The Princess of Wales’s Order of the Garter Style

As many readers know, Monday was Garter Day, when Order of the Garter ceremonies take place in Windsor. Below, King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Monday.

More from Yahoo News. 

Garter Day sees Ladies and Knights of the Order of the Garter – the country’s oldest and most senior Order of Chivalry – process down the hill from the Berkshire castle’s State Apartments to St George’s Chapel, dressed in white plumed hats and dark-blue velvet robes, watched by crowds.

The Royal Family site offers additional information. 

Today, the Order includes The King, who is Sovereign of the Garter, several senior Members of the Royal Family, and twenty-four knights chosen in recognition of their work. Knights of the Garter are chosen personally by the Sovereign to honour those who have held public office, who have contributed in a particular way to national life or who have served the Sovereign personally. These have included Marshal of the RAF, Lord Stirrup, and former Prime Ministers Sir John Major and Sir Winston Churchill.

The day begins with the Sovereign formally investing any new Companions with the Order’s insignia in the Throne Room of the Castle. The members and officers attend a lunch hosted by the Sovereign, and then all process on foot to a service in St. George’s Chapel. There is a short service where any new Companions are installed.

Below, the Duchess of Gloucester; she was invested into the Order this year. 

More from The Telegraph’s piece by Victoria Ward. 

This year, the Duchess of Gloucester was invested into the order, having been made a Royal Lady Companion in April.

The investiture was described as the “ultimate accolade” for the 77-year-old, whose work supporting the monarchy has often gone under the radar.

Here you see Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, who was also invested and installed as a Knight on Monday.

Prince William chatting with Prince Edward; in the lower right corner, you also see the Duke of Gloucester. 

The Duke of Gloucester, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duke of Edinburgh, and the Princess Royal on the steps of St. George’s Chapel this Monday.

This year the Princess of Wales did not attend as she continues her chemotherapy treatment and recovery. We return to The Telegraph’s article. 

It was the first Garter Day the Princess has not attended since 2018 when she was on maternity leave following the birth of Prince Louis.

She is usually to be found watching from the sidelines alongside the Duchess of Edinburgh, often suppressing a smile as she catches Prince William’s eye.

I thought it would be fun to take a look back at her Garter Day style over the years. Below, you see Kate Middleton at the 2008 ceremony when Prince William received his Knighthood. 

She was in a suit that remains UFO (Unidentified Fashion Object). It consists of a fitted jacket and pencil skirt in matching material. The jacket has flap pockets and decorative buttons; there is also piping on the lapels and pockets. It looks like the sleeves have self-cuffs; they can be turned back without exposing any lining or hem because they have an inch or two of the same material on the inside.

It has been worn on other occasions. The first time it was noted was at a Dublin art opening in 2007, seen below left. After the 2008 Garter Day appearance, we next saw the suit in December 2013 when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited South Africa House in London to sign the Nelson Mandela book of condolence (below right).

The hat worn by Ms. Middleton in 2008 was a Philip Somerville design in black and white, described as a “straw toque applied with woven horsehair brim, intersected with black and white plumes.” More about it from this Today story. 

Thrifty Kate rented the stylish creations for £100 ($154) a time from her local milliners, a farmers’ wives cooperative called Get Ahead Hats, to wear for royal engagements.

The Philip Sommerville design was auctioned off in 2012 for £2600. (More information and photos are available at Kerry Taylor Auctions.)

The handbag Ms. Middleton carried in 2008 remains UFO, as does her three-strand pearl bracelet. It is not the three-strand Nigel Milne bracelet that belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales. 

For her first official Garter Day appearance in 2011, the Duchess of Cambridge chose an ensemble by Katherine Hooker.

The Buxton Dress was a bias-cut design made in ‘Mercury crepe silk satin,’ while the Buxton Coat was made in ‘Ash Simla silk’ per a Facebook note by Katherine Hooker. It featured beaded lace trim at the cuffs and waistband and an antique clasp. Thank you to Carly at Kate Middleton Style for sharing this information on the outfit.

A closer look at the beaded lace. 

The Duchess wore a bespoke hat by Rachel Trevor-Morgan Millinery. 

She wore Rupert Sanderson’s ‘Malone’ pumps and carried an unidentified clutch. She also wore her Kiki McDonough Grace White Topaz and Diamond Earrings (£895).  

In 2012, the Duchess made many fashion fans smile when she brought back the Alexander McQueen coat first worn to Trooping the Colour in 2011. 

Here you see the Duchess with the Countess of Wessex and Duchess of Cornwall.

It was a treat to have a full-length view of the coat, as we usually don’t see that angle at Trooping the Colour. The double-breasted cotton and wool-blend pique coat showcases several signature McQueen elements, including those sculptural lines; technically, the lower portion is called a “tiered Samurai skirt.” Beneath the coat, I think the Duchess wore her ‘Peacock’ dress by Reiss. 

The hat was by milliner Jane Corbett, a creamy sisal confection with an elaborate bow. 

The Duchess’s other accessories were familiar pieces: her ‘Sledge’ pumps and the ‘Natalie’ box bag, both by LK Bennett. 

