The Princess of Wales was praised for her grace after ferocious gusts of wind threatened a wardrobe malfunction during the Archbishop of Canterbury’s historic installation ceremony yesterday. 

Videos showed Kate, 44, gripping onto her straw hat as she arrived in Kent for the enthronement of Dame Sarah Mullally, the first female Archbishop of Canterbury, in Kent. 

The mother of three put on an elegant display in a monochrome ensemble, including a black-and-white houndstooth straw boater from Juliette Millinery. 

While the hat looked impossibly chic and showed off her elegant chignon, the blustery weather meant Kate was forced to keep one hand on it as she greeted the Lord Lieutenant of Kent, Lady Colgrain, outside the cathedral.

It would have taken some effort to keep the black-and-white hat perfectly perched on the princess’s head as videos showed Kate’s matching coat fluttering in the wind. 

At one point, the hat nearly flew off before Kate caught it – as royal fans remarked she was typically elegant despite the weather playing foul. 

Some also suggested Kate was taking style cues from the First Lady of the US, who is known for wearing eye-shielding hats with exaggerated proportions.

‘Kate’s recent look seems similar to Melania Trump’s style,’ one person wrote, referencing the First Lady’s collection of wide-brimmed hats, including the extraordinarily large purple one she picked for last year’s state visit to the UK.

The headgear completely obscured Melania’s eyes, as a fashion expert suggested that Melania deployed hats to the same ‘unsettling’ effect as Anna Wintour’s sunglasses. 

However, members of the Royal Family usually tend not to wear hats that hide their faces because ‘part of their public duty is to be seen’, editor of 10 Magazine, Claudia Croft, previously told The Independent. 

Kate’s choice of headgear yesterday certainly marked a departure from the smaller pieces she has worn before, as one X user noted the ‘Melania vibes’. 

The future Queen arrived at Canterbury Cathedral alongside Prince William, 43, to witness the symbolic start of the archbishop of Canterbury’s public ministry in the Church of England and across the Anglican Communion. 

For the occasion, she picked a brand new £2,850 Washington Prince of Wales check Cashmere Coat from Suzannah London. 

Kate completed her look with her £570 Ralph Lauren Celia Calfskin heels in black, while carrying her £4,036 Chanel Mini Classic Handbag, made of lambskin and gold-tone metal.

She also debuted the Juliette Millinery hat, but gusty wind and rain forced her to hang on tightly to it as Kate was received outside the church by the Lord Lieutenant, Lady Colgrain.

Reacting to the footage of Kate, one fan said she is ‘always so elegant’, adding: ‘Best dressed person I have ever seen. Always!!!’

Another X user wrote: ‘I loved [how she was laughing when holding onto her hat in the wind, yet still said her goodbyes].’ 

A third comment read: ‘Only the Princess of Wales could pull this off so perfectly and elegantly. I would be a nervous wreck trying to wear that hat, afraid a strong wind would blow it off.’

One person quipped, ‘It’s Catherine, William and her hat against the wind,’ in a post on X. 

Kate’s face was partially covered by the hat as she took her seat in the Quire next to Prince William, who attended yesterday’s landmark ceremony in his role as heir to the throne. 

William and Kate did not have an active role in the service, but watched as members of the congregation.

The ceremony featured a mandate – a legal instruction – from the King, read by Principal Registrar of the Province of Canterbury, Darren Oliver, giving the monarch’s instruction to install Dame Sarah as the Archbishop of Canterbury.

She is the first woman to be appointed Archbishop in the role’s 1,400-year history, and yesterday’s service was her formal installation.

Dame Sarah is the 106th Archbishop of Canterbury.

William and Catherine previously met her at Lambeth Palace on February 5 and have since indicated their interest in building a warm and meaningful relationship with the most senior bishop in the church and its spiritual leader.

The Prince and Princess of Wales took a few moments to speak to the new Archbishop on their way out.

It comes as Kensington Palace aides briefed that while William is not a ‘regular’ churchgoer, he does have a ‘quiet’ commitment to his faith and is keen to build a strong and warm relationship with the new Archbishop. It helps that, like him, she is an Aston Villa fan.