Today is special. Royally special, one might say. You know why? That’s right: Today is a royal birthday. Kate Middleton—er, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge—turns 30 today. Happy birthday, Kate! You have not only successfully survived three decades on this crazy planet we call Earth, but even better, you’ve managed to become a member of a royal family. And, it seems, you did not do so for fame or glory—you did it because you’re ridiculously in love, and you’re taking the whole thing in stride. Good for you!

And if that wasn’t enough, while you’ve been at it, you’ve also become major style icon. So in honor of your birthday, we’ve assembled our favorite looks of yours from 2011. We hope you celebrate in style!

1. The Wedding Dress

Of course this one would be on the list. Kate looked stunning in her now-famous Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen gown, a satin and lace confection with a fitted bodice, full skirt, and extra-long train. Wedding dresses with long sleeves can be a little bit of a risk—when they go wrong, they go really, really wrong—but this? This is how it’s done. It’s also a nice nod to Grace Kelly’s fabulous 1956 wedding gown. A dress fit for a princess, indeed!

2. The Reception Outfit

Kate swapped out the long, elegant wedding dress for an equally elegant, though somewhat more manageable, dress for her and William’s wedding reception at Buckingham palace. With a jeweled waist belt and a fuzzy crop jacket to cover her shoulders, she still looks every inch the princess. (And yes, I realize she’s not actually a princess, but work with me, here.)

3. Lady in Red

Duchess Catherine is usually noted for her fabulous hats and fascinators, but she’s also got quite an eye for coats—like this one here. When she and William visited their alma mater, Saint Andrews, she donned a lovely peplum jacket and skirt combo by Luisa Spagnoli in a gorgeous shade of red. She tied the look together by using the jacket’s black buttons and belt as a bouncing off point, layering a black turtleneck, tights, boots, and gloves.

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4. Royal Blue

We already knew that royal blue was a great color for her—how about that engagement dress?—but just in case we had forgotten, Kate donned this little beauty to remind us during her and William’s North American tour this summer. The fitted Erdem dress has a lovely 3/4 length sleeve, and its color matches her sapphire engagement ring. Gorgeous!

5. O Canada!

As luck would have it, William and Kate were in Canada for Canada Day, and Kate definitely dressed for the occasion. Here, she pulled off another of those white dresses she does so well, this one by Reiss, and topped it off with a red fascinator—making herself into a subtle but stylish Canadian flag. The maple leaves on the fascinator are a nice touch.

6. Casual Friday

Even dressed down, Duchess Catherine looks nicely pulled together. During her North American tour, she coupled her J Brand jeans with a ruffled, ladylike blouse and layered a navy blazer by Smythe, a Canadian label, on top. Cool, casual, and chic!

More of Kate's best looks, including our favorite formal gown of the year, up next!