The Princess of Wales’ Easter Style Through the Years

With news that the Wales family is spending Easter at Anmer Hall and they will not be joining other royal family members for church at Windsor, I thought it worthwhile to bring back a post reviewing Easter ensembles worn by the Princess over the years. We start our look back with Easter Sunday in 2014, when the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were on tour in Australia. The couple attended Easter services at St. Andrews Cathedral in Sydney.

The dove grey look by Alexander McQueen showcased a tailored coat atop a dress.

The coat featured a funnel neck, structured shoulders, concealed front closure, and slightly flared sleeves. It is similar to this off-the-rack design by the label. One distinction between the Duchess’s coat and the retail version: the sleeves are full-length on the custom design.

The Duchess accessorized with Jane Taylor’s ‘Lupin’ hat, done in grey velour felt with a curled bow. She also wore her Harper pumps by LK Bennett and carried her McQueen clutch.

Her jewelry included the Mappin and Webb ‘Fortune’ necklace and the UFO aquamarine and diamond drop earrings seen on previous occasions. 

In 2017, the Duke and Duchess joined royal family members at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor for the first time. This was also when the Duchess started a tradition of choosing previously worn pieces for the Easter Sunday service.

The Duchess was in a custom Catherine Walker coat initially seen in Canada the previous fall.

The piece featured a modified princess silhouette, an inserted waistband, an off-center front closure, front flap pockets, and a hidden placket. The collar, pockets, and seams are all accentuated by trim in a slightly darker hue than the coat fabric.

Accessories included an Etui handbag and Rupert Sanderson’s Malory pumps.  

The hat worn by the Duchess was a Lock and Company design, the ‘Jacqueline’ style.

A view from the side and the back. You can also see the late Queen’s pearl and diamond earrings.

Here you see the coat as first worn in Canada and then again on Easter.

Beneath the coat, you can see the Whistles ‘Lina’ skirt was worn on both occasions. It dates back to at least 2011, when it was worn in Los Angeles.

The Duchess chose another Catherine Walker design for 2018’s Easter Sunday service. Below, you see the couple being greeted by the Dean of Windsor, the Right Reverend David Conner. 

The Duchess was expecting Prince Louis at the time.

The coat was a double wool crepe design in a color the design house calls chocolate brown. It features princess seams and box pleats on the front and back of the garment.

The Duchess accessorized with her Gianvito Rossi suede heels in the lower, 85mm height, and a bag by Loeffler-Randall, the “Tab Lizard-Effect Leather Clutch.”

She wore her Balenciaga faux pearl earrings, one of the few clip-on styles we see her wear, and her five-pearl brooch.

Many remembered the Duchess wearing this coat for St. Patrick’s Day in 2015 with the Irish Guards when she was expecting Princess Charlotte.

On both Easter 2018 and St. Patrick’s Day 2015, the Duchess chose what might be her favorite hat, the Betty Boop style by Lock and Company. 

A side-by-side view of the two ensembles. 

We saw the Duchess repeat her 2014 Alexander McQueen suit for Easter 2019. 

The Duchess with a curtsey for the late Queen, who was also marking her 93rd birthday on April 21, 2019.

The Duke and Duchess as they were leaving church. 

We saw the Emmy London’ Rebecca’ heels ($625) and ‘Natasha’ clutch ($500), both in steel grey.

In the jewelry department, the Duchess opted for diamonds, bringing back the acorn earrings by Robinson Pelham that were first seen at her 2011 wedding. She also wore the oak leaf diamond and pearl brooch seen on a few previous engagements. (I include a photo of it against a dark background in this montage.)

The Duchess wore an Emilia Wickstead design on Easter 2022 when the two oldest Cambridge children joined their parents and other royals at St. George’s Chapel.

The family after the service wrapped up. 

The bespoke Emilia Wickstead design was crafted from double wool crepe fabric and showcased the fit-and-flare silhouette the Duchess is so fond of, as well as peak lapels and a concealed off-center closure. The Emilia Wickstead design was first worn for a May 2017 visit to Luxembourg.  

The Duchess wore Jane Taylor’s Diamond Crepe Pleated Headband ($800) that was first seen when attending church at Sandringham in January 2019. 

Her other accessories included more Emmy London designs: the ‘Natasha’ clutch in Duck Egg Blue and the Rebecca Pumps ($580) in Riviera Blue. 

The Duchess wore her Cassandra Goad Cavolfiore Studs ($7285), seen below when worn on previous occasions. The design is “inspired by the clusters of young flower stalks of the cauliflower (cavolfiore) in the market,” each earring holds seven pearls set with diamonds in 18ct yellow gold. (There are some repliKate options here.)

At the 2023 service, the Princess of Wales wore Catherine Walker. It was the first time Prince Louis had attended an Easter service with his family.

The Prince and Princess of Wales with Princess Charlotte.

Here, you see most of the family after church.

The Catherine Walker coat combines elements of the brand’s Mayfair and Magda designs, wool crepe pieces with a flare at the cuff and the hem. It was initially worn to the annual Commonwealth Service in March 2022. 

For the Easter engagement, the Princess wore a new chapeau by Lock and Co., the Mayfair Pillbox style ($1040).

It is the same style worn in green on St. Patrick’s Day 2022 for the annual shamrock ceremony with the Irish Guards.

The Princess carried the Natasha Clutch ($500) in cobalt blue by Emmy London and also wore her Gianvito 105 pumps in ‘Praline’ suede ($795).

We did see a new pair of earrings by Carousel Jewels, the Stella Lapis and Moonstone design ($165). They feature a 22K gold finish on 925 sterling silver.

Another dress was worn on Easter Sunday, but it wasn’t for a church service.

I’m guessing many of you will remember.

It was worn for the visit to the Taronga Zoo in Australia with Prince George. 

This dress was also a repeat. It was first worn during the 2012 Jubilee Tour. It was made “by a private dressmaker,” according to palace spokespeople. 

Here is a montage showing all of the ensembles worn by the Princess for Easter Sunday church services.

I hope everyone celebrating Easter this Sunday has a lovely time with friends and family!