Kate Middleton repurposes her pre-coronation dress and makes her long-awaited return to the public eye at this year's "Trooping the Colour"

Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, proved at this year's Trooping the Colour that she is a proud mother of three and the queen of royal repurposing.

For her first public appearance in six months, and since announcing that she has been diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing preventive chemotherapy, the Princess of Wales was dressed in a stunning white long-sleeved dress by Jenny Packham with an exaggerated contrast bow tied around her collar.

Middleton paired the dress with a white angled hat featuring slim ribbon detailing by Philip Treacy; WWD first reported that the royal wore a comeback outfit with Cassandra Goad, previously worn at Prince Louis' 2019 christening 's pearl cluster earrings, ivory Jimmy Choo pumps, and a Mulberry clutch bag as accessories. But her pearl earrings were not the only part of Middleton's outfit that was repurposed-Royal fans quickly noticed that the Princess of Wales had previously worn the same Packham white dress at a pre-coronation event last May.

According to Page Six, Middleton wore a "strikingly similar" outfit during a lunch and walk at Buckingham Palace prior to King Charles' coronation in 2023. At the time, the Princess of Wales wore a black Aquazzura slingback, a satin Prada clutch bag, and the late Queen Elizabeth II's Bahrain pearl drop earrings.

"I thought the dress looked familiar," one royal fan posted on X (formerly known as Twitter).

"I much prefer today's version," commented another,

"It makes me like it even more!" Another commenter. "I remember being young and obsessed when Princess Diana did this with her own outfit!"

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This year, the publication noted, the royal family "updated the length look's solid black belt with a striped one and added black and white ribbons for added glamour."

In addition to this year's upgrades, Princess Kate also wore a regimental brooch as a tribute to her role as an honorary colonel in an Irish Guard regiment. Unfortunately, Middleton was unable to serve as an inspector in the traditional Colonel's review this year due to his ongoing chemotherapy treatments.

"I appreciate the many months of practice by everyone in the unit this year and the many hours dedicated to making sure the uniforms and drill are perfect," wrote the royal apologizing for his absence, a letter later shared by the Irish Guards in X.

"I am very sorry that I was not able to be present for the inspection. 'I apologize to the entire regiment and hope to be able to attend again in the near future to represent you all. Please convey my best wishes and good luck to all concerned."