Three years after King Charles III’s coronation, royal fans are still talking about the unexpected fashion choice made by Catherine, Princess of Wales during the historic ceremony.
The coronation took place at Westminster Abbey on 6 May 2023, around eight months after Charles officially became monarch following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
During the ceremony, Charles followed centuries-old royal tradition by taking the coronation oath, being anointed with holy oil, and receiving the royal regalia, symbolizing both his constitutional and spiritual responsibilities. Senior royals, political figures, religious leaders, and millions of viewers around the world watched the event unfold.
Still, as has often happened since she first entered royal life alongside Prince William in the early 2000s, much of the attention quickly shifted toward Kate as she arrived at the abbey.
Charles was officially crowned in May 2023.
The Princess of Wales wore an elegant ivory silk crepe gown designed by Alexander McQueen, decorated with silver embroidery representing the four national flowers of the United Kingdom: the rose, thistle, daffodil, and shamrock.
But it wasn’t the dress itself that stirred conversation. Instead, many people focused on her choice of headwear.
Rather than wearing a traditional royal tiara, Kate appeared in a sparkling silver laurel-style headpiece, a noticeable break from long-standing coronation customs. The decision immediately sparked debate among royal watchers, since such occasions are usually associated with the most formal royal jewels.
Soon afterward, a spokesperson for Kensington Palace confirmed that Kate had intentionally chosen not to wear a tiara.
The headpiece itself was a custom collaboration between Alexander McQueen and designer Jess Collett. It featured silver bullion, crystals, and intricate leaf-shaped embroidery that rose delicately above her head.
Kate’s Alexander McQueen headpiece quickly became one of the most discussed fashion moments of the coronation.
At the time, several royal commentators noted that a coronation would traditionally call for more elaborate royal styling. However, reports suggested that Charles had specifically wanted the event to feel more modern and restrained compared to previous coronations, including the wardrobe choices.
According to reports from The Times, palace insiders had already hinted beforehand that floral-inspired headpieces might replace traditional tiaras and that royal women could avoid wearing them altogether.
That prediction turned out to be accurate. Aside from Charles and Queen Camilla, who wore the official crown jewels during the ceremony, no senior royal women appeared in tiaras despite the large royal presence inside Westminster Abbey.
Sources later suggested that the more understated approach reflected ongoing concerns about the UK’s cost-of-living crisis, with many households continuing to face rising food costs, energy bills, inflation, and wage stagnation.
