On June 15, 2026, King Charles, Queen Camilla, the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Anne, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended the Order of the Garter service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle. The Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence watched the ceremony from the Galilee Porch.
For the occasion, the Princess of Wales wore a pale yellow coat dress by Patrick McDowell. In keeping with McDowell’s commitment to sustainable and local practices, the garment was made from bespoke English rose silk damask in collaboration with Britain’s oldest silk mill, Stephen Walters, in Sudbury. The Duchess of Edinburgh wore a new floral-print silk midi dress by Suzannah London.
King Charles, who is Sovereign of the Garter, is joined by the Queen and other Royal Knights and Ladies of the Order, as well as up to 24 Companions, who are personally chosen by the King in recognition of their contribution to national life or for personal service to the Sovereign. Notable figures taking part this year included former PM Tony Blair, former Conservative Party Chairman Lord Patten, and former diplomat Baroness Amos.
Duchess Sophie must have quite the collection of Suzannah tea dresses in her closet. This is similar style to all the others, just a different print. The hat does not match the dress. She needed a plain colored box hat. She also needed to take a few inches off the length. Duchess Sophie once named on the ‘best dressed list’ is far from those days.
ReplyDeleteCatherine - Sticking to her latest phase of coat dresses. I do like the style of the coat, it gives her athletic build a lovely shape. At first glance I was reminded of the Dior jacket that both Catherine and Queen Mary both have. I also like the wider brimmed hat. I would have preferred her hair neatly in a chignon, rather than it loose, especially at and outdoor event.
Lowri.
Yes she does love the Suzannah dresses! I think she looks really beautiful here and think the hat is perfection with the dress. The length is explained by her small frame and the dresses being constructed on long willowy forms, but it works for her little frame too. You can see when she’s standing next to Catherine how petite her proportions.
DeleteBelachelijke verkleedpartij.
ReplyDelete19:55 it’s tradition. It might not be to your taste, but I find it very interesting.
DeleteCould you comment in a language more people understand?? Dutch is not yet a worldwide spoken language as far as I know. Or is your comment too much nonsense so that it's better to hide it in a minority language??
DeleteCette robe va bien à Catherine car les poches lui donnent des hanches.
DeleteOnthoud u van commentaar en maak het niet belachelijk.
Delete9:43, this is a blog open to all. Let’s not be anti other languages, that’s not kind, and feels very insular. These days just highlight the text and either right click to translate or drop the text into a translator. It takes a second.
DeleteZegt wie…..staat het U niet aan scroll on en laat ons genieten.
DeleteCatherine looks sensational. I do love all these wide brim hats she wears lately.
ReplyDeleteYes, she does. Very elegant. Sophie isn't bad either but Catherine tops them all.
DeleteOh yes. In fact this is her signature style but now with a minimum change which gives her figure more volume. The volume is created by given the lower part slightly more flare at the bottom. And I think the length is just a bit shorter in comparence to the dresscoat she has worn at Trooping the Colour which makes the whole more vivid.
DeleteThe Duchess of Edinburgh's earrings are nice. I like her necklace. I wouldn't have paired those shoes with that dress. That dress. I never minded the POW's coat dresses, but this has been a long run of me not liking one. This one I like. I don't know what's going on with the pockets and I'm not going to worry about it too much. The hat is okay. She's wearing her wedding earrings. I miss the late Queen wearing one of her large brooches and bracelets.
ReplyDeletePoW earring wear worn on her wedding day
DeleteCatherine: really impeccable as she usually is. But: a bit of lightness? Prettiness? Her hat is beautiful and I would call it charming - and yes: this is what I miss in her strict and a bit gouvernante-like dress. - Sophie: her shoes seem to be adorned with black and it is a clear faux pas with this dress. The dress itself is too long, and less formal (and more garden-party-like) than I would think fitting for this outstanding ceremony. The hat is just that silly British lopsided collection of a multitude of things worn on the head. The one thing I like on her is her hairstyle.
