'Queen of rewear' Princess Anne's five wardrobe 'hacks' to achieve timeless sophistication

The Princess Royal is usually celebrated for her fun and elaborate coats to “look chic and put together.

The royal seems to enhance her looks with colour-matching accessories and shoes.

Ms Watkins said: “One of Princess Anne’s most reached-for items would be her coat dresses.

“Perfect for attending colder royal duties whilst still looking chic and put together, one of Princess Anne’s most notable coat dress looks include the blue fur-lined she wore first to a wedding in 1976 and has since become known for its appearance at the Christmas Morning service in Sandringham, with Anne wearing the fur-lined garment in 2003, 2006, 2008 and 2012.

“For this look and others that are similar, she matches her accessories with the black accents of the coat with black gloves and heeled shoes.”

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According to the style expert, an accessory that the royal always favours is a good pair of gloves which can add a sense of style and maturity to her overall look”

She said: “Although they have mostly fallen out of favour with the younger Royals, Princess Anne is hardly seen without her trusty gloves.

“[She] hardly deviates from black and white gloves, often matching the colour with her shoe choice.”

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Another one of the Princess Royal’s style ‘secrets’ to look “formal yet feminine” is the classic skirt suit.

Her most famous number, according to the stylist, is a beige skirt suit she frequently wore during the 80’s and 90’s with royal fans spotting it again during the Royal Ascot in 2014.

Ms Watkins explained: “One of Princess Anne’s most iconic silhouettes is a classic skirt suit.

“The royal has been most recently in this style at the Citizens Advice Bureau in Malvern in 2023 in a green and red striped number and previously in a powder blue, white piped set in 2015 for the Bicentenary Celebrations of The Royal Yacht Squadron.

“However, the skirt suit she favours the most is a beige version which was a mainstay of her 80’s and 90’s wardrobe. She wore this style at the Royal Ascot twice in 1988 and 1994, to attend the Heads Of State ceremony in May 1995 and at another Royal event in July 1997. Eagle-eyed royal fashion watchers were pleased to see its iconic return at the Royal Ascot in 2014.

“Skirt suits, favoured by many a royal, are a great choice when wanting to look formal yet feminine.”

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The style expert praised Anne for knowing how to play around with texture and bright hues in order to show her ‘fun side’ when it comes to fashion, something she shares with another member of the Royal Family.

Ms Watkins said: “Just like her niece Eugenie, Princess Anne often shows off her love of colour and print through floral items.

“As seen at her daughter’s wedding in 2011 and at Kate and William’s wedding in the same year, Princess Anne mixes a bold floral print with a bright block colour with matching court pumps and hat.

“At these more high profile events, it seems as though Princess Anne is keen to play around with texture and bright hues and show off her fashion ‘fun side’.”

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Lastly, according to the stylist, one of Anne’s “most key items” which showcases her “tomboy” reputation and willingness to favour “functionality over fashion” is a good pair of black leather boots.

This also shows the royal’s “outdoorsy” side, while still looking chic.

Ms Watkins explained: “One of the most key and perhaps most surprising items in Princess Anne’s wardrobe is the black leather boot.

“Whilst many royals opt for a closed-toe court heel at nearly every royal event, Princess Anne shows off her ‘outdoorsy’ side with practical but chic black leather boots.

“Often seen in the colder months, such as Christmas at Sandringham or events where she knows she’ll be tackling grass, like Cheltenham in 2012 and 2020, Princess Anne’s love of this classic style hints at her ‘tomboy’ reputation and shows that she often favours functionality over fashion.”

(Image: Getty)