Princess Kate Brings Back Chic Bella Freud Pantsuit for RAF Coningsby Visit

2/10/2025

On Thursday, the Princess of Wales visited RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire in her capacity as Royal Honorary Air Commodore.

Catherine, Princess of Wales visits RAF Coningsby on 2 Oct 2025

Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

During her first visit to the station, the Princess received an overview of RAF Coningsby’s recent operations, including deployments to Poland in support of NATO. She met Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) personnel, viewed a QRA Typhoon aircraft, and visited the ‘Lounge’ to speak with members of the Welfare Team and junior ranks about their roles and experiences on site.

Great to meet personnel and their families at RAF Coningsby today. The base is home to one of the RAF’s Quick Reaction Alert teams, standing ready 24/7 to protect UK airspace. Fascinating to see the Typhoon team in action and to meet the dedicated teams who can be called upon at… pic.twitter.com/EeMpXUHqFo
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) October 2, 2025

For her first visit to RAF Coningsby, Kate re-wore the Prince of Wales check Bella Freud pantsuit she debuted just a few weeks ago during her textile tours in Suffolk and Kent (shown below).

Picture by Toby Shepheard / Kensington Palace

The British designer’s two-piece wool-blend ensemble featured the ‘Earl’ jacket paired with coordinating ‘School Boy’ trousers.

The grey top worn beneath her jacket is the Alexander McQueen Fine Ribbed Knit Top, first seen in January 2021.

Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

A navy croc-embossed leather belt complemented her Gianvito Rossi ‘Gianvito’ 85 suede pumps in Midnight Blue.

Catherine, Princess of Wales wears Gianvito Rossi ‘Gianvito’ 85 suede pumps in Midnight Blue.

Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

Gianvito Rossi ‘Gianvito’ 85 suede pumps in Midnight Blue.

We saw the return of the beloved Cartier Ballon Bleu Watch.

Catherine, Princess of Wales wears Cartier Ballon Bleu Watch.

Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

Finishing off the look were her Sapphire & Diamond Oval Drop Earrings and Fleet Air Arm Brooch.

Catherine, Princess of Wales wears Sapphire & Diamond Oval Drop Earrings and Fleet Air Arm Brooch.

Picture by Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace

4 Comments

Sarah

3/10/2025 07:31:17 pm

Hey, when you click on the link of this from the latest on the blog post it redirects to the state visit look.

Elizabeth (Admin)

5/10/2025 07:32:34 pm

Fixed it! Thanks for brining it to my attention xo

Bertie

5/10/2025 08:54:56 am

It's coming to something when my heart sinks on first seeing the Princess appear these days as she used to serve as such a morale booster. But I have to get past my annoyance at this grey Bella Freud suit reappearing after only three weeks as there are several points in favour of this outing.

No 1 I suppose has to be that at least we have a change of accessories. I thought the Gianvito Rossi pumps looked great displaying their quiet contrast of navy blue from the beautifully tailored trouser legs

I was also delighted to see the Sapphire and Diamond Cluster Earrings of which I never tire, and ably abetted by Good Point No 3, to wit, having that unruly hair tied well back. Unfortunately while it's good to change the layer top under the jacket, the switch from black to the grey McQueen seems a mistake to me as it looks too washed out. Why not another touch of blue?

But the major advantage of course lay in the practical necessity of still looking like an elegant princess while climbing in and out of cockpits. The clip of Kate reversing herself down a ladder in those heels has naturally gone viral and will remain a favourite for a long while.

But it is difficult not to feel the loss of the bright cheery Princess we had before her health setback. She may well still be recovering from major treatment and the day may yet come when she rediscovers the joy in colour. In the meantime both her appearances and projects must suffer from the attachment to subdued tones. I don't think these can work in the long term unless she wants to be known as the Princess of Sad or something, I fear I can see the monikers lining up if she continues with this.

I was interested to see other royals in dull colours of late, in particular Queen Mary wore a skirt and pants combination in grey and maroon which reminded me of the heavy green and brown Kate wore when meeting Melania Trump. Queen Letizia in particular has demonstrated some uniform dressing of late, scoring a total of no less than five white pant suits in ten days, four of those making up her wardrobe for a state visit to Egypt, and perhaps more comfortable in hot desert conditions. Perhaps a potential trend for dullness might just cover for Kate while she adjusts back to royal working life and maybe wake up one day and simply fall in love with colour all over again.

I don't accept that over serious dressing makes for a more serious woman, nor that fashion is somehow trivial. There is too much misogyny in dismissing subjects of interest to women as being foolish. Fashion is serious and a bulwark of our daily lives, and can make a serious success of Kate's royal role and her pet projects.

Ava Pittman

10/10/2025 04:43:29 pm

This pantsuit was the perfect choice for this visit. It fits well and especially the pants, not baggy! The fine ribbed sweater, in grey don't mind that at all. Love the Sapphire and diamond oval shaped earrings, always a joy to see them worn, beautiful earrings.

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Princess Kate Brings Back Chic Bella Freud Pantsuit for RAF Coningsby Visit

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