ReplyDeleteWhy so many such critical comments? Both ladies look beautiful. They don’t need to e torn apart in detail. There is nothing silly, too long, nor “clear” faux pas. They are people, with feelings, preferences, responsibilities, doing a fine job, looking so lovely on this occasion. (Whst do you yourself wear as you type your criticism?).
DeleteYes I agree, so much prettiness and lightness here. Sophie and Catherine both looking absolutely lovely in their respective choices.
Delete@03:42 "Why so many such critical comments?" Because this here is a fashion blog for comments that go beyond "oh ah pretty and smiling". That's why. Feelings, preferences, doing a job: yes of course, you seem to think you have to educate us about that? Feelings, preferences etcetera are NOT topic here, among other things because it is not comme il faut to talk about the persons themselves. I always wonder why some commenters think that being critical about what people wear is critic about the person. It is not.
DeleteWhoa 10:20! What a strong response to that commenter’s quite reasonable comment. A fashion blog does not imply you can be mean. I’ve been on this blog for more than a decade, and commenters are getting meaner, and there is no excuse. You can still look and not comment or comment kindly.
DeleteAnon 10:20 I agree 100%. The comment by Anon 15/6 20:03 is in no way a personal attack on the royals in question -- like nearly all of the critical comments we see here on this blog. I am at a loss to understand how Anon 16/6 3:42 could read such a sentiment into that comment.
DeleteI do not necessarily agree with the views expressed in the 15/6 20:03 comment; but I find it interesting; and I would like to see equal respect and consideration shown towards the commenters on this blog who dare to disagree -- those who dare to say that they don't like an outfit -- equally with those who always like every outfit they see. Lyra
Very elegant for the PoW. Also like the DoE dress. Sadly, no more family members to show support. Cutting appearance for members of the family, I think takes something away from the glamour they should represent. OMO.
ReplyDeletecss
This is the ancient Garter ceremony when all the Garter knights process after the service. Those on the side are the spouses of the knights. Other royals eg Princess Anne and the Gloucesters are knights and in the ceremonial procession - it has never been an occasion for others.
DeleteCharles, Camilla, Anne, William and Edward were there next to Catherine and Sophie! They wore uniforms/traditional clothes.
DeletePic 4 shows how tiny Sophie is - and that describes why her hems on off the shelf clothes are long. She and Catherine look completely wonderful !
ReplyDeleteThe explanation is not that she is tiny, it is that she does not care or want to adapt it to her shorter-than-models-height. She is 1,65 cm. I am 1,63 cm and with trousers, I have to take the Short alternative, skirts need to be shortened.
Delete@20:10 yes I agree! She is relatively small and the longer hems look lovely on her. I do appreciate her style and choices very much, and wonder why she is the target of so much criticism here! Why do so many need her to raise her dress hems instead of accepting her valid style choice?!
DeleteI keep wondering if most of her clothes are borrowed from the designer as they are not altered to fit her height.
Delete19:25 that’s a fair thought. U wonder!
Delete* I (not “U” … typo!)
Delete@07:09: Answering why criticize - because the dresses were made for a specific height, in most cases that of the model - it is a question of proportions, this is what the design was made for. That's why it is not quite your "style choice" to wear it with any length. This has never been different, e.g. at the time of knee length skirts or mini skirts, women less tall would make it shorter instead of wearing it at any length as a "style choice". Design is also about proportions.
DeleteIt is wonderful to see Catherine smile, after all that he had to go through. She looks impeccable as usual. Elegant, classy, beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI noticed that beautiful open smile, too ...
DeleteCatherine looks elegant, and I like her hat with the bow on the back and the color of her outfit. The pockets on her coat dress look unusual the way they stick out; on anyone not as thin as she is, they would look terrible. I’m glad to see her wedding earrings again. I think this outfit would have benefited from a brooch.
ReplyDeleteSophie looks great. I like the pattern and colors of her dress. Lovely hat and shoes, as well as a pretty hairdo. I think I prefer her overall look over Catherine’s monochromatic look.
-Royal Watcher
Today the fashion winner is Sophie for me. She was elegant, youthful and polished in this beautiful dress. Catherine's outfit was a disappointment again, boring and maternal.
