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Kate Middleton just showed off a bold fashion choice – at least it’s bold for her position. The Duchess of Cambridge has been seen as a style icon since she first joined the royal family in 2011, but some of her most recent looks might not be favored by the queen.
Middleton was recently spotted wearing a black pantsuit by Alexander McQueen - the same designer who created the royal's iconic wedding gown almost a decade ago. As usual, the Duchess of Cambridge pulled off the look effortlessly, looking polished and powerful as women in pantsuits usually do.
But despite how good Middelton looked in the outfit, there's a chance she may have offended the queen. As it turns out, women's pantsuits aren't within royal protocol.
Queen Elizabeth almost never wears trousers during royal engagements or public outings, and sources have even revealed that she said she prefers female family members opt for skirts or dresses.
Middleton wore her McQueen pantsuit to London's Natural History Museum, where she announced she would take part in a virtual awards ceremony for the wildlife photographer of the year.
As this outing wasn't necessarily a royal engagment, it's unclear whether the queen would deem Middleton's outfit as inappropriate. The Duchess of Cambridge has always been careful to wear knee-length skirts to royal engagements.
That being said, this isn't the only time Middleton has been seen in a pantsuit. Not too long after she sported the black McQueen suit, she wore a navy pantsuit to Pride of Britain Awards in London. And this past March, she wore a salmon-tone pantsuit while visiting a call center of the London Ambulance Service.
Though Middleton hasn't spoken out about her recent fashion choices, she probably isn't making a statement against royal protocol or trying to go against the palace. We think she's wearing pantsuits because she looks great in them - and because it's getting colder out.