Kate Middleton’s waist-accentuating royal tour dress was straight out of Princess Diana’s 80s wardrobe

The Princess of Wales is the epitome of modern style – but that doesn’t stop her from embracing a throwback look. In 2022, Kate, now 44, wore a look that looked straight out of the 1980s (in the best way, might we add) during a departure ceremony at Lynden Pindling International Airport amid her and Prince William‘s Platinum Jubilee tour of the Caribbean on behalf of Queen Elizabeth.

The Princess’ dress was a lemon and white Alessandra Rich style featuring a scooped ruffle-adorned neckline with dramatic puffed sleeves and a belted peplum waistline. 

The skirt was a fitted pencil style, which featured a split up the front with buttons running down the front. The surprisingly maximalist dress also came with a large bow attached to the bodice and an abstract pattern. 

Embracing an 80s aesthetic

© WireImage

The royal paired the dress with a classic 80s footwear choice – bright white stilettos, but added a modern twist with her swishy ponytail. The outfit was completely reminiscent of the outfits worn by Kate’s late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, in the 1980s, which often featured peplum silhouettes and puffed sleeves.

In 1983, Diana wore a similar yellow gown with dramatic sleeves to the Government House Ball in New Zealand during her and King Charles‘ royal tour of Australia and New Zealand. 

© Getty Images

Meanwhile, the late royal wore a white number with a similar silhouette to Kate’s yellow look while attending a charity gala in aid of Birthright at the London Palladium in June 1987.

Kate goes overseas 

Later this month, Kate is set to take her first official trip abroad since October 2023, when she travelled to Marseille to support the England rugby team in her role as patron of the RFU. Royal fans eagerly await her trip wardrobe, and if it’s anything like her previous overseas style choices, it will be nothing short of impeccable. 

© Samir Hussein/WireImage

Perhaps the highlight of her overseas wardrobe came during the same Caribbean tour when she attended a dinner hosted by the Governor General of Jamaica at King’s House in Kingston. 

© Samir Hussein/WireImage

Dressed in emerald, Kate looked like a fairytale princess in a tulle ballgown by Jenny Packham featuring a strapless ruffle neckline and paired with the most beautiful braided bun hairstyle.