2022 was quite the year for the monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II celebrating 70 years on the throne just months before she died aged 96 – ending her historic reign and making Prince William and Kate Middleton the young prince and the Princess of Wales.
Meanwhile, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry jetted off from Montecito in the Netherlands for the Invictus Games, and even returned to the UK for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.
And as usual, the royal family caught our attention with their choice of looks for all these engagements.
From Kate’s first time wearing a tiara as a princess, to Meghan’s nod to Diana at the Ripple of Hope Gala, here are the top 10 royal fashion moments of 2022.
Kate Middleton, pretty in pink
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During her royal tour of the Caribbean with Prince William in March, the Princess of Wales chose a shimmering pink dress from The Vampire’s Wife for a reception in Belize. The celeb-loving label is also behind the emerald cocktail dress Kate wore on a trip to Ireland in 2020 – which was later immortalized in her first official portrait with the Prince of Wales.
Meghan Markle’s matching style
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The former “Suits” star wore a bright white, two-piece Valentino ahead of the 2022 Invictus Games in the Netherlands in April, accessorizing with a delicate Catbird bracelet ($238), her beloved gold Cartier watch Tank and a Sophie Lis Love. Pendant ($366) engraved with “+ qu’hier” (“more than yesterday”) and “- que demain” (“less than tomorrow”).
Meghan Markle’s worn jeans
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The Duchess of Sussex opted for a more relaxed look later at the Invictus Games, styling a pair of faded Moussy Vintage cuffed jeans with a black Celine tweed jacket, Triomphe chain handle bag, Linda Farrow aviator sunglasses gold and hood. Chanel ballet flats.
Kate Middleton’s Top Gun Magic
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All eyes were on Kate in this off-the-shoulder Roland Mouret dress at the May premiere of Top Gun: Maverick in London, which the princess teamed with slicked-back hair, an Alexander McQueen clutch and star Robinson Pelham earrings. .
After the Duchess of Sussex stepped out in a similar black and white suit by Gabriela Hearst a few months later, royal fans couldn’t help but compare the two looks.
Prince Louis’ sailor suit
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Even royalty wear second-hand styles! Prince Louis stole the show at Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in June with his funny faces – and his signature outfit, an oversized sailor suit first worn by his father, Prince William, in 1985 .
Dior inspired by Meghan Markle’s Diana
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Also in attendance for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee was Meghan Markle, who looked stunning in an all-white Dior Haute Couture look that paid homage to Princess Diana, one of the fashion house’s biggest fans.
While she wasn’t photographed with it, the Duchess of Sussex was even said to be carrying her own version of the Lady Dior bag, a style that was renamed in honor of the late Princess of Wales in the 90s.
Queen Elizabeth II’s colorful tribute to Prince Philip
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Her Majesty made a surprise appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during her Jubilee celebrations, wearing a Stewart Parvin dress and coat in a vibrant shade of green – famously the favorite color of her late husband Prince Philip. who died in 2021.
The Queen also honored her late husband by wearing a prominent black pin on her Rachel Trevor Morgan hat, believed to be a symbol of mourning.
Kate Middleton’s crowning glory
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Marking her first time wearing a tiara as the Princess of Wales, Kate opted for the ‘Lover’s Knot’ headpiece – Diana’s favorite – for a state banquet to welcome South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa in November.
The royal teamed the pearl-encrusted accessory with a white Jenny Packham dress with a sleek cape and lots of embellishments, along with a pearl bracelet and earrings once owned by Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana, respectively.
Kate Middleton goes green
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The princess rented her look for December’s Earthshot Awards in Boston, styling her bright green Solace London dress with Diana’s emerald-and-diamond – a style rarely seen since the late royal wore it as a headband in 1985.
Meghan Markle’s aquamarine bling
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The Duchess of Sussex brought out Princess Diana’s aquamarine ring — a sentimental sparkler she famously debuted as her “something blue” at her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry — for the Robert F. Kennedy in NYC in December.
The ring may have been a deliberate choice ahead of the debut of the Sussexes’ breakout Netflix documentary, with UK jeweler Steven Stone’s Maxwell Stone telling Page Six Style at the time, “The light blue color of Aquamarine symbolizes feelings of sympathy, trust and friendship.”
Adding to the bridal vibe, Markle also wore a white Louis Vuitton dress with an off-the-shoulder neckline similar to that of her Givenchy wedding dress.
