Royal Ascot 2025 Fashion Highlights and Style Trends
Every royal look, label, and brooch decoded – from Queen Camilla’s signature style to Zara Tindall’s bold fashion firsts at Ascot 2025.
I’m writing a detailed fashion commentary on Royal Ascot 2025, breaking down each royal’s look and the broader style trends that emerged throughout the week. Let’s kick things off with Queen Camilla.
Queen Camilla
Queen Camilla and King Charles endured the summer heat by attending all five days of Royal Ascot. Notably, Camilla debuted a stunning Dior ensemble on Day 1, then switched exclusively to Anna Valentine for the final four days - a rare display of wardrobe consistency from someone who usually rotates designers. Notably, Bruce Oldfield and Fiona Clare, two of her long-time favourites, were absent from this year’s line-up. (Fun fact: she hasn’t worn a new Bruce Oldfield design since her coronation gown, created for the coronation of King Charles III in 2023.)
When it came to hats, Camilla remained loyal to her favourite milliner Philip Treacy, wearing bespoke designs from him each day.
On footwear, she transitioned a few years ago from Sole Bliss - a brand known for sleek, feminine heels - to Eliot Zed. The switch became permanent after she reportedly injured her ankle during QEII’s passing in 2022 and adopted Eliot Zed’s ‘Gladys’ block-heel pumps, known for their comfort and rugged soles. Occasionally, she still opts for her beloved Chanel two-tone cap-toe pumps. It’s possible the Duchess of Gloucester, an early adopter of Eliot Zed, may have influenced the switch.
Bag-wise, Camilla started with Launer (a firm Queen Elizabeth’s favourite), switched to Charlotte Elizabeth on days 2 and 3, carried a Anna Valentine x Charles Laurie London piece on day 5, and surprisingly broke tradition with a Lady Dior bag on day 4 - a brand long associated with Princess Diana, which caused a stir among royal fans.
The Lady Dior bag was first gifted to Princess Diana by France’s First Lady, Bernadette Chirac, in 1995. Originally named Chouchou, the bag quickly became one of Diana’s favourites - she was seen carrying it repeatedly and ordered several in different colours. In recognition of her influence, Dior officially renamed the bag “Lady Dior” in 1996, in tribute to her title, Lady Diana Spencer. It became a signature piece in her wardrobe and remains closely associated with her timeless style.
As ever, Camilla’s brooches stole the show. Here’s a quick breakdown:
Day 1 - Cullinan V Brooch
A dazzling white-diamond gem from the Cullinan diamond collection.
Day 2 - Queen Elizabeth’s Emerald and Diamond Drop
Features emeralds and diamonds, a sentimental nod to The Late Queen.
Day 3 - Jardine Star Brooch
A sophisticated star-shaped piece with sparkling stones.
Day 4 Countess of Strathmore’s Yellow Diamond Cross Brooch
This brooch is a little controversial, as the Palace repeatedly stated it is Queen Elizabeth’s Raspberry Pip Brooch, but some believe it is actually the Yellow Diamond Cross Brooch that belonged to the Countess of Strathmore, the Queen Mother’s mother, and was passed down to her.
Day 5 - Rothschild Diamond Watch Brooch
A rare and elegant piece that made a grand finale.
In additional jewellery, Camilla wore her steadfast Van Cleef bracelet and brought out her Queen Mother’s Cartier bracelets - emerald on Day 2, and diamonds on Days 3 and 5.
Duchess of Edinburgh
The Duchess of Edinburgh, attended the first three days in exclusively British-made outfits: Suzannah ensembles paired with Jane Taylor hats - both proudly homegrown designers. On Day 1, she repeated her Suzannah dress from Ascot last year (marking her 25th wedding anniversary), while Days 2 and 3 featured Suzannah dresses printed with Rachel Levy’s floral photography - Day 3’s clover print tied together beautifully with Jane Taylor’s matching hat.
As for handbags, we all know by now she has a huge collection of Sophie Habsburg bags - almost 100 of them (yes, 100) in her collection. Although not a British brand, Sophie Habsburg’s elegant designs have become a staple in the Duchess’s wardrobe. She carried them on the first and second days, then switched to a recently acquired Radley London bag called “Liverpool Street” on Day 3, which she debuted during a recent visit to the city of Liverpool.
Jewellery-wise, she pulled out big-ticket diamond pieces from Chopard and G. Collins & Son, alongside daily stacks featuring Asprey London bracelets.
