Since she joined the royal family in 2011, Catherine, Princess of Wales, has epitomized chic fashion, whether she’s wearing a coat dress and hat or jeans and a blazer. The royal dress code can be complicated, and more formal events understandably have more outfit restrictions. However, protocol’s also evolved with younger generations. For instance, while Queen Elizabeth II always wore gloves, which had been a common accessory in her youth, Kate and other royals typically don’t wear them.
Kate has also been leading the change for even more casual attire, like wearing shorts for public events. Historically among the royals, shorts were only worn by young boys, and it was actually a rite of passage to make the switch to longer pants at age 8. Although royal rules for adults wearing shorts aren’t so specific, sporty events appear to be the perfect op for kicking back.
Even so, Kate was a working royal for quite a while before she took the plunge into a leg-baring style. Instead, the princess was more likely to wear long athletic pants when attending a sporting event. Then again, cold weather may have been the deciding factor, since some of these appearances occurred in the fall or winter. Luckily, Kate has a reputation for being the most athletic royal, so eventually the stars aligned, providing just the right time for her to rock shorts on multiple occasions.
Kate’s shorts debut was on the water
It took until 2019 for Catherine, Princess of Wales, to make her first royal appearance in shorts. Kate was participating in the King’s Cup Regatta, and the athletic outing was a natural fit for casual clothing. However, the princess still kept her look official by pairing her classic navy shorts with a jacket with the King’s Cup logo.
Not surprisingly, Kate’s shorts attracted plenty of praise online, as fans marveled at her ability to look chic. “Even in sports gear Kate looks good. Where am I going wrong,” questioned one poster on X.
Kate kept it casual on a royal tour
After disappearing from Catherine, Princess of Wales’ repertoire for three years, shorts became a recurring theme in 2022. During a royal tour of the Caribbean, Kate took advantage of the warm weather to wear chino shorts for a sailing event. Just like in 2019, Kate and William, Prince of Wales, each got their own boats as they faced off during a competition. This time, however, Kate’s combo of a belt and classic white polo gave the outfit a polished vibe, whereas her previous ‘fit was more sporty.
Kate went for a dressy shorts look
For a boating event in July 2022, Catherine, Princess of Wales, chose crisp white shorts accented with gold buttons and a sweater in one of her favorite striped patterns. The princess elevated her look by tucking in the sweater. The linen/cotton shorts’ higher rise accented her waist and made Kate’s legs look even longer.
Linen’s also a favorite hot-weather fabric of King Charles III, albeit in much more formal attire. However, he also rocked shorts in the past, so it’s possible Kate will ditch this leg-baring style when her husband becomes king.
Kate’s sporty shorts had plenty of pockets
The same day that Catherine, Princess of Wales, stepped out in white shorts in 2022, she spotlighted this second shorts ensemble. Kate’s known for re-wearing items, and at first glance, these navy shorts look like the pair she wore in 2019. However, although the navy hue was the same, this pair had distinctive flap pockets at the front and back, complete with button closures. These shorts were recognized as a quick-drying pair from Helly Hansen that is suitable for hiking. In Kate’s case, they were also ideal to wear after she participated in a boat race.
Kate rocked red shorts for a meaningful milestone
In June 2026, Catherine, Princess of Wales, donned shorts, not for boating, but for a highly personal journey. Kate took on the grueling National Three Peaks Challenge as part of her recovery after a 2024 cancer diagnosis. With 23 miles of walking and mountain climbing, she needed gear that would help her stay cool.
Kate paired her vibrant athletic shorts with red socks and sturdy hiking boots. While the princess looked impeccably put together after ascending over 10,000 feet, her main focus was supporting the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity and spotlighting post-cancer recovery. Still, we got to see plenty of pics of her outfit in the carousel uploaded to the Wales’ IG account.
