The neckline Kate Middleton sported in the royal portraits was markedly different from the one that fans could barely make out beneath her flowing coronation robe. Posing amongst her family members on the red steps at Buckingham Palace, the Princess of Wales's dress clearly had a deep-V neck. Its graceful edges were highlighted with a glittering, embroidered floral motif consisting of a thistle, daffodil, rose, and shamrock to represent the four British nations. 

Neatly within the lowered neckline sat Queen Elizabeth II's George VI Festoon Necklace. Such details were hard to overlook, especially when the dress spotted under her robe had a much higher, collarbone grazing neckline. It didn't take long for social media to become awash with speculative theories. The most obvious was that, although the gowns appeared similar, Middleton actually wore two different dresses to King Charles III's coronation.

In the more far-fetched camps, certain individuals believed she may have worn the McQueen gown backward to the event. But the truth is likely far from this fashion faux pas. Alastair Bruce, a commentator for Sky News, speculated on Twitter that the neckline switcheroo was due to sensibility. He explained that Kate likely wore a "temporary cape" with her gown to keep its fine embroidery safe from the heavy mantle and chains that decorated her robe.