TORONTO — Prince William and his wife Kate saddled up in true Stampede style Thursday evening, swapping the formal attire worn for their Calgary arrival for white cowboy hats and denim.

Following a secluded retreat at Skoki Lodge near Lake Louise, Alta., the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge re-emerged publicly Thursday afternoon at Calgary International Airport. Kate stepped out in a demure, summery look, wearing a primrose silk crepe dress by Jenny Packham, while William donned a navy suit and tie.

The couple initially opted out of the city's time-honoured tradition -- the white-hatting ceremony -- when they arrived on the airport tarmac, with neither wearing the cowboy hats given to them by Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi.

Yet upon their arrival for a demonstration of Stampede rodeo events by stagecoach later in the day, they had made a wardrobe change with a westernized new look -- and the hats were on.

William and Kate both appeared in buttoned-down shirts and jeans. The duchess donned a feminine, printed white long-sleeved blouse from Alice Temperley, while the duke opted for a short-sleeved green and navy plaid print.

Kate's western look was a decided contrast from the demure, buttery yellow frock she was first seen in at the airport. The short-sleeved, collared dress adorned with buttons and soft pleating was a flirty, feminine design, which she accessorized with nude heels.

She wore another elegant Jenny Packham creation to attend the ARK gala in London last month, stepping out in a shimmering pearlescent rose sequin gown with Swarovski crystal beading.

The British designer, renowned for bridal wear and luxury eveningwear creations, counts the likes of Sandra Bullock and Beyonce among her A-list clientele.

The bright-hued, summery dress was a bit of a style departure for the duchess compared to some of her previous looks during the visit.

She has sported her share of more laidback, casual attire such as blouses and skinny jeans for recent outings. But by and large, the wardrobe has featured a succession of slim-fitting, conservative dresses in mostly dark or neutral hues with elbow-length or three-quarter length sleeves.

Kate has worn a pair of lace dresses designed by Montreal-born designer Erdem Moralioglu and a navy blazer from Toronto-based label Smythe.

But aside from homegrown labels Erdem and Smythe, she has remained fairly consistent in favouring primarily U.K. brands during her Canadian visit, which marks her first official trip abroad. The lone exception was in Yellowknife where the duchess donned a dress by Danish label By Malene Birger.

The royal couple will wind down their Canadian visit Friday before flying out to California.