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Best royal Christmas Day fashion moments

Princess Diana's bold purple suit is iconic 💜🙌

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Every family has its own Christmas Day traditions. From cooking scrambled eggs and smoked salmon for breakfast, or getting a little over-enthusiastic about the house brandy stash, there are some customs (no matter how trivial) that it simply wouldn't feel like Christmas without. For the royals, the festive season traditionally involves attending a morning service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham.

Yep, while we're all still knocking around the house in our matching Christmas pyjamas, sipping on a cuppa, the royals start stepping our wearing their Sunday best on the way to church.

Catherine, Princess of Wales (AKA Kate Middleton) tends to gravitate towards tartan prints and deep wine tones, while Princess Diana preferred statement two pieces and Meghan Markle, sleekly tailored ensembles. In short, the royals repeatedly inspire us with their Christmas outfit choices. And while this year might be a little different, we thought, when better to take a look at the best royal fashion moments through the years?

1

Royals Christmas Day outfits - Kate Middleton, 2024

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In 2024, Princess Catherine (who we will always fondly remember as Kate Middleton) rocked an ankle-length, forest green, double-breasted coat paired with a matching fascinator, tartan scarf, black top handle handbag and black gloves.

2

Royals Christmas Day outfits - Princess Diana, 1994

what catherine, duchess of cambridge kate middleton, meghan markle and princess diana wore for christmas day as members of the royal family
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First cab off the rank is Princess Diana, looking approx one zillion bucks in this chocolate brown outfit. Extra style points for the thigh-high split and super chic fluffy hat.

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3

Royals Christmas Day outfits - Kate Middleton, 2019

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In 2019 Kate matched her outfit with Princess Charlotte's (cute!), accessorising her grey Catherine Walker coat with pine green details, including a fascinator, pumps and a clutch bag.

4

Royals Christmas Day outfits - Princess Diana, 1982

royals christmas day outfits   kate middleton, meghan markle and princess diana
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I will always be obsessed with Diana's hot pink Christmas Day ensemble. The ruffle collar! The intricate buttons! And don't even get me started on that hat. Utter. Perfection.

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5

Royals Christmas Day outfits - Meghan Markle, 2017

what catherine, duchess of cambridge kate middleton, meghan markle and princess diana wore for christmas day as members of the royal family
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Meghan Markle knocked it out of the park for her first Christmas with the royal family. Photographed alongside (then fiancé) Prince Harry, Meghan wore warm spice and neutral tones, starting with her camel Sentaler coat, offset by a caramel Philip Treacy hat, top-handle Chloé bag and Stuart Weitzman boots.

6

Royals Christmas Day outfits - Kate Middleton, 2011

what catherine, duchess of cambridge kate middleton, meghan markle and princess diana wore for christmas day as members of the royal family
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Conversely, for Kate's first Sandringham Christmas, the new royal sported a plum-toned getup including a collarless coat dress and hat-turned-fascinator by Jane Corbett.

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7

Royals Christmas Day outfits - Princess Diana, 1990

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Whoa! Only Princess Diana could wear a bright purple and printed coat dress for Christmas Day with the royals and pull it off so effortlessly. This is everything.

8

Royals Christmas Day outfits - Kate Middleton, 2018

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For the 2018 service, Kate looked radiant in this berry red coat dress with a Mulberry Bayswater clutch and Gianvito Rossi heels.

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9

Royals Christmas Day outfits - Meghan Markle, 2018

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Meghan and Harry wore matching navy looks in 2018, with the Duchess sporting a sleek Victoria Beckham coat with a feather fascinator and leather boots. Love!

10

Royals Christmas Day outfits - Princess Diana, 1987

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Mixing things up a bit with a pastel-look, Diana wore a buttery yellow and black grid check print coat for Christmas 1987. Note how she matches her belt, boots and clutch all to the coat like a seasoned fashion pro.

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11

Royals Christmas Day outfits - Kate Middleton, 2017

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Remember when Kate stepped out wearing this plaid Miu Miu coat dress? The whole thing was made even more amazing by the furry black hat, giving the look an extra wintery feel.

12

Royals Christmas Day outfits - Princess Diana, 1988

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It is outfits like this that earnt Diana her '80s style icon status. The power-suit tailoring, bold colours and OTT accents make this skirt suit one for the ages.

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13

Royals Christmas Day outfits - Kate Middleton, 2014

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Pregnant with Princess Charlotte at the time, Kate stepped out wearing a brown tweed coat by Moloh and a Lock & Co chocolate pillbox hat for Christmas 2014.

14

Royals Christmas Day outfits - Princess Diana, 1981

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Throwback to 1981, when Diana wore this puff-sleeve emerald green look - with intricate detailing around the collar and pockets, and a hat in the exact same hue.

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15

Royals Christmas Day outfits - Kate Middleton, 2016

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In 2016, Kate ditched the fascinator and hat altogether, opting for a more relaxed blow-out to complement her burgundy coloured Hobbs coat and matching scarf.

16

Royals Christmas Day outfits - Kate Middleton, 2013

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A famous Alexander McQueen fan, Kate sported a pleated tartan coat dress by the designer, paired with a matching Gina Foster fascinator and calf-high boots for the 2013 service.

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17

Royals Christmas Day outfits - Princess Diana, 1993

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In 1993, Diana wore this (now iconic) holly red overcoat, contrasted perfectly against her statement black hat. The look is so timeless, Kate famously recreated it years later.

18

Royals Christmas Day outfits - Kate Middleton, 2015

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Alternating between red and green festive looks, Kate sported this forest green Sportmax number in 2015, finished with knee-high Aquatalia boots.

Headshot of Natasha Harding

Natasha Harding is the former Fashion Editor (Digital & Print) at Cosmopolitan & Women's Health UK. Working in fashion journalism for just under ten years, she’s covered over 30 international fashion weeks, hundreds of red carpets and religiously scours the runway every season to create the brand’s bi-annual trend report. Joining Cosmopolitan back in Australia, Natasha moved to London a few years ago and is now the resident expert for celebrity style and industry news, fashion features and e-commerce. Follow Natasha on Instagram  

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