Kate Middleton wore a £795 Alice Temperley gingham dress to the Royal Charity Polo Cup, and within hours, royal watchers discovered that the dress was already part of the fashion archives. The Princess of Wales stepped out in a black-and-white Stirling Belted Gingham dress, a print that Princess Diana had famously worn on the same polo grounds decades earlier. Almost immediately, the search began for ways to recreate this iconic look.
The dress in question isn't a new-season item; it's an archived piece from a past collection by Temperley. It was worn just two days after designer Alice Temperley announced her departure from the label she founded. This detail transformed what initially appeared to be a simple summer outfit into a subtle tribute. Additionally, this meant that the usual frantic search for the exact purchase link would not result in a successful checkout.
The Dress & the Hidden Tribute
The Stirling Belted Gingham dress features a sleeveless design with a square neckline, wide straps, and a cinched waist that flows into a mid-calf A-line skirt. This style is versatile enough for both a garden party and the grass-side at Guards Polo Club.
Since the dress is no longer part of Temperley's current collection, there is no shopping link available, prompting a search for similar alternatives. This doesn't come as a surprise to royal watchers, as Kate often dips into past-season archives and pulls older pieces from her closet, choosing not to treat her wardrobe as disposable.
How Kate Styled It
Kate elongated her frame with tan Lucia slingback pumps from Camilla Elphick. It's a pointed-toe style she chooses whenever she needs to maintain practicality on uneven ground without sacrificing elegance. She completed her look with Ralph Lauren cat-eye sunglasses, chunky coffee-toned Sézane Gabrielle earrings, a Sézane Stéphanie howlite cuff, and a Halcyon Days aquamarine bangle. By mixing accessible pieces with designer items, she struck a balance rather than committing to just one price point.
The most personal touch of all was a woven friendship bracelet made by Princess Charlotte, tucked in among the polished jewellery as a small reminder that the day was still about family, not just fashion.
Recreate the Look: Best High-Street Dupes
With the original dress unavailable, the gingham itself is the easiest thing to replicate, and the good news is the print is having a moment on the high street this summer anyway.
- The Dress Dupe: Look to Reformation's Janu Linen Dress or the Tuckernuck Esme Dress. Both capture that classic square neckline and cinched waist for well under £250.
- The Footwear Dupe: Grab a pair of tan slingback pumps from Sam Edelman or Steve Madden to replicate the elongating, grass-friendly silhouette of her Camilla Elphick heels.
- The Accessories Dupe: Swap out the Ralph Lauren frames for cat-eye sunglasses from ASOS Design or Le Specs to complete the look on a high-street budget.
Gingham tends to come back in style every few summers, and Kate's version shows that it can still look great when the cut is right and the styling is kept simple. While the dress itself may be sold out and not available for purchase again, the formula behind it — structured print, a single statement accessory, and minimal additional elements — is something anyone can replicate this season without spending close to £795.