Zara Tindall
Despite not carrying a royal title, Zara Tindall is the true Queen of Races fashion - meticulously styled by Annie Miall, an Australian based in the UK. She attended four days and showcased four distinct looks:
Day 1: Rebecca Vallance (Australia) – clean, classic silhouette.
Day 2: Anna Mason (UK) – floral dress with polished, feminine charm.
Day 3: Laura Green (UK) – standout contrast-piping dress with a matching custom Juliette Botterill hat, echoing the contrasting trims the Princess of Wales has favoured lately.
Day 4: Veronica Beard (US) - I believe Zara is the first royal to wear a pantsuit to Royal Ascot, paired with a fascinator (please correct me if any royal has done so before). It’s a bold and refreshing choice, though I’m still not completely sold on the pantsuit-and-hat combo. That said, she has worn this pairing at other racing events.
Her hat game included only British milliners: Sarah Cant, Juliette Botterill, Bee Smith, and Jenny Roberts. Zara carried Anya Hindmarch, Mulberry, and Aspinal of London clutches, and wore Emmy London and LK Bennett suede pumps. She was the only royal wearing sunglasses - Finlay & Co, Bvlgari, Monc - and alternated fine jewellery from Calleija and Laurence Coste.
Princess Beatrice
Princess Beatrice attended two days of Ascot 2025 - Day 1 and Day 3 - both looks styled by her trusted stylist Olivia Buckingham. Buckingham has developed a clear and consistent fashion direction for Beatrice over the past few years, favouring romantic silhouettes and refined British and international designers.
On Day 1, Beatrice wore a pink gingham dress by Beulah London, a label well-loved by royals for its classic, feminine cuts and ethical production ethos. The gingham fabric gave a playful, vintage twist that stood out in the crowd.
On Day 3, she wore a stunning yellow floral dress by Monique Lhuillier. This isn’t the first time Beatrice has worn Lhuillier, and once again the romantic, full-skirted silhouette suited her perfectly.
On both days, she completed her look with hats by British milliners Justine Bradley-Hill and Juliette Botterill, both royal favourites known for their intricate, hand-crafted designs. Each hat complemented her outfit beautifully.
In terms of footwear, since working with Olivia Buckingham, Beatrice has noticeably leaned into designer heels. For Ascot, she wore Jennifer Chamandi and Manolo Blahnik pumps - both elegant and understated.
For handbags, she featured designs by Anya Hindmarch and Mark Cross.
While Beatrice isn’t known for heavily accessorising with jewellery, Day 1 was an exception. She debuted multiple pieces from Anoona Jewels, a modern British fine jewellery brand. Her look included a pair of earrings, a bracelet, and two rings - paired with her ever-present Sydney Evan “Love” ring. On Day 3, she opted for a pair of Chopard diamond earrings, offering a subtle nod to luxury.
Beatrice’s Ascot looks this year struck a balance between contemporary royal fashion and a softer, romantic tone - clearly reflecting her personal style and the thoughtful curation of her stylist.
Princess Eugenie
Eugenie attended Days 4 and 5:
Day 4: A white dress paired with the cropped taupe top from Trooping The Colour 2015.
Day 5: A bold red dress from British label Whistles.
She wore Emily London millinery, carried her M2Malletier bag, and wore Aquazzura bow-tie pumps on both days.
Day 4 jewellery featured diamond-dotted mushroom earrings from Sophie Lis, which she had worn twice recently, but we were only able to confirm the designer now thanks to high-resolution photos. On Day 5, she re-wore a pair of earrings set with diamonds, emeralds, and aquamarines. The combination is thought to symbolise personal meaning - aquamarine being Princess Eugenie’s birthstone, and emerald that of her husband, Jack Brooksbank. The origin of the earrings remains unknown, but their sentimental significance makes them a standout accessory.
Sarah, Duchess of York
Fergie attended Days 1 and 4 with nostalgic flair:
Day 1: Vintage Saint Laurent navy lace blazer.
Day 4: A vintage 1986 polka-dot dress by Scottish designer Alistair Blair, who was famously commissioned by the Duchess to design her engagement outfit.
She accessorised with luxury pieces - Chanel tweed bag, two-tone slingbacks, Van Cleef malachite bracelet, and an Ethan K possibly ostrich-skin bag. For headwear, she wore a wide-brimmed Jess Collett hat on Day 4.
