Speculation has been stirring for the last several months over what we could expect from King Charles III’s coronation. Almost exactly 70 years after the last spectacular event inside Westminster Abbey, we finally found out what a modern coronation would look and feel like and, most importantly for many spectators, what fashion would be worn. Historically, a coronation is considered a white-tie event, the most formal of all. Gowns, tiaras, robes, coronets and expensive jewels! In 2023, the modus operandi was day dress and hats apart from a select few, including HRH Catherine, the Princess of Wales.

It’s fair to say that since coming onto the royal scene roughly 20 years ago, Kate Middleton as she was once known has become somewhat of a style icon. With the power of the so-called ‘duchess effect’, the now princess is worth a monumental £1 billion to the fashion industry. Thus, all eyes were inevitably going to be on what she would choose to wear to the most important royal event since her 2011 wedding.

A first glimpse at the custom Alexander McQueen gown

As we can always anticipate from Catherine’s formal ensembles, her outfit was overflowing with symbolism. Catherine has often relied on Alexander McQueen and the artistry of creative director Sarah Burton as a sartorial fairy godmother. Having chosen Burton to design her world-famous wedding dress that featured a 9-foot-long silk satin train, delicate lace and intricate embroidery, it was a touching nod to choose the designer for this new project. The new coronation gown features elegant embroidery with silver bullion and threadwork featuring roses, thistles, daffodils and shamrocks. To further solidify the Princess’s relationship with Burton, she also commissioned the English fashion designer to create Princess Charlotte’s utterly adorable matching cape dress.

Conventionally, a British coronation is considered a tiara event with all those who happen to own one encourage to don one. In 2023, during a cost of living crisis, the sight of hundreds of people in dazzling tiaras is perhaps an unfortunate one. Understanding how out of touch this would seem, tiaras were thrown away for working members of the royal family. However, this doesn’t mean there cannot be a fabulous head-based moment! In a touching acknowledgement of The Prince’s Trust (founded by King Charles in 1976), Catherine employed milliner Jess Collett to design and create, alongside Alexander McQueen, a silver bullion, crystal and silver thread work three-dimensional leaf embroidery headpiece. Alongside this, a smaller version was created for Princess Charlotte. Jess Collett founded her business using a grant from the Prince’s Trust!

Floral headpiece by Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen

This isn’t where the symbolism ends for Catherine’s headgear. The use of floral details is a tribute to King Charle’s well-known affinity for nature and our climate. Furthermore, similarities can be seen between Catherine’s non-tiara tiara and the wonderful headpieces worn by Queen Elizabeth’s Maids of Honour to her coronation in 1953. Perhaps a moment to remember the late Queen and the two-decade-long relationship Catherine had with her.

Having never been seen wearing them in public before, many did not expect to see the Princess wearing robes! However, with King Charles deciding that working royals should wear robes to the event, Catherine arrived at the event in those of the Royal Victorian Order. Having been made a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (one of the highest orders of knighthood, established by Queen Victoria in 1896) by Queen Elizabeth in 2019, Catherine is entitled to wear the royal blue Grand Cross Mantles of the RVO. Catherine has, however, been seen on prior occasions wearing the order’s blue ribbon as well as the Maltese Cross badge.

In terms of jewellery, Catherine chose to wear a pair of pearl and diamond earrings that once belonged to the late Princess Diana. Catherine has worn these multiple times before! In the official press release, Buckingham Palace suggested that Catherine was also wearing Queen Elizabeth’s George VI festoon necklace, a glittering three-stand diamond piece commissioned in 1950, however, it is not visible in any images at the time of writing. It is possible the Princess chose to remove the piece at the last minute.