They say fashion runs in the family, and when your matriarch is Carole Middleton, it appears that so too does a wardrobe worth recycling.
Cementing her status as the ever-glamorous and ever-practical head of the Middleton clan, Carole has once again opened her designer-filled closet to her nearest and dearest. And this time, it was daughter-in-law Alizée Thevenet who got to raid the rails.
The stylish mother-daughter-in-law duo showcased their shared fashion staples on day two of Royal Ascot, bonding over a borrowed hat and pastel ensembles.
Alizée, the French wife of James Middleton, elegantly dressed for the sunshine in a Longchamp maxi dress, topped with a feathered Juliette Botterill hat borrowed from Carole’s wardrobe.
The millinery marvel made a royal appearance once before, when Carole wore it at St James’s Palace to celebrate the christening of Prince Louis.
It wouldn’t be the first time that Alizée has borrowed something from her mother-in-law’s closet. For her wedding to James Middleton in 2021, she wore Carole’s wedding dress.
‘My something borrowed was in fact my dress from my mother-in-law Carole who last wore it 41 years ago on her wedding day in June, 1980,’ Alizée shared following her nuptials.
‘While talking about dresses with Carole and sharing ideas during lockdown for inspiration, I tried on her wedding dress and fell in love with it.’
Alizée stepped out at Royal Ascot in a mint green gingham Longchamp dress together with a silver Juliette Botterill hat with an array of feathers pluming from the top. The headwear was a borrowed item from Carole Middleton’s wardrobe, which she wore to Prince Louis’ christening in 2018
Carole Middleton with her beautiful daughter-in-law on day two of Royal Ascot
Alizee wore Carole’s wedding dress to her own wedding and gave the dress a new lease of life. The financial analyst decided it was the perfect choice for her low-key French wedding on 11 September 2021 in Bormes-les-Mimosas
Alizee added: ‘It fitted me perfectly and was exactly what I wanted. It always troubled me that wedding dresses are only worn once so it was amazing to give such a beautiful dress a second lease of life.’
But it’s not just Alizée who has dipped into Carole’s collection. Over the years, Kate Middleton and her sister Pippa have also been spotted wearing pieces from their mother’s wardrobe, as well as frequently sharing with each other.
Carole, now 70 and looking as stylish as ever, has clearly instilled in her children not just a strong sense of family, but also an enviable eye for timeless fashion.
Known for her love of British designers, well-tailored blazers and polished yet approachable elegance, she’s long been the quiet style force behind daughters Kate and Pippa.
Now, it seems, she’s doing the same for her daughter-in-law.
In her pre-duchess days, Kate wore a striking white fascinator topped with a blue flower to Nicholas Van Cutsem’s 2009 wedding. The following year, Carole wore the same hat to Royal Ascot, pairing it with a sharp cobalt dress by Reiss which was later reworn by Kate on another occasion
Kate Middleton’s mother, Carole, showed she has the same taste in clothes as her daughter when she showed up to Royal Ascot in 2022 in a very familiar pink dress. The Me + Em frock was first seen during a visit the year before with young cancer patient, Mila Sneddon at Holyrood House in Scotland
Carole Middleton stunned in a Max Mara off-white coat that she recycled from the Princess of Wales, during the Christmas Carol Service in 2024. Kate first donned the coat back in 2015 when she visited the headquarters of Ben Ainslie Racing in Portsmouth
What you see with the Middleton women is a shared fashion philosophy. They invest in quality pieces, and they aren’t afraid to bring them out again and again.
But more than that, they know the value of a classic silhouette. Carole’s wardrobe from 30 years ago wouldn’t look out of place on the high street today.
Think timeless tailoring, flattering lines, and a consistent preference for natural tones and structured shapes.
Although despite their style synergy, Carole is careful not to overshadow her daughters and daughter-in-law. She’s elegant, she’s quiet, and she knows when to step back when it comes to fashion, she’s the silent icon in the background.
