Her every fashion move makes waves – and the same even applies to the way the Princess of Wales dresses her daughter, Princess Charlotte, who turns nine today.
The attention comes with the territory.
Although the Waleses do their very best to give their three children something close to a normal childhood, the family carries a certain weight of expectation.
Catherine often dresses Charlotte in coordinating outfits with matching colour palettes for public engagements.
But there is another reason, too, why the little princess attracts so much attention – and that’s the timeless British styles that dominate her wardrobe – to the envy of parents up and down the country.
Here we look back at some of the outfits that have charmed a nation.
Cosy knitwear
Princess Charlotte wore a John Lewis cardigan in her second birthday portrait
For her second birthday portrait, Princess Charlotte wore a cosy pastel yellow cardigan by John Lewis.
Featuring embroidery of playful sheep, it sold out on the John Lewis website almost instantly.
It was subsequently seen on eBay listed for triple the price.
Charlotte chose Ralph Lauren knitwear to help her mother in the Big Help Out 2023
Princess Charlotte has been pictured in two luxurious Ralph Lauren sweaters over recent years.
The cable-knit design is made in Italy from cashmere, and features hand-linked shoulders (attached to the main body by hand rather than by machine) for a premium finish.
Charlotte wore the sky blue version in 2022, followed by the charming rose shade in 2023.
Favourite coat
Charlotte has worn this smart Trotters coat on three occasions (pictured in 2022 and 2023)
A firm favourite in the young royal’s wardrobe, Charlotte has worn this smart Trotters coat on three occasions.
The timeless burgundy outerwear is made from pure wool, featuring a knee length decorated with tonal velvet buttons and trims.
Most recently, she wore it to her mother’s Together at Christmas carol service, held at Westminster Abbey, last December.
Birthday blooms
Charlotte wore a Rachel Riley dress in her sixth birthday portrait in 2021
A Rachel Riley dress that featured in Charlotte’s sixth birthday portrait was a sensation.
The delightful frock boasted a vintage floral print, accentuated by coordinating ric rac trims (in zig-zag braid) and buttons.
The £59 dress had completely sold out within 12 hours, prompting the brand to introduce a preorder system to meet the overwhelming demand.
It became the fastest-selling item in the brand’s 27-year history.
Stylish stripes
Princess Charlotte has worn her striped Rachel Riley dress twice since 2022
Charlotte wore a striped Rachel Riley dress for the 2023 Royal International Air Tattoo in Gloucestershire.
She expertly teamed it with a cream Reiss cardigan and navy plimsolls by Trotters.
The Princess debuted the design the previous year, and it flew off the shelves, selling out in under 24 hours.
Complementary colours
Trooping the Colour 2016 was Princess Charlotte’s first public appearance
Princess Charlotte and her mother complemented each other at Trooping the Colour in 2016.
Kate selected an ivory Alexander McQueen coatdress, which she had previously worn to Charlotte’s Christening the year before.
The royal mother-of-three wore a Philip Treacy soft pink hat to coordinate with her daughter’s adorable outfit.
The event marked Charlotte’s first public appearance .
The mother and daughter duo attended the Christmas Day church service in matching attire in 2019
The mother and daughter duo sported matching attire again in 2019.
Attending the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate, Princess Charlotte donned a bottle green coat by Amaia.
The double-breasted style incorporated pocket flaps and heraldic buttons, creating a timeless appeal.
Kate picked accessories in the same hue: a Lock & Co. hat, and clutch and heels by Emmy London.
Classic florals
Charlotte wore a dress by Kate’s old friend Alice Avenel as she was snapped waving at photographers outside the Lindo Wing in 2018
The Princess delighted fans as she waved to photographers outside the Lindo Wing in 2018.
Accompanied by her father, Prince William, she arrived with a beaming smile to meet her new brother, Prince Louis, for the first time.
Charlotte was immaculately clad in a floral dress by Alice Avenel, a childhood friend of her mother.
The garment sold out within 24 hours of her appearance.
Charlotte’s £169 dress by Spanish brand Friki dress sold out soon after the royal wore it
A summery Charlotte watched the Wimbledon 2023 men’s final in a floral dress by Spanish brand Friki, paired with Leosun sunglasses.
The smocked dress was an immediate hit and sold out the same day, pushing it to be placed on preorder.
Although Charlotte’s sunglasses were from an earlier collection, the brand experienced a 450 per cent surge in web traffic during the royal’s outing.
A similar style, called Rose Fade, outsold other models three times over.
Designer frock
Charlotte opted for a chic Self-Portrait dress at the Coronation Concert
The Royal Family made a grand appearance at the Coronation Concert the day after Charles was crowned.
Each member was impeccably dressed, with Charlotte appearing in a Self-Portrait frock for the occasion.
Given her mother’s support for the brand, it was likely that the young royal would wear Self-Portrait at some point.
The choice was a cream tiered dress, adorned with a Peter Pan collar, bow detailing and flutter sleeves.
The look left a lasting impression, highlighting the brand’s popularity with the fashion elite.
Sailor girl
Charlotte wore a nautical dress during the 2023 Trooping the Colour ceremony at Horse Guards Parade
The royal tradition of sailor outfits for young boys traces back to Queen Victoria, who had a sailor suit made for her eldest son, Prince Edward.
While it’s less common to see royal girls, like Princess Charlotte, in sailor dresses, it offered a welcome change from her usual palette of floral prints.
This choice also aligned well with the formal military atmosphere of the event.
Coronation glamour
Charlotte and her mother displayed coordinating headpieces, designed by Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen, at the Coronation of King Charles III and Camilla
In arguably their most regally coordinated appearance to date, Kate and Charlotte donned ivory dresses to the Coronation of King Charles III and Camilla.
Their outfits featured embroidered rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock motifs, symbolising the four nations of the United Kingdom.
Even more striking were their coordinating headpieces, created by Jess Collett in collaboration with Alexander McQueen.
The dazzling pieces were crafted using silver bullion, crystal and three-dimensional leaf embroidery.
