The Princess of Wales's beach outfits are a little bit different than most people's but there's one in particular I feel is ideal for this scorching summer weather we're having. The future Queen visited Australia with Prince William in 2014 and attended a lifesaving event on Manley Beach.
A lot of people there were in swimwear, but Kate looked the epitome of elegance in a breezy Broderie Anglaise dress and wedges. Just as a little black dress is a staple for party season, a little white dress is a must for a summer capsule wardrobe.
The neutral colour makes them incredibly easy to style no matter which accessories you choose so they're very fuss-free. This is perfect when you're deciding what to wear in the heat and the Princess's Zimmermann frock was made from breezy cotton.
Recreate Kate's Outfit
Made from 100% cotton woven fabric, this midi dress is perfect if you want to give the Princess of Wales's look your own 2026 twist. It's got a modest high neckline, puffed sleeves and self-tie belt. The scalloped hem is gorgeous and the skirt is tiered for extra volume.
These gold-plated sterling silver earrings have glimmering crystals on the hoop and a single, white pearl bead drop which is similar to the style Kate wore in Australia. Pair with your favourite flowy summer dresses or shorts and a T-shirt.
You can also get these sandals in metallic gold and they have a buckled ankle strap to keep them secure on your feet. They're crafted with a chic woven upper and have a sleek cork wedge. Throw on for summer events instead of stiletto heels.
This Whistles Broderie Midi Dress is designed with delicate broderie detailing throughout and has a flattering V-neckline and balloon sleeves. There are handy pockets in the skirt and a subtle drawstring at the waist.
Featuring a single round freshwater pearl drop on each earring, this set is made from recycled 18k gold vermeil. The earrings are a huggie hoop shape and they're delicate enough to wear as part of a stack if you like layering up your jewellery.
Available in a few different colours, these wedges by Tommy Hilfiger are made with cotton uppers and a sturdy sole. The wedge isn't overly high and there's a practical ankle strap. They're open toe and have criss-cross straps running over the foot.
Natural materials like cotton and linen are wonderfully breathable and this design fell to knee length and had a trim at the waist, down the bodice and on the sleeves and hem. The tiny Broderie cut-outs made it feel even more summery and intricate detailing like this can take a simple white dress to new heights.
It adds texture and although Kate wore her dress over a decade ago, Broderie Anglaise dresses are back in a big way for 2026. This style will never truly go out of fashion and there are so many different silhouettes and lengths to choose from, though the Princess went for something more modest for her official royal visit.
I personally love longer, flowy Broderie Anglaise frocks as the shape complements the feminine cut-outs so well.
The Princess of Wales leaned into this with her choice of shoes too and wore tan wedge sandals by Stuart Weitzman with a secure ankle strap. Walking in heels on the beach isn't for the fainthearted but Kate is a pro and she was even pictured gracefully running across the sand at one point.
If you want to recreate her outfit for a summer date night or BBQ then wedges are a lovely option and give elevation whilst still being quite sturdy compared to stilettos.
To make this kind of style more holiday-friendly, I'd recommend going for flat sandals or espadrilles instead. These are also a lot more comfortable if you're planning on a beach visit too, though the Princess looked undeniably chic in her wedges.
She carried a raffia clutch to match her woven footwear and wore gold hoop earrings with white pearl drops. Everything about this ensemble was minimal and I think this is probably why I can see this look working just as well for 2026 as it did for 2014 (perhaps with a change of shoes!)
You can also dress it up more if you wanted to, as Kate went on to re-wear this Zimmermann dress to Wimbledon that year. She opted for the same pearl earrings but switched out wedges for neutral court shoes and added some classic sunglasses.
