Before Princess Poise: Kate Middleton’s Footloose and Fancy-Free Youth

Kate Middleton: From Party Girl to Princess

Long before the Duchess of Cambridge married her prince, she lived a much more carefree life filled with sequined halter tops, mini shorts, and nights out on the town. A recently resurfaced TikTok video with over 4.5 million views gives us a glimpse into Kate’s eccentric, party-girl wardrobe in 2007 and 2008, before she was bound by the constraints of royal protocol. Before the Princess of Wales cemented herself as a style icon and married Prince William in April 2011, she dressed like any twenty-something would during the mid-aughts, wearing sequins halter tops, itty-bitty shorts, thigh-high dresses and Ugg boots.

The montage of Kate’s pre-royal days shows her dressed to impress at various events and parties. In one photo, likely taken at university, a fresh-faced Kate grins widely with friends, clad in a thigh-skimming leopard print dress. Another shows her at the Day-Glo Midnight Roller Disco charity event in 2008, wearing an eye-catching ensemble of a green sequined halter top and tiny neon yellow shorts. She looks confident and happy, clearly enjoying the freedom of youth.

Additional snapshots display Kate’s casual wear during her twenties: relaxed low-rise skirts paired with strapless tops, jeans and Uggs for weekend wear. The images spark nostalgia for any millennial, taking us back to the carefree days of the aughts style we all remember so well.

Of course, the Kate of 2023 looks quite different from the Kate of 2007. Over a decade into her royal role, the Princess of Wales has cultivated a signature look of elegant coats, sensible heels, and demure dress silhouettes in muted colors. Her style evolution reflects her growth into one of the most visible public figures in the world – and the enormous pressure that comes with it.

“Considering the circumstances she’s in, it’s almost impossible to understand how she’s even done it,” says royal expert Omid Scobie. “Because most human beings would crumble under that kind of pressure.”

Indeed, Kate has withstood over ten years of intense public scrutiny. As Scobie notes, “She is in such a delicate position where she relies on the support of the institution around her and she gets the support, but if there was ever a moment in which she wavered or tried to steer the course herself, I think she would—just like any other woman that’s married into that family—find herself up against a really tough challenge.”

Of course, Kate has risen to even the toughest challenges with grace and poise. She may have bid farewell to sequins and mini skirts, but she handles the immense responsibilities of royal life with aplomb. For many of us millennials, Kate was the ultimate girl next door, wearing many of the same casual, trendy outfits we did. That relatability, combined with her natural elegance, is part of why she remains so beloved worldwide.

We may miss the glimpses of carefree, party girl Kate, but there’s no denying that Catherine, Princess of Wales, grows ever more magnificent with each passing year – and each new coat dress.