Fashion

Royal rewears: 14 times the royals recycled their best outfits just like us

Duchess Catherine, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Anne and Meghan Markle prove it's chic to repeat your favourite fashion pieces.
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Duchess Catherine has never been afraid to wear the same outfit twice. Some may call her thrifty, but when the mum-of-three reaches to the back of her wardrobe for a trusted garment, she does it like a pro.

In fact, Duchess Kate isn’t the only royal who re-wears her looks. Her aunt-in-law Princess Anne also opts to wear her most favourite pieces time again – and we all know how fashion forward she’s remained throughout the years.

In addition, Meghan Markle has proven she doesn’t need a new outfit for every event. She’s worn her favourite pair of box-leg trousers twice – and she’s also not afraid to mix up the old with the new.

Here we take style tips from the fashionable royals, who remind us it’s chic to repeat again, and again, and again.

Duchess Catherine proves she’s a supporter of sustainable fashion as she re-wears Alexander McQueen coat-dress to Harry and Meghan’s wedding.

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BAFTAs 2020

Duchess Catherine took our breath away as she made a showstopping entrance to the 2020 BAFTA Awards with husband Wills. Her golden-hued dress turned heads for more reason than one – and it was all to do with the fact we’d seen it before…

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2012 Malaysia

Kate first wore the heavenly gown when she visited Malaysia on a royal tour back in 2012. The pictures here do all the talking – the look is just as stunning eight years apart!

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Prince William has the most hilarious reaction to being called “beautiful” at the BAFTAs

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Jenny Packham 2018

In 2018, Kate glowed in a beautiful blue Jenny Packham design as she and Wills attended the annual Tusk Awards.

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Jenny Packham 2012

But it wasn’t the first time we’d seen the royal don the regal frock – no less than six years earlier, she looked just as incredible in the very same gown. A lot happened in between (three royal babies, anyone?), but she proved not all things have to change!

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Kate wedding

The Duchess of Cambridge arrived at Windsor Castle for the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle donning a wool silk tailored coat-dress by Alexander McQueen. And, despite a change of accessories, we couldn’t help but feel like we had seen her outfit before, and in fact we have, three times before!

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Trooping the Colour

Same dress, different hat. The Duchess of Cambridge stands on the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour, marking the Queen’s 90th birthday on June 11, 2016.

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The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

This coat is too gorgeous to leave in the wardrobe, Kate wore it again on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele in July, 2017. Here the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge watch as the poppies fall from the roof of the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium.

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Christening

Wearing the stylish Alexander McQueen cream coat for the first time, the Duchess carries baby Charlotte to her christening at the church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate in July, 2015.

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Prince George, Princess Charlotte at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding

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Meghan Markle Alexander McQueen suit

Meghan Markle made headlines when she stepped-up her sartorial style wearing an Alexander McQueen pant suit to the Endeavour Fund Awards in February. Proving she’s learned from her soon-to-be royal in-laws, the former actress rewore her Alexander McQueen blazer, this time with a gorgeous green floral dress by Self Portrait to a special Invictus Games reception hosted by Australian Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull.

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Meghan Markle wide leg fashion trend

Royal trend-setter, Meghan Markle was first spotted on the left in a pair of wide-leg black trousers by Veronica Beard attending her second official royal engagement with Prince Harry in January. Only a month later she was photographed again in the same trousers on a visit to Edinburgh.

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Thrifty Kate Middleton

The Duchess of Cambridge stepped out in this beautiful blue cashmere Seraphine coatdress for the opening of the new Kensington Leisure Centre in London in 2015.

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Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

Three years later, in January this year, Catherine was sighted wearing the same blue cashmere coatdress. Here she visited the Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute at Kings College, where she met mothers being treated for mental health conditions.

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Princess Anne

Princess Anne, was captured stepping out in a cream and navy coat for the 2018 Commonwealth Day service on March 12th 2018, which she was previously seen 32 years ago.

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Princess Anne alongside Queen Elizabeth

Princess Anne alongside Queen Elizabeth at the Epsom Derby in 1985.

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Glowing in Pink

The Duchess loves this vibrant Mulberry coat. Here she wears the gorgeous piece when she was 8-months pregnant while visiting the Stephen Lawrence Centre in March 2015.

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Third time lucky

Kate previously wore the fuschia coat in 2014 as she laid down a wreath for victims of the 9/11 attack in New York City, at the Memorial Plaza at ground zero with Prince William by her side.

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Duchess Catherine in pink

Accessorising this time with black gloves and tights, the Duchess stepped out in the statement coat again in March this year.

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Navy Diane von Furstenberg

Kate radiated elegance in this navy Diane von Furstenberg lace dress complemented by dazzling diamond earrings.

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Black lace Diane von Furstenberg

The Duchess fell so in love with the Diane von Furstenberg dress, she had to have it in black lace as well. We all know when you fall in love with an outfit, you have to get it in every colour, right?

Here Kate arrives showing just a hint of a baby bump at the 2017 Gala Dinner for The Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families at Kensington Palace.

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Duchess Kate Alexander McQueen dress

Wowing in red, the Duchess wore this flirty Alexander McQueen number during the Thames Diamond Jubilee Pageant on June, 2012.

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Duchess Kate Alexander McQueen dress

Kate takes part in some drumming ‘music therapy’ as she attends the Anna Freud Centre Family School Christmas Party at Anna Freud Centre on the 15 December, 2015 in London, England, in the same red Alexander McQueen number.

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Duchess Catherine State Government at the Buckingham Palace

Duchess Catherine glows at a reception for State Government at the Buckingham Palace 6 years ago. Wearing a pastel blue silk-satin dress, can she be any more gorgeous?

A coat dress garment from Christopher Kane

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Duchess Catherine

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, Princess Anne, Duchess Catherine and Prince William arrive at a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May 2017. Kate reached way back in her closet for this nearly five-year old pastel blue silk-satin coat dress which she paired with a hat by Lock & Co.

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2005 Queen Elizabeth II

While visiting Malta the Eden Foundation On Zetjun with the Duke Of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth II wore this stunning detailed pastel matching blue coat and dress.

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The Royal Ascot Meeting 2008

Her majesty waves to crowds as she arrives for Ladies Day At Royal Ascot, Berkshire in 2008 wearing her silk, baby blue ensemble yet again.

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