As the Duchess of Cambridge, the wife of the future King of England, Kate has the world at her feet.After establishing herself as a fashion icon, designers are constantly falling over themselves in a bid to dress the world's most famous royal.
But as she arrived at Canonbury Kirk for Zara Phillips' wedding this afternoon wearing a dress that has rested in her wardrobe for more than five years, it sent out the clear message that Kate has no desire to act as Royal clothes horse - nor did she wish to turn Zara's big day into a fashion parade.
Eschewing expensive new couture, Catherine dipped into her closet to find an old favourite, a chic embroidered coat she last wore in 2006 at the wedding of Laura Parker Bowles. It was a simple look, perhaps chosen deliberately so as to avoid any possibility of upstaging the bride.
She gave the pale gold outfit an update with an oversized tilted hat, lined on the underside with a bow and giant bloom. On her feet, her trademark nude pumps.
Five years ago when she wore the outfit last, Catherine chose a beige and black feathered hat and nude kitten heels.
It is the second time this weekend that Kate has broken out a trusty favourite. At the pre-wedding cocktail party yesterday, Kate chose to wear a green Diane Von Furstenberg dress she had worn previously at a reception during her and William, the Duke of Cambridge's, tour of Los Angeles earlier this month.
In an attempt to make the outfit look different, Kate teamed it with a pair of black patent heels - in contrast to the nude court shoes she accessorised it with last time.
The $398 silk 'Maja' dress, from the designer's new collection, featured a green sash belt and a deep V back, complete with brushed gold buttons running down the seam.
Kate has decided to recycle outfits for other royal engagements too.
Earlier this year, she was seen wearing the same blue jacquard coat dress to the Duke of Edinburgh's 90th birthday party, after previously breaking it out back in 2009.
Kate also wore the same black and white dress she had previously worn to a nightclub back in 2007 as she attended a friend's wedding in June.
And, as she began her royal tour of Canada with William earlier this month, Kate made the decision to wear the white Reiss dress she had donned for one of her official engagement photographs ahead of the pair's wedding in April.
It was reported earlier this year that the Duchess had told a friend she didn't want to be a 'clothes horse', and was intending to wear her outfits more than once.
She was quoted as telling a friend: 'Times are tough; I cannot be expected to wear a new outfit for every royal engagement. I am not a fashion model.'
The friend also apparently said: 'The Duchess is aware that people are struggling in the current economic climate.
'Changing outfits for every engagement is simply not practical nor affordable and would send out the wrong message.'
But as she arrived at Canonbury Kirk for Zara Phillips' wedding this afternoon wearing a dress that has rested in her wardrobe for more than five years, it sent out the clear message that Kate has no desire to act as Royal clothes horse - nor did she wish to turn Zara's big day into a fashion parade.
Kate Middleton arriving at Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall's wedding, left, wearing a coat she also wore in 2006, right, at the nuptials of Laura Parker Bowles at St Cyriac's Church in Lacock, Wiltshire
Hat's amazing: The key difference between the 2006 ensemble and that of 2011 was Kate's strikingly large headgear
Royal recycler: Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, opted for a green Diane Von Furstenberg dress for Zara Phillips' pre-wedding party last night which she had previously worn to an event in Los Angeles this month
Stylish: The green silk 'Maja' dress featured a low V back and brushed gold buttons along the seam
She gave the pale gold outfit an update with an oversized tilted hat, lined on the underside with a bow and giant bloom. On her feet, her trademark nude pumps.
Five years ago when she wore the outfit last, Catherine chose a beige and black feathered hat and nude kitten heels.
Something blue: Kate at The Duke of Edinburgh's 90th Birthday service in June, and, right, wearing the same coat dress in 2009
In an attempt to make the outfit look different, Kate teamed it with a pair of black patent heels - in contrast to the nude court shoes she accessorised it with last time.
The $398 silk 'Maja' dress, from the designer's new collection, featured a green sash belt and a deep V back, complete with brushed gold buttons running down the seam.
You can't have too much of a good thing: The Duchess of Cambridge stepped out in Ottawa on her Canadian royal tour in the same white Reiss dress that she wore for her official engagement portrait in November (right)
Earlier this year, she was seen wearing the same blue jacquard coat dress to the Duke of Edinburgh's 90th birthday party, after previously breaking it out back in 2009.
Kate also wore the same black and white dress she had previously worn to a nightclub back in 2007 as she attended a friend's wedding in June.
And, as she began her royal tour of Canada with William earlier this month, Kate made the decision to wear the white Reiss dress she had donned for one of her official engagement photographs ahead of the pair's wedding in April.
It was reported earlier this year that the Duchess had told a friend she didn't want to be a 'clothes horse', and was intending to wear her outfits more than once.
She was quoted as telling a friend: 'Times are tough; I cannot be expected to wear a new outfit for every royal engagement. I am not a fashion model.'
The friend also apparently said: 'The Duchess is aware that people are struggling in the current economic climate.
'Changing outfits for every engagement is simply not practical nor affordable and would send out the wrong message.'
Monochrome: Kate wore this black and white dress to a friend's wedding in June, after wearing it previously on a night out at a London nightclub back in 2007
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