Royals

Kate and Charlotte make colour coordination look so easy

Twinning practiced to perfection.

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, has carved out her own unique signature style and she can certainly command the royal dress code to make an impact – whether that’s through a diplomatic choice of accessory and designer, or enlisting the rest of her family in a colour-coordinated overall look that cries out as a photo opportunity.

As the Cambridge family arrived in Berlin, the Duchess and her daughter Princess Charlotte stepped out in strikingly similar ensembles, both dressing in cornflower blue – just the latest example of ‘mini me’ dressing that we’ve noticed from the duo.

Their typical twinning formula comprises the Duchess in a block-colour dress or coat, with Charlotte wearing a traditional smocked dress in a toned down, kid-friendly version of the same hue.

Here are some of our favourite ‘mum and me’ moments from Kate and Charlotte…

Via Closer

Pretty In Pink, June 2016: When the royals emerged onto the balcony at Buckingham Palace last year for the queen’s birthday celebrations, we couldn’t help but notice that Charlotte’s smocked dress and tiny sandals were almost the exact shade of pale pink as her mother’s fascinator. We love how the Princess has already perfected her regal wave.

Trip To Canada, October 2016: For touchdown in British Columbia ahead of the tour of Canada, the royal blue of Kate’s bespoke Jenny Packham shift dress found its echo in Charlotte’s trademark buckled sandals. The Princess’s pale blue patterned dress, meanwhile, is another cute mini-me nod to her mum’s look.

Christmas 2016: A Christmas Day outing to St Mark’s Church in Berkshire (which was also the venue for Pippa Middleton’s wedding) saw Kate re-wear an old favourite coat from Hobbs, with Princess Charlotte’s wine-coloured tights, jumper and bow chiming perfectly with her mum’s suede clutch. Note the boys are in perfect colour-coordinated keeping too.

Pippa’s Wedding, May 2017: Given that bridal party dressing is usually about coordinating hues, we’re fully aware that including this look verges on cheating. It’s so sweet, however, that we simply had to – and the sash of Charlotte’s Pepa & Co bridesmaid dress comes in an almost identical hue to that of Kate’s McQueen outfit…

Trooping The Colour, June 2017: A bold pop of colour is clearly the key to standing out on a balcony filled with the Queen’s nearest and dearest. Kate’s bubblegum pink dress and fascinator ensemble (the former courtesy of the Duchess’s favoured designer, Alexander McQueen’s Sarah Burton) provides just that. Charlotte, too, wore pink, her patterned summer frock in a slightly softer – but still complementary – shade.

Arrival In Berlin, July 2017: For the second stage of their European charm offensive, the Cambridges headed to Berlin, where Kate and Charlotte both opted for diplomatic dressing: Kate’s Catherine Walker coat dress is in Prussian blue, a shade which holds historical significance in Germany, while the colour of Charlotte’s smock is surely a nod to the cornflower, traditionally a symbol of the country.

Related stories