2022 was a hugely important year for the monarchy, with Queen Elizabeth II celebrating her 70th year on the throne just months before her death aged 96 – ending her historic reign and ushering in Prince William and Kate Middleton as the new Prince and Princess of Wales.
Meanwhile, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry flew from Montecito to the Netherlands for the Invictus Games, and returned to the UK for Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.
And as usual, the royals caught our attention with their choices for all these engagements.
From Kate wearing a tiara for the first time as a princess to Meghan accepting Diana at the Ripple of Hope Gala, below are the 10 best royal fashion moments of 2022.
Kate Middleton, beautiful pink
During her royal visit to the Caribbean with Prince William in March, the Princess of Wales chose The Vampire’s Wife’s bright pink gown for the reception in Belize. The celeb-favourite label is also behind the emerald cocktail dress Kate wore during her 2020 trip to Ireland – which was later immortalized in her first official portrait with the Prince of Wales.
Meghan Markle’s perfect style
The one-time “Suits” star suited up in bright white, double-breasted Valentino ahead of the 2022 Invictus Games in the Netherlands in April, accessorizing with a delicate catbird hand bracelet ($238), her beloved gold Cartier tank watch and a Sophie Liss Love. Pendant ($366) engraved with “+ qu’hier” (“more than yesterday”) and “- que demain” (“less than tomorrow”).
Meghan Markle’s Dress Up Denim
The Duchess of Sussex opted for a more relaxed look later in the Invictus Games, styling pale and cuffed vintage jeans with a black tweed Celine jacket, chain-handle “Triumphe” bag, gold Linda Farrow aviator sunglasses and cap-tweed. Chanel ballet flats.
Kate Middleton’s “Top Gun” Glamour
All eyes were on Kate at the May premiere of “Top Gun: Maverick” in London in this off-the-shoulder Roland Mouret gown, which the princess paired with sleek center-parted hair, an Alexander McQueen clutch and starry Robinson Pelham drop earrings. .
After the Duchess of Sussex stepped out in a similar black and white jumpsuit by Gabriela Hearst a few months later, royal fans couldn’t help but compare the two looks.
Prince Louis’ hand-me-down sailor suit
Even the royals wear secondhand styles! Prince Louis stole the show at Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee in June with his funny faces – and his familiar-looking outfit, a pint-sized sailor suit first worn by his father, Prince William, in 1985.
Meghan Markle’s Diana-inspired Dior
Also in attendance during the Queen’s platinum jubilee was Meghan Markle, who looked stunning in an all-white Dior Haute Couture look that paid tribute to Princess Diana, famously one of the fashion house’s biggest fans.
When she wasn’t photographed with it, the Duchess of Sussex was also said to be carrying her own version of a Lady Dior bag, a style that was renamed in honor of the late Princess of Wales in the 90s.
Queen Elizabeth II’s colorful tribute to Prince Philip
During her jubilee celebrations she appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony in a Stewart Parvin dress and coat in a vibrant shade of green – the favorite color of her late husband, Prince Philip, who died in 2021.
The Queen also honored her beloved late husband by wearing a prominent black pin on her Rachel Trevor Morgan hat, a symbol of mourning.
Kate Middleton’s crowning glory
Donning a tiara for the first time as Princess of Wales, Kate opted for a lover’s knot headpiece – Diana’s favorite – for a state dinner to welcome South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in November.
The royal paired pearl-embellished accessories with a white Jenny Packham gown that featured a sleek cape and rich embellishments, as well as pearl bracelets and earrings owned by Queen Elizabeth and Princess Diana, respectively.
Kate Middleton goes green
The princess rented her look for December’s environmentally-minded Earthshot Awards ceremony in Boston, styling her bright green Solace London gown with Diana’s emerald-and-diamond choker — a rarely seen style the late royal famously wore as a headband in 1985.
Meghan Markle’s aquamarine bling
The Duchess of Sussex brought out Princess Diana’s aquamarine ring — a sentimental sparkler that she famously debuted as “something blue” at her 2018 wedding to Prince Harry — for the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Ripple of Hope Gala in NYC in December.
The ring may have been a purposeful choice ahead of the debut of the Sussexes’ explosive Netflix docusery, as Maxwell Stone of UK jewelers Steven Stone told Page Six Style at the time, “The light blue color of aquamarine symbolizes sympathy, trust and emotion, friendship.”