If you want a quick peek at the trends set to take off next, look no further than the street style crowds swarming Milan right now. Amongst the many autumnal staples, I’ve noticed that so many fashion people are jumping on board the royal purple colour trend. But if you’re looking for a second opinion, Kate Middleton just made a convincing case for the divisive shade, too.

Attending last night’s Digger premiere in London, Kate Middleton stepped onto the red carpet in a gauzy, floor-length Jenny Packham dress in the punchiest shade of purple. From wrist to ankle, the floaty silhouette tapped into the bohemian shapes we’ve seen across the runways over the past few seasons, but it was the striking colour that really caught my attention.

Gaining momentum for a while now, Prada began incorporating the shade into its collections as far back as 2024, and since then it’s steadily filtered down to the high street. This season, I’ve spotted the same rich purple cropping up across Zara, H&M and COS, too. Now, with Milan’s fashion crowd embracing it and Kate Middleton stepping out in it—not for the first time, mind you, she’s long called upon the shade for tonal dressing—there are enough tell-tale signs to suggest this divisive shade could be about to have a big moment.