Royal style: How Kate Middleton’s pregnancy inspired women everywhere

Kate and Prince William  have welcomed their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis into the world at the Lindo Wing of St Mary’s Paddington, carrying on the tradition started by William’s late mother Princess Diana. Like Diana and Prince Charles before them, the royal couple always make a point to meet well-wishers outside the hospital and present their newborn baby to the world. The duchess often wins plaudits for her elegant and classic style, and her choices for maternity wear as she greets excited onlookers have been particularly inspiring.

Amazon Prime documentary ‘William and Kate: The Journey’, which first aired in 2016, takes an in-depth look at the Duke and Duchess’ romance, marriage, and their family life together with their young children.

The film hears from royal expert Ashley Pearson, who explains just why the Duchess of Cambridge’s pregnancy style struck a chord with women around the globe.

She explains: “Kate was roundly praised for her choice of dress.

“A lot of women when they first have baby are very self-conscious about the fact that often at times, they still look pregnant, they still have a very swollen stomach.

“Kate was not at all ashamed of this, in fact wore a dress that highlighted the fact that she still had a very rounded tummy.”

Kate opted for a light blue summer dress with white polka dots, which she wore with bare legs and ballet flats on the summer day in July 2013.

The documentary shows footage of the royal couple with the newborn Prince George as they greet well-wishers outside the Lindo Wing, and Kate can be seen cradling her bump.

Ms Pearson adds: “A lot of women praised her for this [and] said that it made a difference.

“It emphasised the fact women don’t need to be ashamed of their bodies when they’ve had a baby.

“It was really a lovely thing that she did.

“She did look fantastic and they looked absolutely in love.”

Most recently, the Duchess of Cambridge introduced the newborn Prince Louis to the world in April 2018, wearing a scarlet dress with a white lace collar.

Her choice echoed Princess Diana’s outfit when she left the same maternity ward with Prince Harry on his birth in 1984.