ReplyDeleteAgree with you 👍
DeleteG.
Of course Catherine is maternal, she is a mother to three. She is looking absolutely beautiful and classic as the occasion requires.
DeleteAgree. A brooch or necklace would add some interest to Catherine's outfit.
DeleteLove the looks of both the PoW & DoE here. POW: The yellow silk - an amazing backstory of the unique rose brocade- and cut of the coat dress pockets remind me of the Dior cut jacket. It is a very flattering and balancing look with such a wide hat and shoulders. Love the wedding earrings too. DoE: dress is a very flattering cut and beautiful print, also lovely jewels. Her hairstyle is gorgeous and looks great. Her hat picking up on the pink (even one using the greens or aqua) is so much better than the tans in the hat on the model’s pic. Not as crazy about the shoes. Everyone else in their Garter Robes look amazing, but something was off about the Queen’s hat compared to everyone else’s including the King’s. It was far too puffed up with the gold band easily visible. The PR (PA) in her sapphire and pearl earrings and the DoG (saw her pic elsewhere) are ageless and so regally beautiful. I cannot believe they are turning 76 and 80 respectively- I hope to look so well at those ages.
ReplyDelete-Glo
Yet another coat dress on Catherine - this style has become her uniform lately and so be it - but the protruding shape of the side pockets and the size of the buttons gives this model of the uniform a slightly different look which I welcome. The soft yellow colour is lovely and I love her large boater hat: so clean cut and sharp. Much better than those fussy, tilted saucers that she sometimes wears and that her 'aunt' seems to love. Lovely to see her smiling so much too.
ReplyDeleteAs for Sophie, this is actually a very pretty Susannah dress. I like the colours and the placement of the fabric patterns. The fit is lovely and Sophie wears it very well... until you get to the hem, which once again is too long. Just a few inches shorter and it would have been perfect. I'm not liking the hat at all. Something simpler to counter the pretty but busy fabric print would have been better.
- Anon 9:13
Sophie’s dress and hat are cheerful and nice, a winner here !
ReplyDeleteNo more comment on the other VIP boring style, she probably mirrors the late Queen same outfit in 1000 various shades …. But the late Queen was in her 90s, even Sophie has a better youthful and fresh look.
Entre Kate et Sophie, je ne peux pas vraiment dire vers laquelle va ma préférence car chacune a son propre style élégant ; j’aimerais voir plus souvent les boucles d’oreilles de Kate que ses parents lui ont offertes pour son mariage !
ReplyDeleteFaudra lui écrire pour qu'elle vous fasse le plaisir de les porter
DeleteI may sound harsh, but I dislike both outfits. Kate’s brocade coat dress with that weird pseudo peplum strictly at the pockets and very shiny texture is very odd. She keeps wearing the very high heels and the shape of her leg bones (as it would be expected) has changed and is much more curved. Many ladies here will disagree, I am aware. Just compare to photos from 15 years ago and you will see.
ReplyDeleteI find these big flower dresses Sophie favours to be less ideal for her body and height. Also the print makes them less elegant in my opinion.
Don't tell me please that you think Catherine is wearing high heels all day long every day, just because every time you see a photo she does wear one? Just think about how many hours in a week this makes. No, in a month. There may be weeks when she does not wear any.
Delete22:37 yes there will be an effect over time with a lot of very high shoe wearing. Certainly visible in feet; not sure about kegs. @7:10 that’s not what she said.
DeleteJust a gorgeous cream colour coat dress with those covered buttons…perfection for princess Catherine. It also appears she is wearing less eye makeup…much better as it makes her look fresher ie younger. She looks very scrubbed , an English rose in this presentation! I believe Sophie’s look is very good, the dress is light and the floral pattern subdued.
ReplyDeleteI find the formulaic dressing becoming less and less interesting. Wish we had more royals at these events so we could get some diversity of fashion!
ReplyDeleteNot coincidentally Catherine did say several years back that she doesn’t want fashion criticism and wants our eyes on her causes, so if you’re losing interest in her clothes, this is a success. As for me, I find her style to be very beautiful and I love to see what she turns up in for these official occasions. This pale yellow is absolutely delicious on her.
