Kate Middleton's Honors Her Host Countries with 'Flag' Dresses

Kate Middleton's 'Flag' Dresses! See How She Honors Nations with Her Wardrobe

Each of the Duchess of Cambridge's outfits is carefully chosen — but did you realize that many of her international selections have a deeper meaning behind them?

Erin Hill

Updated on March 21, 2022 11:15AM EDT

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BELIZE

When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge touched down in Belize, Kate took a cue from her host country's flag by wearing a blue lace Jenny Packham skirt suit and a matching clutch.

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DENMARK

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrives for a visit of the Copenhagen Infant Mental Health Project — Kate Middleton. Samir Hussein/WireImage

During a visit to Denmark in February 2022, Kate made sure to honor her host country by sporting a red blazer with a white shirt, coordinating with the colors of Denmark's flag.

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SCOTLAND

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge arrive in a Land Rover Defender that previously belonged to Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh to host NHS Charities Together and NHS staff at a unique drive-in cinema to watch a special screening of Disney’s Cruella at the Palace of Holyroodhouse on day six of their week-long visit to Scotland on May 26, 2021 in Edinburgh — Prince William and Kate Middleton in Edinburgh. Chris Jackson - WPA Pool/Getty

Kate always uses her tour wardrobe to give a diplomatic nod to her host country. In Scotland in 2021, that meant one thing: tartan.

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IRELAND

During a visit to Ireland in 2020, Kate sported a metallic emerald dress by The Vampire's Wife in a nod to her host country's signature color. She accessorized with a clutch and velvet heels.

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PAKISTAN

William, Duke of Cambridge and Catherine, Duchess of Cambri — Kate Middleton. Samir Hussein/WireImage

In 2019, Kate glittered in a sparkling deep emerald column gown by Jenny Packham in a nod to Pakistan's green flag and earrings by Onitaa, sourced from Pakistan.

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GERMANY

For a garden party for the Queen's birthday in Berlin in 2017, Kate wore a red off-the-shoulder dress — one of the colors of the German flag.

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GERMANY

And the next day, she wore a yellow dress, representing another color of the German flag.

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POLAND

kate-middleton-b — Karwai Tang/WireImage

Kate wore a white Alexander McQueen outfit upon arriving in Warsaw for her official visit to Poland in 2017. But it was the accessories — a ruby necklace, pair of earrings and ring, as well as a red clutch — that paid homage to Poland's red and white flag.

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POLAND

And that wasn't the only outfit in her suitcase with a Polish connection. That night, she wore a black and white dress by Polish designer Gosia Baczynska to a garden party in honor of the Queen's birthday.

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CHINA

The intention behind Princess Kate's choice of a red Jenny Packham dress for her first-ever state banquet in 2015 was clear: To honor the banquet's guests of honor, Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Madame Pang Liyuan, with the color of the Chinese flag – and considered a lucky color in the country.

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AUSTRALIA

Instead of sporting Australia's traditional colors, Kate went the athletic route, landing in Sydney in 2014 in bright yellow, practically gold – the traditional color of Australia's national sports teams.

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NEW ZEALAND

Rather than dressing in the colors of New Zealand's flag in 2014, Kate wore this chic black dress, embellished with a design featuring the silver fern – a national emblem of New Zealand.

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MALAYSIA

This one is a subtle nod: While in Malaysia on 2012's Diamond Jubilee tour, Kate wore a white-and-gold dress to an official dinner with the Malaysian Sultan. Gold features prominently in the Malaysian flag.

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SINGAPORE

In this white-and-purple dress she wore in 2012, Kate shows a sign of respect for the orchid, Singapore's national flower.

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DENMARK

During a visit to Denmark in 2011, Kate wore a deep red coat from one of her go-to designers, LK Bennett – perhaps to honor the red-and-white Danish flag?

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CANADA

Kate started off her North American tour in 2011 with one of her most creative nods to a nation: An ensemble in the country's colors of red and white, topped off with a maple leaf fascinator.

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CANADA

Later on during their visit, Kate wore another Canadian-inspired outfit. This time, it was a matching red coat-and-dress set with a sparkling maple leaf brooch.