Talk about step into Christmas and let’s join together! To attend church at Sandringham yesterday morning, the Princess of Wales continued the ‘literal dressing’ that has characterised her wardrobe of late – that is, adopting sartorial codes to reflect an event’s theme.
For the traditional Christmas Day service, this came in the form of Kate’s colour choice: a perfectly yuletide forest green with a flash of equally festive tartan.
Her long coat-dress was made bespoke by her favourite designer, Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, whom the Princess has called upon for all the most important events of her life, namely her wedding day.
Kate, 42, first wore it last year at the launch of a Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood campaign in Leeds.
Yesterday, she teamed it with another long-time staple of her wardrobe, a Gina Foster hat which she wore to the very same service at Sandringham in 2013.
Indeed, she has made a habit lately of rewearing older items, demonstrating she knows that the most stylish move in 2024 is to wear clothes repeatedly. Her bag, by London designer Grace Han, comes in at £2,370 – but Kate has certainly invested in this wisely, using it innumerable times.
The only new items? Her topaz, gold and diamond earrings (£5,995) by London jeweller Robinson Pelham – the same jeweller who made her wedding earrings – and her tartan scarf to update her old coat-dress. It was another typically Kate move: harnessing the power of clever accessorising.
For the traditional Christmas Day service, this came in the form of Kate’s colour choice: a perfectly yuletide forest green with a flash of equally festive tartan
Her long coat-dress was made bespoke by her favourite designer, Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen
Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince George of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25
Prince Louis of Wales reacts as he carries gifts from wellwishers, after attending the Royal Family’s traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham
She accessorised to similar effect for her carol concert filmed earlier this month, adding a bow to update another old McQueen coat.
The Black Watch tartan scarf was also a deeply symbolic choice: the Black Watch has historical ties to bravery and resilience. It is also referred to as ‘government tartan’, which has been worn for more than 300 years and remains a emblem of honour and unity.
Kate also used the scarf to tie in with her children’s tartan ensembles – Charlotte’s coat and the ties worn by George and Louis.
There was an aesthetic unity between Kate and Camilla, too – the Queen opted for a similar green shade.
Together At Christmas was the name of Kate’s carol concert, broadcast on Christmas Eve. At the end of one of their hardest years, it seems the royals are spreading this message via their sartorial cohesion, too.