As she and her family touched down in Germany for the second stage of their European tour, Kate Middleton gave us another masterclass in diplomatic dressing by opting for a bold blue shade, best described as Prussian blue.
The Duchess is known for paying subtle homage to the country she visits through her choice of outfit, be that through a motif or detail (remember that maple leaf brooch?), by opting for the work of a local designer (see the white evening dress by Gosia Baczynska worn earlier in the week) or through clever choice of colours.
This time, she went for the latter approach with a distinctive coat dress by Catherine Walker, a brand that was also memorably favoured by the late Princess Diana, in Prussian blue, a colour that was originated in Berlin at the start of the 18th century. It was then adopted for the uniforms of the Prussian army, and retained a symbolic importance, worn by German soldiers in military ceremonies until the outbreak of World War One.
As noted by The Telegraph, the colour is also known as cornflower blue, which also holds significance: the cornflower is traditionally associated with Germany (and Prussia in particular), after Queen Louise hid her children in a field of cornflowers while fleeing Napoleon’s forces.
Kate’s colour choice was echoed in her children’s outfits, too: Prince George was dressed in a smart blue shirt with his trademark shorts, while Princess Charlotte wore a ruched summer dress in a lighter shade of cornflower blue.
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