Kate Middleton’s Plaid Emilia Wickstead Skirt Is Perfect for Fall

2 min read

Prince William and Kate Middleton arrived in Belfast, Northern Ireland this Friday for a surprise visit. The Waleses “will spend the day meeting organisations and young people working together to create pathways to employment, stability, belonging and opportunity for those at risk of homelessness,” according to Kensington Palace. The last time the Waleses were in Northern Ireland was a year ago, and their trip focused on rural communities.

While it was rainy weather in Belfast this Friday, Kate was glowing in a ruffled blouse by Knatchbull, bespoke Catherine Walker navy coat, and a plaid Emilia Wickstead skirt. She carried a small Mulberry bag.

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The Waleses arriving in Belfast.

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The weather cleared up a bit.

The standout of her outfit was her plaid skirt, which the brand notes is “in military green Shetland tartan,” features a pleated A-line silhouette. Royal women frequently wear plaid; the pattern, which originated in Scotland, and is also referred to as tartan. “Technically, plaid isn’t the pattern’s proper name. That honor goes to the word ‘tartan,’ which was first used to describe the individual colors and patterns used to decorate the clothes of different Scottish clans. While they often came in the same colors, ‘plaids’ were actually heavy traveling cloaks worn to ward off the bitter cold of the Scottish winters,” Smithsonian Magazine notes.

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The Princess of Wales arriving at The Commons.

While Kate’s Emilia Wickstead skirt is largely out of stock online, there are numerous similar plaid midi skirts to shop, from Burberry, Ralph Lauren, Zara, and more.

Today marked Kate’s first official engagement of October, though according to the Court Circular, she has held numerous private meetings. Yesterday, for example, she visited the offices of Pivotal, the organization founded by Melinda French.

Emily Burack (she/her) is the Deputy Digital Editor for Town & Country, where she covers entertainment, celebrities, the royals, and a wide range of other topics. Before joining T&C, she was the deputy managing editor at Hey Alma, a Jewish culture site. Follow her @emburack on Instagram, Twitter, and other social media platforms.