In season six of The Crown, the royal saga takes a modern turn, giving us a peek into Kate Middleton’s life and her romance with Prince William. While Kate’s stint in The Crown isn’t as long as some other characters, it was much loved by the audience, especially her pre-royal fashion vibe. Even costume designers Amy and Sidonie Roberts loved styling the looks for her St Andrews days.
Sourcing the Outfits
Sidonie, one half of the design duo and around the same age as Kate, was stoked to dive into the style of her own youth. However, early 2000s fashion isn’t far enough in the past for costume shops to stock the styles and too old to be in normal stores now.
So where did Amy and Sidonie hunt for Kate’s iconic fashion finds? eBay was their first stop, naturally. But the real jackpot was a charity shop in Majorca. The duo spilled the beans on where you can grab three of Kate’s iconic pieces and dished out some behind-the-scenes magic about her most memorable outfits.
Kate Middleton’s Brown Tassel Boots
Actress Meg Bellamy, embodying Kate Middleton in The Crown, struts her stuff in the very same Penelope Chilvers boots cherished by the Duchess in her private life. Donated for the show, these conker-colored, long-tassel boots, valued at $695, were a generous gift from Chilvers herself.
Amy Roberts emphasized Chilvers’ unwavering loyalty to Kate, highlighting the designer’s friendship and support for the duchess. Bellamy relished each fitting, marveling at the pieces selected by Amy and Sidonie, showcasing the actress’s eagerness to emulate Kate’s style and essence on-screen.
Other Iconic Items
A fashion focal point in The Crown’s ninth episode, the Whistles knit velvet ribbon-belt cardigan defines a quintessential mid-’00s style. Sidonie Roberts accentuates the cardigan’s pivotal role in a significant scene where Kate welcomes William to her family’s home, blending classic elegance with trendy fashion choices. While Whistle doesn’t make the same cardigan, the classic piece can still be found on eBay.
Sourcing Kate’s pre-royal outfits posed challenges, especially unsure if selected pieces would be filmed due to the ’00s emphasis on lower attire. eBay became Sidonie Roberts’ go-to for Kate’s iconic boot-cut jeans, a crucial yet hard find. Sidonie underscored the struggle to highlight the distinct details of Kate’s boot-cut jeans on-screen, given the significance of the era’s lower outfit details.