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Woman & Home
Woman & Home
Lifestyle
Emma Shacklock

Kate Middleton's Commonwealth Day outfit sent a subtle but clear message to Queen Camilla - and not for the first time

A composite of a picture of the Princess of Wales in blue and a picture of Queen Camilla in red at the 2026 Commonwealth Day service.

Even the smallest outfit details can say an awful lot when it comes to the Royal Family, but it was one of the most obvious ones that caught my attention at the Commonwealth Day service. The Princess of Wales attended in a cobalt blue coat dress by British brand, Catherine Walker, whilst Queen Camilla was striking in scarlet. These shades were radically different and I don't believe that was a coincidence. Looking back at all the Commonwealth Day services they've attended, there's only been occasion where the Princess and Queen stepped out even close to the same hue. Matching outfits aren't against royal protocol and it does occasionally happen, but it's a sure-fire way to attract unnecessary direct comparison and could be seen as something of a faux pas. The Princess of Wales's decision to go for something very different ensured that the spotlight remained firmly on Queen Camilla.

(Image credit: Photo by Arthur Edwards - WPA Pool/Getty Images)
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