The Princess of Wales made a dramatic style statement on Tuesday, contrasting a gray November morning in London by wearing a vivid red caped outfit for the ceremonial start of President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea’s state visit to the U.K.

Kate—whose style is closely followed around the world—opted to forgo her recent fashion staple of sharply tailored pantsuits, choosing instead a new oversized cape in statement red, featuring a large twisted bow detail that added to the drama of the overall look.

The princess paired the cape with a wide-brimmed hat in the same color, a matching coat, dress and high-heeled pumps.

The look is quite unlike any other showcased by Kate in the course of her 12-year royal career since marrying Prince William in 2011.

The new cape not only served an aesthetic purpose but also effectively shielded the princess from the cold weather and rain that accompanied the welcome ceremony, held at Horse Guards Parade near Buckingham Palace.

William and Kate were joined at the parade ground by King Charles and Queen Camilla, where the president and his wife witnessed a short military demonstration before taking part in a carriage procession to the palace.

Kate is well known for selecting her outfits for important state occasions with care, often paying tributes through style, designer or color.

The red of the cape, hat and outfit was paired by the princess with the bright blue of her sapphire earrings and engagement ring, which had previously belonged to Princess Diana.

Red and blue are the predominant colors of the South Korean flag (on a ground of white with black elements), so the scheme was an appropriate gesture towards the occasion.

The cape was designed by Catherine Walker & Co., a London-based fashion house that has provided Kate with a number of important items of clothing over the years, most famously her collection of tailored coat dresses.

The twisted bow element is one of the house’s style signatures and Kate owns two coat dresses that feature the detail: one in black, worn to the funeral of Prince Philip in 2021; and one in red, which was worn to a Christmas carol service later that same year.

Catherine Walker rose to fame in the 1990s for being one of the favorite designers of Princess Diana, making more of the royal’s event-wear than any other. Walker herself died in 2010 and today the house is headed by her husband, Said Cyrus.

On Thursday evening King Charles will host President Yoon Suk Yeol at a state banquet held in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace, at which the Prince and Princess of Wales will be present along with other senior members of the king’s family.

Traditionally state banquets are occasions where the royals dress to their ceremonial best, with the royal ladies wearing tiaras and the men their medals and orders.

In 2022, Kate wore a dramatic white evening gown and diamond tiara for the State Visit of President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, presenting an opportunity where fashion expert Miranda Holder told Newsweek at the time, she looked “every inch the future queen.”

James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek‘s royal reporter, based in London. You can find him on X (formerly Twitter) at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek‘s The Royals Facebook page.

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