Kate Middleton and the Ralph Lauren Jacket That Just Won’t Quit

You know those days when nothing in your wardrobe feels exciting? When every outfit on rotation suddenly seems dull and overplayed? We’ve all been there. But sometimes, that rut leads to a hidden gem moment and the pre-9 a.m. serotonin boost that comes from rediscovering a long-forgotten piece buried at the back of your wardrobe. A pair of boots you’ve neglected for five years or a skirt that hasn’t seen the light of day in 15—suddenly, they’re your new star players. Much like the rest of us, it looks like the Princess of Wales  has had one of those nostalgic wardrobe revelations.

Perhaps we spoke too soon when we dissected her “don’t look at me” approach to dressing in Pontypridd, Wales, yesterday (or maybe, just maybe, she was taking note). Later that afternoon, for a visit to the town’s Meadow Street Community Garden and Woodland, she removed her double-breasted Alexander McQueen coat, instead swapping it for a ralph Lauren jacket that sent royal watchers into a hazy state of déjà vu. Something looked familiar, but we couldn’t quite put our finger on it—until we realized, yes! This was the blazer she debuted at the Cheltenham Races in 2007, back when she was more likely to be seen at Raffles than on a royal tour. A true throwback to her pre-royal days, we’re glad to see her Sloane Ranger streak is still very much alive and kicking.

Paired with a tartan Gucci skirt that wouldn’t have looked out of place on Princess Diana or Tara Palmer-Tomkinson during the King’s Road heyday, Kate proved that sometimes the past is our biggest inspiration. In a double dose of nostalgia, the skirt itself is another rewear—this time from Gucci’s resort 2019 collection. Is she running out of wardrobe space? Or simply continuing to make a case for the classics? Either way, it’s a reminder that fashion isn’t always about the new—if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.