabeth II walks with Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Joseph, as they view the exhibitions for the summer opening of Buckingham Palace on July 22, 2011 in London, England. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Emilia Wickstead, presents shamrocks to members of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards at the St Patrick's Day Parade at Mons Barracks on March 17, 2012 in Aldershot, England. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Emilia Wickstead, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace on May 29, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Alexander McQueen, and Prince William prepare to board the royal barge 'Spirit of Chartwell' during the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on June 3, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Alice by Temperley, visit Nauti Primary School on September 18, 2012 in Tuvalu. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Mulberry, attends the official opening of the Treasures Gallery at the Natural History Museum on November 27, 2012 in London, England. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Hobbs, visits Humberside Fire and Rescue Peaks Lane Fire Station on March 5, 2013 in Grimsby, England. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Mulberry, meets with scouts as she attends the National Review of Queen's Scouts at Windsor Castle on April 21, 2013. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Erdem, arrives to visit The Willows Primary School on April 23, 2013 in Manchester, England. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Tara Jarmon, meets children and staff during a visit to Naomi House Children's Hospice on April 29, 2013 near Winchester, Hampshire, England. Getty Images

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Jenny Packham, departing the Lindo Wing of St Mary's hospital with Prince George, on July 23, 2013 in London, England. EPA

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Jenny Packham, attend The Tusk Conservation Awards at The Royal Society on September 12, 2013 in London, England. Getty Images

Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Catherine Walker, and Prince George arrive at Wellington Airport on April 7, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand. Getty Images

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Roksanda Ilincic, attend a reception hosted by the Governor and Premier of New South Wales on April 16, 2014 in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in LK Bennett, visits the Royal Australian Airforce Base at Amberley on April 19, 2014 in Brisbane, Australia. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Mulberry, visits the Stephen Lawrence Centre on March 27, 2015 in London, England. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Jenny Packham, and Prince William leave the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital with Princess Charlotte on May 2, 2015 in London, England. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Temperley, meets Prime Minister Narenda Modi in Hyderabad House on April 12, 2016 in New Delhi, India. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Roland Mouret, attends SportsAid's 40th anniversary dinner on June 9, 2016 in London, England. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Barbara Casasola, arrives to present the Art Fund Museum of the Year prize at the Natural History Museum on July 6, 2016 in London, England. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Alexander McQueen, and Prince William attend the Baftas at the Royal Albert Hall on February 12, 2017 in London, England. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Emilia Wickstead, arrives at Berlin Hauptbahnhof train station on July 21, 2017 in Berlin, Germany. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Erdem, attends a reception to celebrate Swedish culture at the Fotografiska Gallery on January 31, 2018 in Stockholm, Sweden. Getty Images

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Jenny Packham, with Prince Louis outside the Lindo Wing of St Mary's Hospital on April 23, 2018 in London, England. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Alexander McQueen, attends a state banquet at Buckingham Palace on October 23, 2018 in London, England. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Mulberry, visits Ballymena town centre on February 28, 2019 in Ballymena, Northern Ireland. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Massimo Dutti trousers, attends the RHS Chelsea Flower Show on May 20, 2019 in London, England. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Dolce & Gabbana, attends the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 13, 2019 in London, England. Getty Images

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Alexander McQueen, attend the Baftas at the Royal Albert Hall on February 2, 2020 in London, England. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in The Vampire's Wife, attends a reception at the Guinness Storehouse’s Gravity Bar on March 3, 2020 in Dublin, Ireland. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Faithfull the Brand, visits The Nook in Framlingham Earl on June 25, 2020 in Norfolk, England. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in a Max&Co coat, visits School 21 in Stratford on March 11, 2021 in London, England. Getty Images

Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Catherine Walker, visit a Covid-19 vaccination centre at Westminster Abbey on March 23, 2021 in London, England. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in Jenny Packham, and Prince William attend the premiere for No Time To Die' at the Royal Albert Hall in London on September 28, 2021. EPA

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, in a metallic pink gown by The Vampire's Wife, attend a special reception in Cahal Pech, Belize on March 21, 2022. Getty Images

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, in a yellow coatdress by Emilia Wickstead, leave after the National Service of Thanksgiving to Celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty The Queen at St Paul's Cathedral on June 3, 2022. Getty Images

Catherine, Princess of Wales, in a blue Catherine Walker coatdress, with her son, Prince Louis, attend the Easter Sunday service at St Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle on April 9, 2023. EPA

The Princess of Wales, in a Barbour jacket, skinny jeans and walking boots, arrives for a visit to Dowlais Rugby Club near Merthyr Tydfil in Wales to meet with mountain rescue volunteers and supporters. PA Wire

In the past decade, Kate, Princess of Wales, has become one of the world's most photographed women.

After marrying Prince William in 2011, she entered a world of royal visits, state engagements and red carpets.

Tactfully navigating complex sartorial codes, such as when a hat is necessary and appropriate hemlines, she is known for her elegant and timeless style.

She might be a future queen consort, but Kate has also made a name for herself as queen of the midi dress, donning a number of block-coloured pieces over the years, from printed shifts to tailored coat dresses.

The royal frequently champions British designers, with Alexander McQueen, Jenny Packham and Catherine Walker among her most-worn labels.

However, she has also been known to turn to international brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Rochas and high-street favourite Zara on occasion.

Here, we take a look at how the royal's style has evolved throughout her time in the spotlight.

Scroll through the gallery above to see more images of Catherine, Princess of Wales through the years

– This article was first published on May 11, 2021