Kate's country look is perfect for a British bank holiday weekend

Telegraph

16-04-2025

The Easter Bank Holiday might usually call for pretty pastels and perhaps even the first of the season's occasionwear. But with a decidedly grey and damp forecast, solid British countryside style looks set to be the best sartorial route to take over the upcoming long weekend.
And there could be no better source of inspiration for this than the Princess of Wales, who recently appeared in a short film focused on the importance of nature and its impact on mental health in a classic country outfit. Combining natural tones and practical pieces with a little of-the-moment flair, Catherine proved once again that nobody does wet weekend dressing quite as reliably – or stylishly – as the British royals.
The Princess, who has served as joint president of the Scouting Foundation since 2020, was filmed on a visit to the scenic Lake District with a group of scouts. The combination of cable-knit sweater, cargo-style skinny jeans and walking boots is straight out of her country style playbook, but the addition of a wool bomber jacket and Baker Boy cap added a modern touch to a classic ensemble.
The look cast a spotlight on Bella Hoskyns, the made-in-Britain brand behind Catherine's wool bomber jacket. With its Nehru collar and olive green hue, it strikes the perfect on-trend note, while remaining practical with its Melton wool exterior and quilted lining. With all fabrics sourced in the UK and pieces manufactured in the north of England and Scotland, the brand has already won over the in-the-know country set, but this royal seal of approval will doubtless amplify it further – just look at the 'Kate effect' on small British brands like Beulah London, Zoraida and Finlay & Co.
'I love heritage style with practical appeal and always design my clothes with the aim that they will stand the test of time,' says founder Arabella Hoskyns-Abrahall. 'Bella Hoskyns clothes are meant to feel like they're instant old friends and the classic you reach for time and again in your wardrobe. They're also a 'go-to' for the change in any season, whether layering the gilets or throwing on the jackets.' Catherine's £385 jacket, which is currently in stock in all but size 14, will likely fly off Hoskyns' online shelves.
Wool bomber jacket, £385, Bella Hoskyns
Her Baker Boy cap, meanwhile, has divided fashion commentators. It's not the first time the Princess has resuscitated the trend, which she was last spotted sporting in a picture taken by Prince Louis and released to mark World Cancer Day 2025. She has also donned a similar style in tweed on a number of occasions, including on a previous Scouts-related trip to Cumbria on a snowy day in March 2013. This was identified as the 'Lindsay' cap from Really Wild Clothing, so royal fashion fans have deduced that the more recent incarnation is also from the British brand.
Other elements of the look featured in the new video came from some of Catherine's long-time favourites. One of these is her cosy-looking cable-knit wool sweater in 'sand', £610, by British designer Emilia Wickstead. The Princess often favours Wickstead for formal attire, from a memorable regal purple suit to pretty coat dresses and even a dress renamed 'Kate' in her honour. Showcasing the brand's simultaneous low-key appeal, the jumper is already sold out – and little wonder; while it's clearly an investment, this is a timeless piece, and the super-soft yarn allegedly has a cashmere-like feel. Fans will be pleased to know that similar jumpers in the same material are still available online.
As a base for outdoorsy looks, Catherine often turns to Amsterdam-born denim brand G-Star Raw, and her latest ensemble was no exception. She wore the brand's 'Kafey Cargo' skinny jeans, £110, which are now sold out in multiple colours on the brand's website – although, at the time of writing, there are still select sizes available on Amazon. She's worn the jeans on a number of previous occasions, including the Big Help Out celebration in London on the week of King Charles's coronation (when she also donned a Scouts scarf) and again on a visit to a seaweed farm in Wales in September 2023.
And the final item she repeatedly dons for royal engagements in sometimes testing natural settings? A trusty pair of brown leather hiking boots, £165, from Berghaus. Her Supalite ll Gortex boots are, unsurprisingly, currently sold out, although UK size 7 is still available in the men's section. From battling snowy conditions in camo for Irish Guards training to abseiling with the Welsh mountain rescue team, these ever-reliable boots have seen her through an impressive array of outdoor activities.
Surrounded by the majestic beauty of Lake Windermere on her recent visit to Cumbria, Catherine shared that she feels a 'very spiritual and very intense emotional reconnection' when spending time in the natural world. As any fan of the great outdoors – if not the Great British weather – will know, the right clothing is essential in order to fully enjoy this special connection, while also looking the part.
The Princess did both to a tee, returning to some time-honoured classics as well as introducing a few new covetable pieces that will be high on the wish lists of 'copy-Kates' everywhere for the Easter weekend and beyond – whatever the weather holds.
Get the country-chic look