Lady Gabriella Windsor & Lady Frederick Windsor
It was lovely to see Lady Gabriella Windsor out and about, attending Day 2 of the Ascot races. She embraced a cool, elegant palette of shades of blue, staying true to her signature style.
She wore a classic Catherine Walker coatdress - one of her go-to designers, known for structured, feminine silhouettes often favoured by royals. Her look was completed with a Philip Treacy hat, another staple among royal women for its timeless and sculptural designs.
For accessories, she carried an Aspinal of London Midi Mayfair handbag, a popular British choice that blends vintage charm with modern polish. Her earrings added a playful pop of colour - Lizzie Fortunato drop earrings featuring coloured gemstone dots, lending the otherwise tailored outfit a touch of whimsy.
Sophie Winkleman, known as Lady Frederick Windsor, attended Day 4 of the Ascot races and brought a fresh take on royal racewear.
She wore a navy and white dress by Beulah London, a British brand celebrated for its ethical practices and feminine prints. The dress featured a smart and crisp contrast trim that echoed one of the key trends of the event.
She paired it with a new Aspinal of London patent croc leather handbag, which added a rich texture to the outfit. On her feet, she wore an unexpected twist: Kendall + Kylie pumps - yes, from the now-discontinued brand by the Jenner sisters - adding a modern, fashion-forward touch.
Her look was completed with a Catherine Walker hat, tying together classic British tailoring with a hint of edge, proving once again that Lady Frederick has an eye for blending tradition with a bit of boldness.
Harriet Sperling
Harriet Sperling, the girlfriend of Peter Phillips (son of Princess Anne), is quickly becoming a standout in royal fashion circles - even though she’s not yet formally a royal. Her appearance at Day 1 of Royal Ascot, including a carriage ride, sparked plenty of speculation. Could an engagement be on the horizon?
Harriet impressed fashion watchers with her impeccable taste, leaning heavily on royal-approved British labels. She wore outfits from Suzannah London and Beulah London, both known for their feminine and elegant silhouettes. Her accessories included an Anya Hindmarch clutch and matching Emmy London pumps and clutch - a coordinated choice frequently seen among royal women.
In terms of millinery, Harriet opted for pieces by Awon Golding and Nicole de Selys de Selinecourt, both respected milliners offering bold and modern styles that still feel appropriate for the formality of Ascot.
Stylish, well-coordinated, and quietly confident, Harriet is one to watch.
Carole Middleton & Alizée Thevenet
Carole Middleton and Alizée Thevenet, mother and sister-in-law to the Princess of Wales, attended Day 2 of Royal Ascot - the same day Catherine was expected to appear but ultimately pulled out at the last minute.
Carole wore a butter yellow lace dress by Me+Em, one of this summer’s standout shades and a colour trend spotted on several royals. Interestingly, Queen Mary of Denmark wore the same dress in pink just days later. Carole completed her look with the Emmy London Natasha clutch and matching mid-heel pumps - a British brand also favoured by Catherine. Her hat was a sentimental touch: the same wide-brimmed style she wore to Lady Gabriella Windsor’s wedding in 2019.
Alizée Thevenet coordinated her look around the house of Longchamp, wearing a mint green embroidered gingham dress, along with matching pumps, bag, and even a headband that was cleverly looped around her handbag handles - all from Longchamp. Her Juliette Botterill hat carried another layer of meaning: it originally belonged to Carole Middleton, who wore it to Prince Louis’s christening in 2018.
Both women delivered looks that balanced modern freshness with a sense of personal history - exactly what royal-adjacent style should be.
Main Trends from Ascot 2025
Butter yellow ruled summer - worn by Beatrice, Harriet, and Carole in various ways.
Emmy London shoe clips made a splash when Zara and Harriet clipped them onto plain pumps - ingenious styling accessory.
Gingham resurgence surprised many - seen on Beatrice and Alizée in pink and mint hues.
Pantsuits at Races: Zara broke new ground - will other royals follow? Doubtful until we see the Princess of Wales do it.
Contrasting trims: Highlighted by Zara’s black-trimmed ivory dress and Lady Frederick’s navy dress with white trims - an emerging royal aesthetic.
I’ll be adding more discoveries as they come to me. Stay tuned!
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xx Samantha | 22 June 2025
This is great! I loved seeing a sea of top hats from our seats yesterday!