Royal Style: Spring Forward! Bling Forward, too..

[Maireas]

Welcome to style mavens old and new to continue our chats.
Hopefully more bling if there's another banquet on the horizon?

Yes, it's all a bit much, but very Dolce e Gabbana. She's a very attractive woman.

https://www.tatler.com/article/lady-helen-taylor-makes-first-public-outing-of-2026-as-she-reunites-with-sophie-duchess-of-edinburgh
Here's Lady Helen Taylor with Sophie at an event.

Lady Helen always looks elegant, and this outfit is no exception. I really love Sophie's dress here. It's a departure for her, but the cut, style and colour are all very flattering.

Sigh .. Lady Helen really invented the term “effortlessly stylish” didnt she? I mean I could wear that exact same outfit and I’d look like a bag lady.

They could pass for sisters in those photos IMO

She did! I've honestly never seen Helen look bad. Both women look great here, the outfits complement each other as well!

Lady Helen is stylish.
As was her Mum but Helen is more understated.
Unlike Lady Kitty’s dress 😀
It’s wearing her, methinks.
It takes from her beauty.
You’re looking at the dress.

Yes, she's got a deal with D&G hasn't she? She always wears their designs, including her wedding dress.

Yes, Lady Helen is stylish, her mother was more regal somehow, but she was a working royal for much of her life.

I just love Princess Anne for wearing the coat she had in 1969 to the state banquet. 1969!!
And it looked great.
Actually my own favourite item of clothing from my whole life is a coat I got in 1969. But I don’t have it any more. I wonder if Anne stores all these previously worn garments in her own home or if there’s a storage area in Buckingham Palace for royal family clothes that might come in handy for future occasions.

Buckingham Palace seemed to be full of mildew and moth. They must have a proper wardrobe facility somewhere? Imagine lots of hatboxes clearly labelled and shoeboxes with photos on .

I think it's all kept in storage, climate controlled.

According to Justine Picardie's new book, which is excellent(Fashioning the Crown) QEII's clothes are stored at Windsor and are being archived into the Royal Collection.

I wondered the other day when we would start seeing her collections when it was no longer raw for the family.

I wonder if the late queen had to threaten Anne with all her old clothes being taken to the charity shop. Along with ancient school projects and Easter egg mugs.

There are around 200 items of QEIIs clothing at this exhibition in the summer. But yes, I'd love to see the storage facility, how it's all organised, the logistics of moving clothes in and out when needed, packing for tours, and the Green Coat Spreadsheet (because there must be one!)

www.rct.uk/collection/exhibitions/queen-elizabeth-ii-her-life-in-style/the-kings-gallery-buckingham-palace

I wonder if they are all in the same massive storage place or do they keep a few around the place. If there was a flood and they were all centralised that would be a disaster.
Sophie must have some space. Her place is massive.
I also wonder if people like Bono who have various houses around the world buy multiple dressing gowns etc all the same. And they must leave toothbrushes in all the houses. Logistical nightmare!

Speaking of hatboxes, Kate will need a big one for the statement hat she wore today for the installation of the new Archbishop of Canterbury!

A Prince of Wales check coat (I see what you did there!) with contrast binding and a statement hat - it’s a bit more dramatic than her normal choices, and I like it!

I like it too😀

The hat looks great! Very elegant outfit. Those shoes though, on slippery stone...

Love the hat!! , it’s giving me “my fair lady “ vibes!

Very nice outfit for Kate. Love the hat. Here it would have taken off today in the gusts. I do 💕 a check

Oh that's lovely on Kate, I love a brimmed hat 👒.

With her hair up, is it possible that Kate had a couple of hats pins in place to ensure the lovely hat did not go flying off?

I loved the coat as well. I was even pleased that William and Kate were not 'matching' . (Him wearing a tie the same colour as her coat has it's place, just not a formal church service).

Kate is soooo elegant there.
Who is the other lady in wine ? I like her “barely black” tights. Sometimes “barely black” can be a bit off.