When it comes to fashion in the royal family, our queen of affordable clothing is Kate Middleton — after all, she's never turned up her nose at a cheap dress from ASOS or H&M, and she's known for her brilliant outfit repeating. But don't let her trick you; she's also capable of wearing some expensive items. Over the years, the Princess of Wales has put a dent in the royal style budget all on her own.
That's not to say we don't expect it to cost a lot when someone is building a royal wardrobe, right? There are certain expectations that come with being a member of the world's most famous family, so we can't really blame Kate for making a few fashion splurges. If a woman has access to designer fashions, she's going to wear designer clothing. It's practically science. And really, isn't it part of her job to look good?
But just because Kate has spent some money on her clothes over the years doesn't mean that she's flashy about it. In fact, it might be more accurate to say that Kate doesn't buy clothes, she invests in clothes. Sounds better, right?
On that note, here are some of Kate Middleton's most expensive outfits to date.
The Wedding Dress
Obviously, this is going to be the big one. Just like Meghan Markle, Kate wore more than one wedding dress on her big day and, her gorgeous lace gown for the ceremony at Westminster Abbey set the royal family back a hefty $332,000. In some cases, that's the cost of an entire wedding, much less just the dress.
Serving Up a Look
Let's be honest: Kate always brings her A-game when she attends matches at the Wimbledon tennis tournament. It's definitely one of the biggest royal outings of the year, so maybe that's why Kate shelled out $1,338 for this floral dress.
An Expensive Rewear
Kate has certainly gotten her money's worth on this one. She's reworn this gown that cost $10,000 quite a few times over the course of her time as a member of the royal family, so we're going to let this splurge slide. At least she's making sure she gets good use out of her costliest outfits!
Anything Goes in Paris
When in Paris, right? Kate broke out a classic Chanel ensemble that cost a mere $10,000. Ten grand seems to be the magic number of royal outfits, and this is still less expensive than some of the dresses that sister-in-law the Duchess of Sussex has sported.
Check out our Meghan Markle page for all the latest news about Meghan, Prince Harry, and their growing family.
Dishing It Out for Pippa
Kate pulled out all the stops for her sister Pippa Middleton's 2017 wedding. Now, we don't know if Pippa picked out the dress herself, but if she did, it set someone back a solid $14,000. That's an expensive bridesmaid's dress if we've ever seen one.
The Ultimate Splurge
Kate really went for it with this one. She may have reworn this red military-style jacket a few times, but it still initially cost a pretty $1,020. That's definitely more than we would ever spend on one single clothing item, but well, we aren't royal.
An Irish Splurge
Kate's 2019 St. Patrick's Day ensemble cost $4,000 (and that's just the coatdress). The mom of three does tend to keep her accessories to a minimum, so she doesn't usually run up the cost of an entire outfit. So she's frugal, but not exactly?
The Classic LBD
The ever-popular little black dress is definitely an investment every woman has to make at some point in her life, right? Although we're sure Kate has several LBDs to choose from, this $6,000 number is definitely one of her most expensive.
A Christmas Skirt
Kate definitely splurged on this holiday-themed outfit, that's for sure. Just the tartan skirt alone cost around $1,100, so all attendees of the Cambridge Christmas party should have felt pretty special. We certainly hope Kate decides to rewear this one.
Dressing Up for Germany
At first glance, this bright yellow sundress seems fairly casual. Well … this sunny number actually set the royal family back a hefty $1,424 (though it did look adorable on her). You're definitely going to want to break this one out again, Kate!
Dressed in Lace
Lace has always been a favorite of Kate's (we all remember her wedding dress), but the problem with lace is that it can be extremely expensive. This pretty blue piece cost the royal family $1,095, which is about average for a designer dress, it seems.
A Pricey Jacket
Kate usually isn't one to splurge on one small item, but it seems like this jacket must have really caught her eye. This army green tweed jacket set the royal family back $599. Luckily for them, Kate wears her classic army green outfits quite often.
