10 times the royal family repeated their outfits
So nice, they wore it twice (or thrice).
Although the royal family have access to basically any fashion find they could desire, they typically stick to what they know and love.
In fact, Prince Philip famously had the shoes he wore to his 1947 wedding re-soled so many times, he was still wearing them more than 60 years later.
Princess Anne will often wear outfits she’s been seen in as far back as the 1970s, and Queen Elizabeth is famous for her thriftiness, often wearing the same coat over and over to public engagements.
And who could forget Kate Middleton’s “Sledge” phase in the early days of her marriage, when she repeated her trusty LK Bennett pumps so often that people wondered if she actually owned any other heels?
In honor of Earth Day, we’re sharing some of our favorite royal fashion repeats below.
Kate Middleton’s Alexander McQueen gown
When the invite for the inaugural Earthshot Prize Awards in 2021 asked guests to dress sustainably, the Duchess of Cambridge took that directive quite seriously, pulling out a 10-year-old dress from her closet to wear to Prince William’s environmental event.
Middleton first sported the lilac Alexander McQueen gown shortly after her 2011 wedding, while attending a BAFTA event in Los Angeles. A decade later, she swapped the white belt for a sparkling silver one to update the look.
The Queen’s turquoise coat and hat
Her Majesty sticks to what she knows and loves. Since her hats are designed to match specific outfits, the Queen tends to repeat head-to-toe looks time and time again.
For instance, she wore the same Tiffany blue coat, white pleated dress and matching hat four times between 2006 and 2010, choosing the combo for events ranging from a Buckingham Palace garden party to the Wimbledon tennis finals — although she did mix up her brooch and shoes.
Meghan Markle’s Parosh dress
When Meghan Markle and Prince Harry announced their engagement in November 2017, women around the world went running to buy a white wrap coat. But it appears the Duchess was more attached to the simple green dress she wore underneath.
Designed by Italian label Parosh, the piece popped up two years later when Markle wore it to the WellChild Awards in 2019. This time, she chose a tan Sentaler coat instead of her white engagement outerwear, draping it over her shoulders to give a better look at the dress.
Princess Diana’s Victor Edelstein dress
While Princess Diana would rewear her outfits, she didn’t take the Queen’s approach; the princess would often alter an old garment to make it look new and different.
After wearing this white-and-black polka-dot dress to the Epsom Derby in 1986, for instance, she had the full peplum skirt removed. As a result, it looked like a completely different, sleeker outfit when Diana picked it again for a polo match a year later (this time sans hat).
Kate Middleton’s Penelope Chilvers boots
You can almost guarantee you’ll spot Middleton rocking her Penelope Chilvers boots ($695) at a casual event at least once a year; in fact, she’s owned her pair since 2004.
Whether she’s hiking in the Himalayas, playing with Scouts or visiting farm animals, the Duchess of Cambridge has made the tasseled brown footwear an integral part of her wardrobe.
Meghan Markle’s Castañer wedges
Both Middleton and Markle are fans of Spanish brand Castañer, with the latter wearing her black espadrilles on a number of occasions over the years.
During her tours of Australia to South Africa, she styled several easy, breezy looks with her ankle-tie wedges. And good news: Her $135 shoes are still available for all your upcoming summer events.
Princess Diana’s Caroline Charles suit
Princess Diana’s red tartan Caroline Charles suit was a perfect pick for the 1981 Braemar Games in Scotland.
When it came time to wear the outfit again, Diana sported a different look, changing the belt and wearing a white pussy-bow blouse underneath — and popping the collar for the ultimate ’80s vibe.
The Queen’s plum Angela Kelly coat
When Her Majesty likes an outfit, she’s not going to hide it away. Case in point? Her plum coat, coordinating dress and feather-trimmed hat designed by the Queen’s dresser, Angela Kelly.
At last count, the Queen’s been seen wearing it on six public occasions since 2006, ranging from her traditional Christmas Day church service in Sandringham to a trip to Windsor during her Diamond Jubilee tour. As usual, she swapped out her brooches, but otherwise kept her look the same.
Meghan Markle’s Nonie trench dress
Markle loves a trench dress and has worn several to royal appearances over the years, but one particular style was pulled out twice for a special reason.
In July 2018, the Duchess of Sussex wore a sleek tan sleeveless dress by Canadian brand Nonie to an exhibition in London marking the 100th anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s birth. A year later while on a royal tour of South Africa, Markle gave the outfit extra meaning by rewearing it to meet Mandela’s widow, Graça Machel.
Kate Middleton’s Jenny Packham gown
One of Middleton’s early style standouts was this teal Jenny Packham gown she wore to an Olympics gala in 2012.
It’s actually a version of one of the designer’s bridal styles, and royal fans were thrilled to see its return six years later, when the duchess brought it back for the 2018 Tusk Conservation Awards — this time wearing her hair down to switch up the look.