Fashion experts reveal their favourite royal looks of the year

JANUARY: Meghan Markle, 38, wowed when she stepped away from her usual monochrome for a bold red and purple ensemble when visiting Birkenhead, in January. She stunned in a £1,085 coat from Canadian designer Sentaler which she paired with a frock from Babaton by Aritizia. Eagle-eyed royal fans at the time, pointed out that the colour palette was one favoured by her late mother-in-law, Diana, Princess of Wales. Stylist Susie Hasler commented: ‘The purple and red clash demonstrates her confidence and personality and works well for her warm colouring’

FEBRUARY: The Duchess of Cambridge, 37, looked every inch a movie star in a white one-shouldered Alexander McQueen gown when she joined William at the Bafta film awards in February 2019. Fashion blogger Elizabeth Vollman picked the red carpet outing as one of Kate’s best looks, saying: ‘Kate looked like a Greek goddess’

MARCH: The Duchess’s departure from her go-to day dresses in favour of a lilac £790 Gucci bow blouse – worn back to front – and high-waisted wide-leg trousers was also a hit. She wore the outfit for a visit to the Henry Fawcett Centre in March. Charlotte Crawley of @HRHDuchessKate selected the purple Gucci pussybow blouse as her favourite Kate look of the year. She said: ‘Kate added her own stamp to the blouse by wearing it with the buttons to the front … It was a very fresh but professional look for her’

APRIL: The Duchess of Cornwall turned heads in April when attending the 2019 Olivier Awards. Looking incredibly regal, Camilla stunned in a simple, navy pleated gown, which she paired with a sparkling diamond necklace. Stylist Susie Hasler, who adored the jaw-dropping gown, said: ‘It was modest, sophisticated and she looked a million dollars. The diamonds added the royal touch, as did her clutch bag and her hair was unfussy, in her trademark bouncy blow dry. The diamonds and dress did all the talking on this occasion.’

MAY: Meghan Markle’s white trench dress from Grace Wales Bonner for her first appearance with her newborn son was also a favourite with stylists. Christine Ross described it as Meghan’s winning fashion moment. ‘Women all around the world rejoiced seeing the Duchess of Sussex looking so normal, healthy, and beautiful in a Grace Wales Bonner dress that accentuated her three-day postpartum body,’ she claimed. ‘The creamy neutral shade of the dress popped against the dramatic Windsor Castle backdrop and co-ordinated with Archie’s knitted blanket and hat’

JUNE: The Queen’s lemon and white embroidered coat was also highlighted as a stand out look this year. Her Majesty, 93, donned the vibrant scalloped jacket when inspecting the Guard of Honour in Edinburgh on June 28, this year. Ms Crawley described it as a stand-out look, teamed with a ‘summery floral hat and beautiful jewellery including Queen Victoria’s Bow Brooch and her three stand pearl necklace’

JULY: Meghan stunned in a £3,454 black gown, by Taiwanese-Canadian designer Jason Wu, when attending the European Premiere of Disney’s The Lion King on July 14, 2019 in London, with her husband Prince Harry. Stylist Susie said: ‘We have seen Meghan’s style evolve this year – she seems to have worked out what really suits her. Her style is crisp, tailored and classic, with a hint of Audrey Hepburn’s timeless Old Hollywood glamour. The Duchess chooses clean lines, minimal fuss, minimal prints and patterns, and opts for neutral colours most of the time, such as camel, navy and black.’

AUGUST: Sporting a splash of vibrant colour, the Queen showcased her stylish prowess when in Balmoral in August. Wearing a sky blue jacket with statement black buttons and a tailored skirt, the royal paired her coordinated outfit with a matching hat adorned with a floral embellishment. Picking this as one of her favourite outfits, stylist Susie Hasler said: ‘The Queen is reliable in her outfit choices – she’s is always elegant and understated, but never boring. She uses colour to her advantage and like Mary Berry, she suits bright, cheerful hues that compliment her skintone and seem to make her smile even more radiant. The Queen always wears gloves and I love how she’s matched them to the black detailing in her outfit. It’s a perfectly coordinated outfit as always. She is a true style icon with her use of bright colours.’

SEPTEMBER: Kate stepped out in a floral dress by high street American brand Michael Kors when she accompanied her daughter Princess Charlotte on her first day at Thomas’s Battersea school. Royal fashion commentator Christine Ross chose this as one of Kate’s best ensemble of the year. ‘This look really showcased how masterful Kate is when choosing an outfit for an iconic photograph,’ she revealed. ‘Kate’s bold floral dress, in red, blue, and pink, expertly co-ordinated with George and Charlotte’s navy and red school uniforms.’ She added: ‘Although most mums don’t wear heels and a dress on the school run, they still felt a connection with the future Queen taking part in a very normal parent experience.’

OCTOBER: Kate’s Pakistan tour wardrobe was also a hit with royal commentators, with Elizabeth describing it as ‘beautiful’. The duchess was the epitome of royal elegance in an ombre aqua shalwar kameez as she arrived for her royal tour of Pakistan. The duchess’s bespoke outfit by Catherine Walker – one of Diana, Princess of Wales’s favourite designers – was fashioned with a drape which extended to the back. Elizabeth Vollman described it as ‘beautiful’, saying it reflected the culture of the host nation with a western twist

OCTOBER: The Duchess of Sussex wowed in a v-neck Joseph sweater, burgundy leather Hugo Boss skirt and Sarah Flint heels at a round table discussion on gender equality at Windsor Castle in October. Ms Crawley, who also writes the @MadAboutMeghan blog, said it was her favourite Meghan look. ‘The combination of the ruby and garnet shades made for an effortlessly chic combination.’ She added: ‘We often see the Duchess select neutral shades – the pop of colour worked beautifully’

NOVEMBER: The Duchess of Cornwall won praise when she donned a smart navy Anna Valentine jumpsuit in New Zealand in November. Ms Crawley said: ‘The Duchess of Cornwall looked smashing in a navy jumpsuit by one of her favourite designers… It was a lovely evening option, I particularly liked the sleeve detailing’

DECEMBER: Kate wore a £1,455 designer dress when she joined Prince William and Mary Berry to bake roulades for BBC TV special A Berry Royal Christmas. The eye-catching red midi was by Alessandra Rich, a designer loved both by Kate and her younger sister Pippa, 36. Admiring Kate’s choice, Susie Hasler said: ‘The Duchess of Cambridge is the one royal personality that we’ve really seen blossom this year. She somehow seems more comfortable and at ease in her public engagements. It’s great to see her experimenting with bolder prints and patterns. She dresses impeccably for her shape and while she is bold with her prints and patterns, she always ensures they’re small enough to not overwhelm her slight frame.’