Princess Kate dons tartan jacket and hat for church service at Balmoral

Kate, Princess of Wales has made her first appearance since the start of the summer break.

The 42-year-old was pictured in a car with Prince William on their way to Balmoral Castle, Scotland, where they joined other senior members of the Royal Family.

It marks the first summer gathering at the famous residence since the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

To mark the sad occasion, all members of the family were spotted in earthy tones of brown, green, red and blue – with Princess Kate in a tartan number.

The royal swapped her usual glamorous attire for a brown tartan jacket and smart feathered top hat.

She wore her hair in a low chignon bun with braids fed through her glossy brunette locks.

In keeping with the Scottish legacy of the castle, the royal donned a patterned jacket in the trademark “Balmoral tartan” design.

The hat appears to be a new style for the Princess of Wales, who usually wears bold-coloured fascinators in more glamorous styles.

Its design is unlike anything she has worn before in the typically masculine top hat style. However, it does bear some resemblance to previous styles worn by Kate in her pre-royal days, when she was described as having a “Sloane Ranger” fashion sense.

The tartan garment is a pattern Kate is less spotted in, having only worn it on a handful of occasions.

Coupled with the modest collar neckline that appeared to be buttoned up to the top, the autumnal ensemble is a fresh look for the royal.

It is, however, an apt choice for the family event at which the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and Prince Andrew are also in attendance.

Queen Camilla was seen wearing the signature Balmoral textile just one day earlier in a skirt and suit co-ord.

Today, she opted for a brighter outfit made from green fabric and contrasting red collar detail. The outfit was first debuted by the Queen last year at the Braemar Highland Gathering on September 3.

Camilla seemed to be wearing a ruffled white shirt underneath on both occasions and sported the same chic hat with a brown and red feather in the middle.

The 76-year-old opted for a natural make-up look and styled her hair in her usual platinum blow-dry.