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The Princess of Wales’s strong, structured shoulder pads at the Commonwealth Day service served as a ‘secret style weapon’ to show the Royal Family’s ‘stability’ as it faces scrutiny in the aftermath of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest, a stylist has said.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, fashion expert Lisa Talbot shared how Kate was ‘power dressing’ at Westminster Abbey, to project an image of confidence with her cobalt blue Catherine Walker coatdress.
The royal, she explained, ‘understands the subtle power of clothing’, as she made the sartorial statement while leading the largest gathering of senior royals since the disgraced former duke was detained by officers last month.
‘The return of the structured shoulder is a very clever style signal,’ Lisa continued. ‘Shoulder pads have long been associated with authority and presence, they visually broaden the frame, strengthen the silhouette and create a sense of composure and control.’
They also add structure through the shoulders, which the stylist said makes the look ‘instantly feel more commanding and confident, which is why we’ve historically seen this shape used by women in leadership roles’.
‘It sends a message of strength without needing to say a word,’ she added. ‘For the Princess of Wales, this kind of tailoring works almost like a secret style weapon.
‘At a moment when the Royal Family is under scrutiny and navigating difficult headlines, the strong shoulder creates an image of stability and reassurance.
‘It’s polished, purposeful and incredibly modern, projecting confidence while remaining elegant and respectful to the occasion.’
It’s not the first time Kate has shown her fondness for shoulder pads and the powerful silhouettes they create.
The Princess of Wales’s strong, structured look at the Commonwealth Day service was a prime example of ‘power dressing’, historically favoured by women in leadership roles
A recent appearances at a Six Nations rugby union match, and a trip to Wales, have shown her embracing the look.
Last year, the Princess marked her return to public life with the wardrobe staple, opting for strong, structured shoulders for her visit to Southport in October 2024 – her first official public engagement since finishing chemotherapy. Likewise, she donned the bold silhouette at the 2025 St Patrick’s Day parade, significantly marking her return to the event as Colonel after missing it the previous year.
The future Queen seemed to ditch flowing midi dresses in favour of sharper, more structured ensembles.
On Monday, Kate, 44, joined her husband, Prince William, and other members of the Royal Family at Westminster Abbey.
Her blue collared gown, which accentuated her silhouette and featured a pleated skirt, was teamed with a sophisticated felt Sean Barrett hat, which she wore for the 2023 event as well.
She also appeared to be re-wearing her beloved Gianvito Rossi pumps in Navy Suede, currently retailing online for £650.
The mother-of-three carried a £295 bag from Strathberry, and around her neck opted for a stunning vintage faux pearl necklace from luxury jeweller Susan Caplan, a piece she has often reached for in recent months.
Susan is globally revered in the world of jewellery, and the 80s vintage design donned by the Princess will be ‘back in stock soon’, according to the site.
The piece is listed for £275 and is described as a ‘rhodium plated five row pearl strand necklace’.
The description added that it ‘features luminous faux pearls in graduating sizes’ and ‘closes with an embellished Swarovski crystal clasp, weighted extension chain and hook’.
And in a sweet homage to the late Queen Elizabeth II, Kate wore a stunning pair of Bahrain pearl drop earrings that once belonged to the monarch, and had been in the royals’ collection for decades.
When Princess Elizabeth married Philip Mountbatten in 1947, she was gifted a treasure trove of jewels – among these was a set of seven pearls, presented in a shell by the Hakim of Bahrain.
Two of these Bahraini pearls were later fashioned into a new pair of earrings.
A recent trip to Wales also saw Princess Catherine embrace sharper ensembles instead of flowing dresses
It is not the first time Kate has shown her fondness for shoulder pads and the powerful silhouettes they create. (Pictured last month at a Six Nations rugby union match)
The earrings feature round diamond studs, from which hang round and baguette-cut diamonds arranged in a style typical of the late 1940s.
In the early years of her marriage, Princess Elizabeth frequently wore the earrings for gala events and official portraits. But as her jewellery collection grew, the earrings were seen in public less often.
In 1982, Queen Elizabeth lent them to Diana, Princess of Wales, who teamed them with the Lover’s Knot tiara for a banquet at Hampton Court Palace during a state visit from Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus of the Netherlands.
In October 2012, the Queen loaned the earrings to Sophie, then the Countess of Wessex, who wore them for a performance by the Massed Bands and The Band And Bugles Of The Rifles at the Royal Albert Hall.
However, since debuting the earrings on Remembrance Sunday in 2016, Kate has been the exclusive wearer of them.
For the event, the Princess kept her make-up simple with smokey eyeshadow and coral lipstick, styling her hair in relaxed waves.
Kate and William – along with the King and Queen – led the largest gathering of senior royals since the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, marking Commonwealth Day at Westminster Abbey.
They were joined by Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer also took time away from the Iran crisis to join dignitaries from around the world, as well as celebrities, in central London this afternoon, including Prince Albert of Monaco, Geri Halliwell-Horner and her husband Christian.
King Charles and Queen Camilla were the last guests to arrive after William and Kate, who were welcomed at the Abbey door by Dr David Hoyle, Dean of Westminster.
Charles’s annual address to the family of nations was included in a special booklet given to the congregation.
He said in his message: ‘Working together, we can ensure that the Commonwealth continues to stand as a force for good…’
The King praised the ‘precious’ Commonwealth, describing it as a forum for ‘honest discussion’ aimed at improving the lives of billions in an ‘increasingly fragmented’ world.
Charles has also used his Commonwealth Day message to highlight how the institution has ‘untapped potential for prosperous trade between trusting partners’.
His Majesty’s words to the 56 member states of the family of nations were released ahead of Monday’s Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.
The King, head of the Commonwealth, said in his written message: ‘In a world that can feel increasingly fragmented, this voluntary union of free association remains rare and precious – a forum for open and honest discussion and debate to help improve the lives of the nearly three billion people who call our member states home.’
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and senior members of his Cabinet attended, alongside High Commissioners, young people and leading voices from the creative community.
Spice Girl Geri Halliwell-Horner, an ambassador for the Royal Commonwealth Society which stages the event, gave an address. There was also a reflection from former Strictly Come Dancing judge Oti Mabuse and a poem from Selina Tusitala Marsh, the inaugural Commonwealth Poet Laureate.
Charles also remarked in his message: ‘Our Commonwealth of Nations holds untapped potential for prosperous trade between trusting partners. With nearly two-thirds of our population under the age of 30, we are a family defined by youth and possibility.
‘It is our shared responsibility to ensure that they inherit not only hope and ambition, but also a world in which they can flourish.
‘That inheritance depends upon the health of our planet and on the restoration of the natural world on which we depend. Across so many parts of our Commonwealth climate change is not an abstract or distant threat, but a lived reality.
‘The stewardship of nature, the protection of oceans and forests, and the pursuit of prosperity secured in harmony with the natural world are duties we owe not only to one another, but to generations yet unborn.’
The service featured artistic moments, including the world premiere of the Commonwealth Symphony, composed by Rekesh Chauhan, and a bespoke dance collaboration between the Royal Ballet School and Sapnay Entertainments – uniting classical ballet and Bollywood in an expression of cross-cultural partnership.
Other performers include a Scottish ceilidh band, the Melodians Steel Orchestra and further special reflections and readings from guests.
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