Based in the coastal town of Hove on England's south coast, the British glove manufacturer boasts a long royal history. Born in 1917, designer Cornelia James studied art and design in Vienna before arriving in England as a refugee in 1939. After the war, in a time of austerity and rationing, the designer's brightly colored leather gloves became a true fashion must-have. In 1947, Norman Hartnell, tailor to Queen Elizabeth, consort of George VI, approached James with a request: to make a pair of gloves to match the dress that the then-Princess Elizabeth would wear after her wedding to Prince Philip.
The future queen appreciated those gloves so much that years later, in 1979, she awarded James a Royal Warrant, recognizing them as a brand approved by the royal household. The then-princess also wore Cornelia James gloves during a state visit to Korea in 1999. Cornelia James died in 1999, but her daughter, Genevieve James, now runs the company.
La regina Elisabetta con guanti Cornelia James, 1992.
"The waving of the white-gloved hand symbolized the late Queen, and it was nice to know that that white glove was very often one of ours," Genevieve James told Town & Country. "It's wonderful to see the Princess of Wales in our gloves. In a generally more informal era, there's no easier way to add a touch of formality. We're delighted." Since then, the Princess of Wales has worn at least seven different pairs of Cornelia James gloves during public engagements, making her a truly loyal customer.
Below is a summary of when Kate Middleton has chosen to wear these gloves and where you can purchase them.
Kate with Imogen gloves
Kate Middleton became patron of the England Rugby Football Union in 2022, but the Prince and Princess of Wales have been known as rugby fans for many years. In 2017, the couple attended the France-Wales match during the Six Nations tournament at the Stade de France in Paris.
To keep warm during the match, Kate Middleton wore a red Carolina Herrera coat, a nod to the red rose embroidered on the team's jerseys, along with black Imogen gloves. She has worn them many times over the years, most recently during the Irish Guards' annual St. Patrick's Day parade in March.
Kate with Beatrice gloves
Also in 2017, Kate and William joined other members of the royal family, including Prince Harry and Queen Elizabeth, at the unveiling ceremony of the Iraq and Afghanistan War Memorial in London. The then-Duchess of Cambridge wore an indigo twill swing coat from Michael Kors and a navy blue hat, along with a pair of navy blue merino wool Beatrice gloves.
Kate Middleton appeared to take style inspiration from Queen Elizabeth with her brightly colored coats
During a visit to Coventry in January 2018, Kate Middleton appeared in this fuchsia Mulberry coat, which she had previously worn during a royal tour in New York. The princess paired the black double-breasted buttons with another pair of Beatrice gloves, this time black, featuring a small bow on the cuff.
Kate Middleton waves to the crowd outside the Royal Palace in Oslo.
Kate Middleton, who was pregnant at the time, layered heavily for her winter state visit to Norway and Sweden in late January and early February 2018. The then Duchess of Cambridge wore chocolate-brown Clementine merino wool gloves with a faux fur trim, which perfectly complemented her faux fur hat in the same shade of brown.
Kate Middleton was visiting the Karolinska Institute in Solna, Sweden.
In Sweden, Kate Middleton reinterpreted one of Lady Diana's favorite looks, wearing a red and white houndstooth coat by Catherine Walker. The princess completed the ensemble with a Chanel bag, which she still uses today, earrings by Swedish designer In2Design, and a pair of chocolate-brown Imogen gloves.
It was the first red carpet appearance for the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2023.
Kate Middleton dared to wear fashion on the 2023 BAFTAs red carpet, pairing her snow-white Alexander McQueen gown with long black opera gloves.
Kate Middleton carried a Grace Han bag.
The Princess of Wales looked radiant as she joined the rest of the royal family for the Christmas Day service in 2024. Dressed in a festive green outfit, including a Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen coat, Kate Middleton wore the brand's Alice gloves, a style with a pretty side bow in velvet, a pair she wore again earlier this month at a Remembrance Day event.
