Kensington Palace Addresses Kate Middleton Style Controversy in Rare Statement amid Backlash

Kate Middleton’s office is clarifying the official policy for releasing details about her clothing following recent backlash over new palace guidance.

After a week of discussion surrounding the Princess of Wales' clothing and the possibility of changing the formal policy on sharing her fashion details, Kensington Palace issued a rare statement.

This follows a Feb. 1 Sunday Times article titled "Princess of Wales: Focus on my work, not my wardrobe," which quoted a royal source saying that Kate “wants the focus to be on the really important issues, the people and the causes she is spotlighting.”

On Tuesday, Feb. 11, a Kensington Palace spokesperson responded with a statement to PEOPLE: “Over the last week, I have received numerous questions about a story regarding The Princess of Wales’s clothing and how Kensington Palace shares information about her outfits."

“To clarify, the comments that appeared in the article were from me, not The Princess of Wales," the statement continued. "The comments that were reported should not be directly attributed to The Princess of Wales. To be clear, there has been no change in our approach to sharing information about Her Royal Highness’s clothing.” 

In response to the Sunday Times report, several op-eds criticized the notion that Kate’s style should be downplayed, emphasizing the vital role it plays in shining a spotlight on British designers and boosting the British fashion industry. Critics also pointed out that her fashion choices not only pay homage to the legacy of Princess Diana and Queen Elizabeth but also serve as an important tool for connecting with the public and should not be minimized.

For years, the palace has maintained a policy of not always disclosing details about what Kate is wearing. As a result, online sleuths, most notably the site What Kate Wore, have taken on the task of tracking down her outfits and sharing where to find similar pieces.

The full quote from The Sunday Times article read, “There is an absolute feeling that [the public work] is not about what the princess is wearing.

"She wants the focus to be on the really important issues, the people and the causes she is spotlighting," the story continued. "There will always be an appreciation of what the princess is wearing from some of the public and she gets that. But do we need to be officially always saying what she is wearing? No. The style is there but it’s about the substance.”

After taking a step back from public duties for most of 2024 while undergoing cancer treatment — completing her treatment in September and announcing her remission in January — Princess Kate has been gradually easing back into her royal responsibilities. With a fresh perspective and what seems to be a renewed look, she has made several public appearances in the past 10 days.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

There is every likelihood that details about Princess Kate’s outfits will be shared during significant family and cultural occasions, such as royal tours or when she is hosting visiting heads of state.

The initial story in the Sunday Times came two days after Princess Kate, 43, stepped out in South Wales to visit a Tŷ Hafan children's hospice, coinciding with the announcement that she's taking on its patronage (like Princess Diana), and touring a family run-textiles manufacturer, aligning with her interest in the industry.

It's notable that Princess Kate's team did not share the fashion credits for what she wore to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London on Jan. 14, her first solo royal engagement in over a year after she announced in March 2024 that she was undergoing treatment for cancer.