Strathberry Designer Shares Why Their 'Versatile' Clutch Has Become Kate Middleton's Go-To Purse
Strathberry Designer Shares Why Their 'Versatile' Clutch Has Become Kate Middleton's Go-To Purse
Monique JessenFri, June 12, 2026 at 1:52 PM UTC
0
Kate Middleton at the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2026Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty -
Kate Middleton has favored Strathberry's Multrees Chain Wallet since 2020 for its chic design and practical size
The Scottish brand gained global recognition after Meghan Markle carried their tote at her first royal engagement in 2017
Strathberry is on track to surpass $67 million in annual revenue while maintaining its commitment to handcrafted quality
When it comes to accessories, Kate Middleton likes to keep things simple but chic.
That's why her favorite clutch bag has been on repeat for half a decade and shows no sign of gathering dust any time soon.
Since Kate, now 44, stepped out during a tour of Scotland in 2020 carrying Strathberry's elegant Multrees Chain Wallet in croc-embossed navy leather, it's become her go-to clutch bag for formal events — and for good reason.
"She does love that clutch. I think it's because of the shape and size, which is probably spot on for what she needs," Leeanne Hundleby, co-founder of Strathberry, tells PEOPLE from the Edinburgh townhouse that serves as the head office and atelier of the growing accessories brand.
Kate Middleton at the Commonwealth Day Service on March 9, 2026Credit: Karwai Tang/WireImage
"It's a bag that sells really well for us because of the size; you get your phone, a lipstick, a key — and it's a versatile style that takes you from day to evening." It also has eight card slots and can be styled as a crossbody bag with the chain or without, as a clutch, which is always the Princess of Wales' preference.
Princess Kate has carried the minimalist design at multiple Garter Days at Windsor Castle, Trooping the Colour in 2022, and most recently, at the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in March earlier this year.
Named after their flagship store in Edinburgh, the $445 bag comes in six colors and features the brand's signature gold "music bar" hardware, which the designer explains was inspired by vintage leather music folios used to carry sheet music.
The Strathberry Maltrees bag in navyCredit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty
"When we made our first tote, which became our hero style, we used that very same bar closure. We just loved it, and we got amazing feedback from our customers who loved the functionality of it. So we put it on our next design and again people loved it, so now we have it on virtually every design," says Hundleby, who co-founded the brand in 2013 with her husband, Guy, after a trip to Spain, where meeting local craftspeople inspired them to start their own handbag line.
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!
Advertisement
Beloved by royals — Zara Tindall and Princess Beatrice are also fans — and celebrities, the brand had to readjust its business model considerably when Prince Harry's then-new fiancée Meghan Markle stepped out in Nottingham in 2017 at her first-ever official royal engagement, carrying a Strathberry burgundy tote bag.
Meghan Markle carrying Strathberry in Nottingham on December 1. 2017Credit: Jeremy Selwyn - WPA Pool/Getty
"There was so much publicity around them as a couple, we were sort of blown away," the designer says. "Suddenly, the phones were ringing, the website was buzzing and we had more visitors than there had ever been. The product sold immediately that day, it was just totally phenomenal to be honest."
The Midi Tote bag famously sold out in just 11 minutes, sending traffic to the brand soaring with 3,000 signing up for pre-orders. It was a moment that catapulted the brand onto a global stage overnight, and with that came certain challenges.
"The biggest issue for us was turning that around because everything is handcrafted in Spain. We would never have wanted to speed anything up because we wanted every single one of those customers to get the same experience, with the same amazing quality and attention to detail," recalls the brand owner, who lives with her family in Edinburgh.
Leeanne Hundleby in 2019Credit: Darren Gerrish/WireImage for Collagerie
There's no doubt the "royal effect" has contributed to the company's success. The brand is on track to reach over $67 million in annual revenue this year, with the aim of doubling that by 2029.
"It's exciting and exhilarating. We've got a really tight plan, and our branding is getting stronger and stronger," says Hundleby.
Central to that vision is a commitment to celebrating the brand's Scottish roots while cultivating a loyal international following.
"It's about keeping a steady head and making rational, constructive decisions," she says. "Everything has to be built in a way that's sustainable for the future."
As for whether Strathberry's future might include a royal warrant, now that the Princess of Wales has been given the power to grant her own, "It's one of those things that you probably don't want to get your hopes up about," says the designer with a beaming smile. "But suffice to say, it would be utterly amazing, and we would absolutely love it!"
on People
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
