Princess Charlotte channels inner fashionista by twinning with mom Kate in matching Alexander McQueen coronation gowns
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: The Princess of Wales and her daughter, Princess Charlotte, matched in twinning dresses for the high profile event of King Charles’ coronation. Charlotte, 8, and the Princess of Wales, 41, both wore ivory silk crepe Alexander McQueen gowns to the ceremony.
Mother and daughter – Catherine, Princess of Wales, and Princess Charlotte – arrived at Westminster Abbey with Prince William, 40, and 5-year-old Prince Louis. Prince George, 9, had to travel separately from his family, along with the other Pages of Honour from Buckingham Palace.
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Royal nod to united Britain
It is note-worthy to mention that the embroidery on both Kate and Charlotte's clothes is a subtle homage to the United Kingdom's four countries. Their fashionable gowns have rose, thistle, daffodil, and shamrock designs to represent England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
Kate is also wore a Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen headpiece with three-dimensional leaf embroidery made of silver bullion, crystal, and silver thread work. Princess Charlotte also wore an identical headpiece by the same designer.
Kate also paid tribute to Princess Diana by donning the late royal's pearl and diamond earrings. She accessorized the earrings with the George VI Festoon Necklace. The necklace was bought by King George VI in 1950 for his daughter, Princess Elizabeth, who was crowned Queen in 1953.
Harry’s 'demotion'
At Westminster Abbey, King Charles was accompanied by his family and world leaders as he pledged his life to the country. Prince Harry has joined the group after accepting an invitation to his father's big day but Meghan Markle remained in the United States for Archie's birthday. However, the Duke of Sussex was demoted to the third row following a disagreement with his father and brother following the publishing of the bombshell biography ‘Spare’.
He sat beside Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank, the Queen's cousin Princess Alexandra, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edo Mapelli Mozzi, and the Queen's cousin Princess Alexandra.
'Long live the King'
Charles, 74, and Queen Camilla were crowned in front of 350 million people in a stunning ceremony. Following the passing of his "dear Mama" in September, the historic day is most certainly bittersweet for Charles.
He was just four years old when the Queen committed herself to a life of service in 1953. A young Charles could not have anticipated that he would have to wait 70 years for his own coronation. The King had indicated a wish to bring the royal family into the modern era over the years. This includes reducing the expenditure on royal events, including his own coronation. The 'scaled-back' ceremony reportedly cost between $63-125 million, according to CNBC.
As he advances towards a more modest monarchy, Charles has rejected the ostentatious trappings of grandeur witnessed in his own mother's nearly $2 million ceremony back in 1953. The guest list was trimmed down to 2,000 people, compared to the Queen's 8,250, and the length of the service was significantly decreased.
Even the clothing code changed, with the King choosing to forego the traditional silk stockings and breeches of the past. As he entered the Abbey, he donned the coronation garments, including the Robe of State fashioned for his grandfather George VI's coronation in 1937. Charles is the first British king to be crowned since his grandpa, King George VI, on May 12, 1937.