From Princess Diana to Kate Middleton, the British Royal Family’s Christmas Looks
LONDON — Christmas is a frenetically busy time for the British royal family, and it’s always a fashionable affair.
While most families might spend the day in their cozy clothing, the royals are often wrapped up in pearls, posh coats and statement hats. Below, WWD takes a look at the British royal family’s most memorable Christmas looks.
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Queen Elizabeth II, 1957
Queen Elizabeth II made a style statement in 1957 when she delivered the British royal family’s first televised Christmas message. Sitting in the Long Library of her Sandringham estate, the queen wore a metallic gown, black heels and pearls to deliver her live address to the nation. The televised address by the monarch is a Christmas Day staple in Britain. It usually starts at 3 p.m. and lasts for around 10 minutes, with the British newspapers parsing every single word the monarch has to say.
Princess Diana, 1991
The flamboyant turquoise and green skirt suit that Princess Diana wore in 1991 was a radical departure from the family’s typically understated holiday wear. Diana wore the arresting outfit a few months before the May 1992 release of Andrew Morton’s bombshell book “Diana: Her True Story.”
The tell-all book — which was secretly written with Princess Diana’s help (although no one knew that at the time) — revealed her tumultuous marriage and mental health struggles. Diana told Morton that the Christmas was “highly fraught” and marked by “lots of tension.” The couple officially separated a year later, in December 1992.
King Charles, Prince William, and Prince Harry, 1997
The princes’ first Christmas since Princess Diana’s death in August was at Sandringham Church in 1997. Accompanied by their father, King Charles, the boys were dressed similarly in dark coats and patterned ties. In her annual Christmas address, Queen Elizabeth honored Princess Diana, and also talked about her and Prince Philip’s golden wedding anniversary.
Queen Consort Camilla Parker Bowles, 2005
In 2005, Camilla Parker Bowles made her first appearance at the family’s Christmas outing after marrying Prince Charles earlier that year. She opted for a cheery blue ensemble, a jaunty hat festooned with a flower and a Chanel bag slung over one shoulder.
Queen Elizabeth II, 2010
Queen Elizabeth II wore a cream look to attend Christmas Day services with the British royal family at Sandringham in 2010. She accessorized her plaid coat with fur cuffs and a matching hat. Prince Phillip offset his wife’s light, bright outfit wearing a deep green coat.
Prince William and Kate Middleton, 2013
Prince William and Kate Middleton joined the royal family at Sandringham in 2013. It was Middleton’s third Christmas as a royal, and by then she had defined her staple silhouette of structured shoulders, body-hugging bodices and cinched waists. Here, she’s wearing an Alexander McQueen tartan coat dress. McQueen would become her go-to designer label after Sarah Burton, then creative director of the brand, designed her wedding gown.
Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, 2018
Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle walked alongside each other to the Christmas Day service at Sandringham in 2018. Middleton wore a festive red look while Markle opted for a navy ensemble. It was Markle’s second and final Christmas with the royal family. The Sussexes celebrated Christmas privately in 2019, and then stepped down as senior royals in January 2020.
Queen Elizabeth II, 2019
Queen Elizabeth II delivered her annual Christmas message in 2019 wearing a Yves Klein blue dress and the three-strand pearl necklace given to her by her father, King George VI. Spectators were quick to notice that among the family photos on her desk — which she has every year — no photos of Prince Harry, Meghan Markle or their newborn son Archie were on display.
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