While the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, captivated the world on her 2011 wedding day wearing the iconic Alexander McQueen bridal gown, her “going away” outfit the next morning revealed a surprising and modern style choice.
Just hours after her fairy-tale wedding, Kate, then the Duchess of Cambridge, stepped out of Buckingham Palace with Prince William for a short pre-honeymoon trip within the UK before their Seychelles getaway a month later.
Gone was the sweeping ivory train and tiara. Instead, she wore a floaty purple-blue dress with a belted waist and a daringly above-the-knee hemline. Complementing the dress was a cropped black jacket and matching black patent wedges—an unexpected yet stylish choice for an April departure as lighter summer tones began to emerge.
Celebrity fashion stylist Angela Kyte praised the outfit as a confident and modern expression of Kate’s personal style. Speaking to HELLO!, Kyte called it “a masterclass in understated elegance” and a purposeful contrast to the grandeur of the wedding gown.
Kyte highlighted how the cobalt-blue dress, cinched at the waist, paired with the tailored black cropped jacket, combined practicality with sophisticated refinement.
The colour choice was particularly meaningful, echoing the deep sapphire of Kate’s engagement ring and symbolizing loyalty, fidelity, and stability—qualities befitting the new princess.
“The black jacket brings structure and formality,” Kyte added, “balancing the softness of the dress with a grounded, polished finish.”
This post-wedding look demonstrated Kate Middleton’s ability to blend tradition with modernity, making a subtle yet powerful fashion statement that continues to inspire royal style enthusiasts today.
