British-Nigerian designer Tolu Coker has long been a royal favorite. When launched in 2018, she was an early beneficiary of The Prince’s Trust, receiving mentorship and support over the years. Then, during London Fashion Week last month, British monarch King Charles III sat front row at her show (his first-ever fashion show). Now, it’s the royal Kate Middleton who’s given the designer a respectful nod.
WINDSOR, ENGLAND – MARCH 18: Catherine, Princess of Wales speaking to First Lady Oluremi Tinubu as she and the Prince of Wales received the President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the Fairmont Windsor Park hotel in Englefield Green, on day one of their state visit to the UK, on March 18, 2026 in Windsor, England. President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu are conducting a historic State Visit to the United Kingdom, marking the first state visit by a Nigerian leader in 37 years and the first to be hosted at Windsor Castle. (Photo by Yui Mok – Pool/Getty Images)
Yesterday, the Princess of Wales hosted a state visit with the President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu. It marked the first state visit by a Nigerian leader in 37 years and the first to be hosted at Windsor Castle. So, naturally, Middleton honored the occasion with a double-breasted coat by the British-Nigerian designer.
Pulled from Coker’s fall 2024 collection, Middleton put on her Sundays best in a sharply tailored grey and white ensemble. The long, structured coat was cinched at the waist with a corset and paired with coordinated accessories: a matching fascinator, dangling pearl earrings, black handbag and grey pumps.
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 16: A model walks the runway at the Tolu Coker show during London Fashion Week February 2024 at the BFC NEWGEN Show Space on February 16, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Simon Ackerman/WireImage)
Her wardrobe embodied the designer’s signature ’60s >Tolu Coker told ESSENCE last year about her fall 2025 collection. The same stands for this fall 2024 coat, which is from a collection that embodied the nature of street hawkers, which her mother used to do in Lagos, Nigeria.
WINDSOR, ENGLAND – MARCH 18: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the formal welcome, at the Royal Dais, Datchet Road, for The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu on day one of their State Visit to the United Kingdom on March 18, 2026 in Windsor, England. President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu are conducting a historic State Visit to the United Kingdom, marking the first state visit by a Nigerian leader in 37 years and the first to be hosted at Windsor Castle. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
On Kate Middleton, the coat honored the union of Coker’s identity as a British Nigerian and paid respect to the President and First Lady of Nigeria. Therel=”tag”>Nigerian Fashion Tolu Coker
The post Kate Middleton Wore Designer Tolu Coker For State Visit With Nigerian President appeared first on Essence.
Author: Akili King
Read the original article on Essence.