Can't Go Wrong With an Evening Gown
Kate has to be allowed to splurge on evening wear, right? The Princess of Wales wore this ensemble that put more than $5,000 on the royal tab, but as far as evening gowns go, we think it was a pretty good deal. Five grand for this shimmery look? We'll take it.
Emerald Green Ensemble
Kate's entire outfit (including her Sportmax coat) cost more than $2,000, although when we think about how much Meghan's whole outfits have cost, that's really not too bad for a royal lady. Definitely still out of our price range, though.
Canadian Style
Years ago, the royals took a tour of Canada, bringing along a rather tiny George and Charlotte, and when someone is way up north, it's important to bundle up and stay warm. That's probably why the royals shelled out $4,000 for Kate's classic cream coatdress.
Breaking It Out for the Horses
When the royals attend the horse races at Royal Ascot, it's prime time for elegant fashions. Kate rocked a beautiful lace dress with a matching fascinator that cost the royal family more than $4,000. Pay rent or dress like a future queen? It's a choice we must all make.
It Pays To Bundle Up
This is one outfit that Kate really decided to splurge on. Her gorgeous powder blue coatdress and matching accessories came with a total price tag of more than $6,000. It's a good thing this royal lady isn't afraid to rewear her clothes.
Connect the Dots
Kate is a huge fan of polka-dot dresses and even wore one to take photographs with baby Prince George outside the hospital after he was born. The price point on this elegant version by Alessandra Rich is, well, rich indeed: $2,300. Polka-ching!
Tap That Wardrobe Budget
OK, this shimmery Missoni number is one sexy dress, and there are few among us who wouldn’t mind rocking it for that make-or-break date. But could we swing the shimmery Missoni's intoxicating price tag of $2,100? We'd need a few more swigs at the bar to work up the courage.
Fit for a Queen
What does one wear to take a stroll with Her Majesty? Well, if said person is at a flower show, said person better stick with the theme. Kate looked glorious in this ankle-length Erdem floral print dress. It's romantic, no-fuss, and so flattering — and worth every penny of its $4,800 price tag.
A Royal Price Tag
Kate made headlines for wearing this purple Gucci blouse backwards, and there's no telling whether she did it on purpose or accidentally. What we do know is that dropping a whooping $1,015 on a single item pretty much entitles her to wear it exactly as she chooses.
Sheer Delight
Kate wore this blue beauty to the Royal Ascot races, and it was a showstopper. At a cool $3,100, the Elie Saab dress was slightly modified for Kate. Blue is definitely her color, and judging by the amount of blue-hued outfits she owns, she definitely knows it!
O Canada!
When Kate toured Canada in 2016, she wore a stunning red and white tiered dress by her favorite design house, Alexander McQueen, which she's turned to time and again for important occasions — including her wedding. Some say the $5,000 dress was a subtle nod to the Canadian flag.
Sunset Sparkle
Dating back to 2011, this nude-hued Jenny Packham gown was among the first stunners that Kate wore as a member of the royal family. She's reworn it several times since, which is smart, considering the $4,500 price tag — and it's still 100% breathtaking.
Very Groovy
This instantly iconic Gucci dress is unlike anything that Kate has ever worn — retro and totally of the moment at the same time. For the Princess of Wales, it was a standout fashion moment, one that cost a hefty chunk of change: $2,400 out of the pocket of the monarchy. Ouch!
The 'Top Gun' Gown
When Kate walked the red carpet with Prince William and Tom Cruise at the Top Gun: Maverick premiere, she definitely dressed to impress. Her chic Roland Mouret Lamble gown cost about $3,630, though the back of the dress was altered so she could wear it without the mesh panel in the back.
Cinderella Style
During her 2022 tour of the Caribbean with William, Kate looked just like another famous princess: Cinderella. She wore this blue Philippa Lepley dress (the designer normally creates couture wedding gowns) that rang in at about $14,600. Whoa!
Suit on Repeat
What did we say about Kate making sure she gets her money's worth out of what she buys? This Alexander McQueen suit is a perfect example. She wore it to the Commonwealth Games and during her Caribbean tour, making the nearly $6,000 investment seem worth it.
