Dressed in a chic navy and cream ensemble, Princess Anne looked effortlessly stylish yesterday as she joined fellow royals at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey.
But behind the polished tailoring was a surprising detail: the outfit is nearly 40 years old, having first been worn by the 67-year-old Princess Royal at Ascot in 1980.
While younger members of the Windsor family — including the Duchess of Cambridge — have become known for expertly re-wearing their designer favorites, Princess Anne remains the true master of timeless fashion.
That coat is older than Zara! Princess Anne first wore the stylish cream and navy ensemble alongside the Queen at Ascot in 1980, nearly 40 years ago
After airing the stylish long jacket again in 1985, 1988 and 1990, Princess Anne then didn’t wear it again until the Duke of Edinburgh’s garden party in June 2015
And yesterday, joining the younger generation of royals, also in navy and cream, at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey
The outfit, by an unknown designer, has been worn by Princess Royal at least eight times before, with the earliest outing alongside Princess Margaret at Ascot in 1980.
Anne first sported the military-style cream coat with cap and bag, shoes and gloves in 1980 with pearl earrings and a Grima brooch.
It was déjà vu in 1985 and again in 1988. By 1990, at a rainy Royal Ascot, Princess Anne had shifted her brooch to the center of her coat — a subtle tweak to the familiar ensemble. The look made another appearance in 2011, this time without an umbrella, for the Duke of Edinburgh’s 90th birthday celebration.
In 2015, she refreshed the outfit once more at a Buckingham Palace garden party held in the Duke’s honor, adding a new hat adorned with feathers and bows.
And yesterday, it seemed to be yet another stylish reprise — a fashion re-run of that day, albeit updated with a sleeker pair of navy heels that brought the look firmly into the present.
Carrying a colourful posy, Princess Anne was matched from head-to-toe in shades of navy and cream yesterday – and the outfit still looked perfectly on trend
In the early years the jacket would be worn with a military-style cap but Anne has gone for a wide-brimmed affair in recent years
There seemed to be a royal fashion memo issued to the women of the royal family, who appeared perfectly coordinated in shades of navy and white as they attended the annual Commonwealth Day service.
Meghan Markle looked effortlessly glamorous in a white coat by Amanda Wakeley, paired with a navy dress and matching suede heels. Meanwhile, the Duchess of Cambridge, 36, continued her affinity for blue tones, wearing a navy coat and dress by Beulah London, topped off with a recycled Lock & Co. hat.