DeleteAnon 7:12 - I understand and appreciate her position. On the flip side, I used to follow other Kate only fashion blogs but I stopped several years ago because of the change in her fashion, so I’m no longer exposed to her work. (Note: I live in the US and royals are rarely covered here) I also don’t click on her events if she’s the only one covered on this blog for the same reason. She used to be one of my favorites in her earlier years as a royal and I miss those days. But I respect that she’s changed and I have too.
DeleteWhat on earth is Camilla wearing?
ReplyDeleteThe formal robes of the order. A little research would give you the answer and the history.
DeleteSophie looks excellent,very cheery
ReplyDeleteThe Princess Royal has a beautiful pearl and sapphire choker on, its stunning, not sure the earrings?
ReplyDeleteSophie looks pretty in this dress, but imo its too casual for this event. The shoes look out of place with this dress.
Not a fan of the hat. Her hair styled looked immaculate really gorgeous, the back view simply stunning. Nice to see her wearing a necklace, not a fan of her earrings.
Catherine looks lovely, but again yet another coatdress. I find the fabric aging and the design/style of this coatdress. I would love to see her wear a outfit of new style/design. We have seen multiple coatdresses. He hat looks lovely, earrings are cute. The coatdress needs a brooch/necklace, very bare and bland looking overall.
Hi Ava, interested that you find Sophie’s dress casual. I see it as a formal dress, in silk, feminine, delicate, she’s well covered, appropriate hem, not revealing, and certainly pricey and very British. What for you seems casual in this one? Always enjoy reading your comments.
Delete@19:55 - this is a tradition that dates back to 1348 - not silly costumes. If you cannot respect traditions of another country then keep your trite comment to yourself!!
ReplyDelete@02:57 - Q.Camilla is wearing the garments of the order of the Garter as are the other `knights`, so why comment.
ReplyDeleteThe DofE has chosen what she obviously feels comfortable in and it is a flattering summer dress with an equally flattering hat. The story behind the P of Wales coat is worth reading , from the chosen designer to how and where the fabric was woven, the seaming/tailoring is meticullous, pocket placement unusual but suits such a slender frame. Choosing not to wear a brooch I think was wise considering the fabric. Overall a splendid event full of pageantry - a pity some commentators cannot appreciate the tradition of another country without making derogatory remarks. Clown costumes etc. are never mentioned when traditional dress is worn by other royals in other countries!
In general I prefer PoW outfit. But.... I'd prefer her in a summer dress or a set (jacket and skirt) in the same colour, very light yellow, something with a bit more volume. She has enough coat dresses now. I like her also with this hat, so much better than all the hats with flowers and ribbons, etc... The PoW's hat is the type which is excellent to wear with long hair.
ReplyDeleteDuchess Sophie : sorry but I never liked Suzannah dresses. Her dress is too long anyway. The heels of her shoes are fashion but too low compared to the length of her dress. The hat is complicated with ribbons and it is placed too much on one side of her head.
I like the fact that they are not overloaded with jewelry.
What a stunning portrait of Catherine! Both Catherine and Sophie look very beautiful- with their respective styles. I love the details they have chosen, including Catherine wearing few adornments so the earrings really stand out. Sophie’s Jimmy Choos are really beautiful and the hat and dress gorgeous. What fun to see.
ReplyDeleteThese princesses look fantastic! I love both their dresses. I love over time seeing how they develop their style. And I love any occasion where they are wearing hats. These two hats are particularly beautiful. If I had to choose one to own of all the English hats I’ve see here this year, I’d choose this yellow one Catherine is wearing. Perhaps not in yellow, but the shape is absolutely wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI think Sophie's dress stands out as being very interesting. The print of the fabric is skillfully placed to create a very striking and unique pattern. I especially like the way the bodice and sleeves are draped differently from the rest of the dress. It really enhances Sophie's figure and she looks splendid. The green and red colours contrast with the white background. The hat may not be an exact match but it compliments the outfit perfectly.
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