The earrings were by Kiki McDonough, the green amethyst and diamond earrings many believe to have been a Christmas gift from William.

At the 2013 Garter Day events, the Duchess was in a Christopher Kane design. 

The icy blue coat showcased princess seams, a concealed front closure, a self-belt, and angled, on-seam front pockets.

The coat was first worn to the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Games, as well as a Palace Reception immediately preceding that Ceremony.

The Duchess chose a hat by John Lock and Co., the Sweet Delight style.

Accessories included the Natalie Clutch by LK Bennett and Gilbert patent heels by Jimmy Choo.

I do not have a terrific photo of the earrings; they were the UFO aquamarine and diamond style, shown below as worn on other occasions.

Order of the Garter ceremonies in 2016 brought back another much-loved look.

The Duchess wore a bespoke ensemble by Catherine Walker. The coat features a fitted bodice, full, pleated skirt, shawl lapels, oversized self-covered button closure, and three-quarter sleeves.

The Duchess first wore the ensemble in July of 2011, as she and William were leaving Canada during the North American tour.

The vibrant red hat is by Lock and Company, initially seen when worn to the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant in 2012.

In this photo, you get a nice look at the Duchess’s intricate updo. 

The Duchess accessorized with red suede Gianvito 105 pumps ($795), the only item that day we had not seen worn previously. She carried a customized version of the red Alexander McQueen clutch seen below, another piece first seen at the Jubilee River Pageant. 

We were happily surprised to see the diamond acorn drop earrings by Robinson Pelham making their first appearance since they were worn by the Duchess at her wedding in April 2011.

The Duchess also wore her Mappin and Webb Empress necklace. 

Garter Day in 2019 was a treat as Spain’s King Felipe VI and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands were formally installed and joined by their wives, Queen Letizia of Spain and Queen Máxima of The Netherlands. Below, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth with King Willem-Alexander Queen Máxima of The Netherlands. 

And the late Queen with King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain. 

The Duchess sharing a laugh with Queen Máxima.

And with Queen Letizia.

From L to R: Sophie, Countess of Wessex; Queen Letizia of Spain; Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall; Queen Máxima of The Netherlands; the Duchess of Cambridge. 

The Duchess chose a Catherine Walker coatdress for the occasion. 

It is the Liza style, described by the brand as “A contemporary take on a ’50s look, this coatdress in ivory wool crepe has cropped jacket ‘panels’ edged in fine black lace.” It features one of Kate’s favorite silhouettes, a fit-and-flare cut. Other design elements include an oversized collar, a button front with self-covered buttons, and the distinctive black trim.

The Duchess brought back her Sylvia Fletcher for Lock and Co. hat, the Lion Tamer percher style.

She repeated her Stuart Weitzman Muse Clutch, a piece sold through Russell and Bromley. In the USA, it was called the ‘Raz’ style.

We also saw the return of the Prada wavy cut-out pumps. 

The Duchess’s hair was worn up. 

And that allowed us to better see the Collingwood diamond and pearl drop earrings. 

For the 2022 Garter Day ceremonies, the Duchess was in a blue ensemble.

The outfit was anchored by a cornflower blue coatdress believed to be an Alexander McQueen design.

The tailored piece showcased a fit-and-flare silhouette with a modified portrait neckline, notch lapels, a fitted bodice with concealed front closure, an applied waistband, slightly raised shoulders, a pleated skirt, and self-covered buttons at the cuff.

The Duchess wore a hat by Juliet Botterill with an elegant updo. 

The Floral Leaf Teardrop hat has a woven straw base “adorned with an array of silk roses, rosebuds, leaves, and silk abaca bow.”

In the footwear department, the Duchess wore Aquazzura’s Love Link Sling heels in blueberry grosgrain. The shoe has a pointed toe, 4″ heel, and a “heart-shaped chain” at the heel.

The Duchess carried the scalloped blue bag first noted at the start of the Caribbean Tour, a design believed to be an Anya Hindmarch style.

And she wore the tanzanite earring and pendant set from G. Collins and Sons.

Our final ensemble is the monochrome look from just one year ago.

The Princess chose an Alessandra Rich design for her first Garter day as the Princess of Wales. 

The 100% silk dress showcased a high neck, padded shoulders, pleating, a deep back vent, and a concealed back zipper, all in a black-on-white polka dot print. 

The Princess wore a new chapeau, a bespoke design by Philip Treacy and she sported another elegant updo.

She debuted a new pair of shoes by Jennifer Chamandi, the Vittorio 105 in Nappa Leather with a Black Patent toe cap. The slingback style has two straps, a pointed toe, and a four-inch heel.

And carried a new Strathberry bag, the Scottish brand’s Multrees Chain Wallet ($425) in what looks like the Vanilla/Diamond colorway. 

The Princess wore jewelry that belonged to Diana, Princess of Wales: the Collingwood Earrings and the Nigel Milne triple-strand pearl bracelet.

Here is a look at all of the Princess’s Garter Day outfits. 

I am going to do a post covering Royal Ascot ensembles early next week. If you like, I can put together a post next week with polls for the garden party styles, Trooping the Colour outfits, Garter Day looks, and Royal Ascot looks. (Four separate polls.)