Kate Middleton Had a Very Relatable Regret About Her 2019 Christmas Day Outfit

“I really shouldn’t have worn this,” Kate told a well-wisher in the crowd that day

When it comes to style, Kate Middleton is impeccable — but, in her own assessment, the Princess of Wales (then the Duchess of Cambridge) said she regretted her Christmas Day ensemble in 2019.

That year, Kate, now 42, walked to church at St. Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate with her husband, Prince William, and their two eldest kids Prince George and Princess Charlotte, who, at 6 and 4, respectively, made their Christmas Day walk debut that year.

Related: Prince George and Princess Charlotte Make Their Christmas Day Debut Alongside William and Kate!

For the occasion, Kate wore a gray Catherine Walker coat with a faux fur collar, forest green heels and coordinating hat and clutch. The former Duchess of Cambridge told a royal fan assembled for the royal family’s traditional walk to church that she regretted the look — not because of its style, but for practicality reasons. That year, Dec. 25 was unseasonably warm — around 46 degrees Fahrenheit — and Kate started to feel uncomfortable in her coat, according to The Sun.

Rachel Anvil, who was among the many in the crowd waiting to greet the royals, spoke to Kate, who told Anvil, “I really shouldn’t have worn this.”

“Kate was talking to my daughter about clothes and how she was feeling too hot,” Rachel’s mother Karen Anvil told Metro at the time, adding, “I’m there talking to Charlotte about dolls and my daughter’s talking about fashion with Kate.”

“It wasn’t fake — it was a genuine discussion,” Karen continued. “It was about a minute, but it was tailored to my daughter. It was like speaking to a friend.”

Related: Princess Charlotte Shows Off Her Picture-Perfect Curtsy to the Queen on Christmas

That year, Charlotte dipped into a perfect curtsy for her great-grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, and Karen said of both George and Charlotte, per Harper’s Bazaar, “You can tell they were raised well. They’re not stuffy, they’re not uptight.”

“They’ve got fantastic parents,” she added of William and Kate. “Their parents have been all about talking to the public and they are very empathetic.”

Prince Louis, who was under 2 years old at the time, wasn’t there for this Christmas walk; he would make his debut in 2022 at 4 years old. (For comparison’s sake, Prince William and Prince Harry each made their Sandringham Christmas walk debuts at 5 years old.)

A woman who gave Charlotte a doll told Sky News that “She came over with her mom. She liked the doll. Her manners are outstanding — but she’s cheeky. She wasn’t at all scared.”

The same woman also spoke of George, saying his manners were also “perfect.”

The Wales family of five are already out at their country home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk, and are expected to all take part in the Dec. 25 walk to St. Mary Magdalene. 

Of Kate’s appearance in particular, “It’s going to be such a huge moment because the last time we saw her, before we knew anything about her health issues, was last Christmas," Bethan Holt, fashion director at The Telegraph, told PEOPLE. "It’s almost going to be like a bookend moment on a very difficult time."

Holt said she hoped the Princess of Wales would wear “something bright and celebratory” and hoped she’d wear “Something jolly, maybe something with a vintage vibe” — specifically mentioning “a tartan coat or in a really bright color.”

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!

“Seeing the royals on Christmas Day is synonymous with a really classic British Christmas, and it simply wouldn’t feel like Christmas Day without it,” Holt said, adding “Just seeing those interactions as they walk, the cousins all together and seeing the cheeky things they might be getting up to, there’s a real sense of them as a unit.

“It’s a glimpse into what they are like behind the scenes as a family,” she said. “It’s a big moment for them in their year.”