The Princess of Wales made a striking appearance in purple on Wednesday for an early years campaign symposium in London, just days after her preference for coordinating blue fashion looks with her family was labeled “common” by a British tastemaker.

Kate attended the “Shaping Us” symposium in Kensington on November 15, where she delivered a keynote speech wearing a vivid purple pantsuit with diamond and sapphire earrings that had formerly belonged to Princess Diana.

The choice of purple is notable after a recent bout of tabloid reporting in Britain regarding criticism of the royal’s style choices by a former interior designer and society figure, Nicky Haslam.

Haslam publishes an annual list of things he considers to be “common,” a colloquial way in Britain of referring to something that is middle or lower class. The list, which is sold on dish towels for £40 ($50), was discussed in a number of newspaper columns and magazines when it was revealed on November 5.

Among entries such as “podcasts,” “strawberries” and “grieving,” for 2023 Haslam included “Wales family in blue” on his “common list.”

On a number of occasions, Kate and Prince William have been photographed wearing various shades of blue with their three children: Prince George, born 2013; Princess Charlotte, born 2015; and Prince Louis, born 2018.

Among the more recent occasions where the color was on display was Easter Sunday for a church service held at Windsor Castle.

Newsweek approached Kensington Palace via email for comment.

Kate’s symposium outfit choice saw the return of her new uniform style of pantsuits, which have been worn to multiple official engagements this year.

Celebrity stylist and royal fashion expert Miranda Holder told Newsweek that the princess’ pantsuit look on Wednesday felt “extra glamorous.”

“The outfit was in line with the power-dressing, business-first Kate we have seen since she became the Princess of Wales and in particular since she returned to her royal duties following her summer break,” she said.

“You certainly wouldn’t miss Kate Middleton in a crowd this morning, but somehow the look felt just a little more extra glamorous today, the bare décolletage and lack of shirt or blouse underneath the jacket created a vibe that was distinctively more akin to evening wear than usual, indicating that Kate had made even more sartorial effort, which would make sense given that the Shaping Us Campaign is such a passion project for the Princess.”

The symposium was preceded by a reception held by Kate in London on Tuesday to which she also wore a pantsuit, on this occasion in burgundy.

Holder explained that the color-blocked looks one after another reinforced a theory that Kate “treats each tour or set of duties a bit like a theatre show” and “plans her wardrobe accordingly, giving her looks a beginning, middle and end.”

This, according to Holder, ensures that “when the photographs are all looked upon together, there is a fashion follow-through which corresponds and is aesthetically pleasing.”

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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