Despite missing the festivities on Christmas Day, Harriet Sperling caught the attention of the British fashion press with her impressive attire. She arrived at Sunday services dressed in a brown plaid two-piece skirt suit, reminiscent of the sophisticated style of past senior royal ladies.

Sperling’s choice of outfit seemed to signal her intent to adhere to traditional expectations, adding a sense of continuity that was hard to overlook.

Reflecting on the late Queen’s words, it seems unlikely that King Charles will remember the year 2025 with particular fondness.

While it may not entirely match the ‘annus horribilis’ of 1992—a year marked by significant royal marital breakdowns and the devastating fire at Windsor Castle—2025 has brought its own challenges.

The ongoing estrangement between the King and his second son remains a painful issue, consistently capturing media attention.

Additionally, the dramatic fall of the prince now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has triggered a broader examination of the institution’s longstanding privileges and their implications.

With a looming inquiry into the Crown Estate’s property arrangements, an investigation that is likely to uncover more uncomfortable truths, it was imperative that at what is arguably one of the Royal Family’s most significant and most visible outings they make a case for themselves and their ongoing centrality in British national life. 

With a self-imposed silence that prevents them from lobbying their case, it is hardly surprising that it is to the power of fashion that the family turned – striking a note of sartorial unity that spoke volumes about what lies ahead for the monarchy in the coming year. 

Harriet Sperling arrived for Sunday services with her fiance Peter Phillips sporting a brown plaid two-piece skirt suit that would have paired perfectly with the senior royal ladies who came before her

The Princess of Wales was attired in an up-and-coming Italian label, Blaze Milano, known for its chic blazers and accessorized it with a Really Wild silk scarf she first wore in 2014

Modernisation may be knocking at the door of monarchy – but if the clothing is anything to go by – the aim of its members is to look firmly forward.

With a carefully calibrated mix of bright reds and muted brown plaids (which depending on the expert could have passed for a tartan that would not have looked out of place at Balmoral.) 

When the now Princess of Wales made her debut on the Sandringham ‘dirt’ carpet, she did so in the polished simplicity of a rich mulberry wool coat dress with a funnel neck showed off the impeccable tailoring of the independent British dressmaker (who remains unnamed) who had created the ensemble.

The look harkened back to the sharp lines and standout chic that Princess Diana had made a hallmark of her appearance at the annual royal gathering – a reminder that being fashion forward was essential, whether she was in London or the deepest darkest recesses of the British countryside. 

Yet standing out and apart from the Royal Family ultimately did her no favours – and ultimately visualised the deep disconnect that underpinned her life as a member of the Windsor Dynasty. 

Kate seems to have taken in her stride the potential pitfalls – and signed up to the team memo. 

Attired in an up-and-coming Italian label, Blaze Milano, known for its chic blazers, she strode a fine line between countryside cool and the clothes that, perhaps without a palace to please, she might choose herself to wear! 

The clean lines, sleek silhouette paid homage to the type of chic I think Kate probably favours – and the incorporation of plaid, not to mention the effortlessly coordinated Really Wild silk scarf (forget Hermes) ensured that she paid homage to a long tenure of royal women who had made tartan a quintessential element of their wardrobe.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were both in muted brown plaids, they kept their accessories (and noticeably their hats) paired back

Even Sophie, in her floor length Suzannah brown and burgundy coatdress felt an a throwback to a different era – comfortably retro whilst still managing to patronize a contemporary designer

Arguably the most finessed version of a look that was followed by the junior members of the family, Kate led the way for what were arguably the two most talked about attendees on Christmas morning. 

Princess Beatrice and Eugenie – known for their often-outlandish fashion choices, instead, followed in the path led by Kate, albeit with slightly less finesse. 

Both in muted brown plaids, they kept their accessories (and noticeably their hats) paired back – and chose colours, if not silhouettes (the exaggerated cape style chosen by Eugenie looked straight out of a Dickens novel) that helped them blend in seamlessly to the younger members of the family.

Harriet is also wearing the Princess of Wales and even The Duchess of Edinburgh’s favourite designers and has definitely got the team memo. She has not put one foot wrong under the guidance of these labels. 

It would be hard to imagine either look as one wearable on the streets of London. Even Sophie, in her floor-length Suzannah brown and burgundy coatdress, felt an a throwback to a different era – comfortably retro whilst still managing to patronise a contemporary designer. 

And while Princess Charlotte, clearly a future fashion (and royal!) star, eschewed any hint of tartan, she sported a coat that seemed not too dissimilar form one that might have been worn by her great-grandmother at a similar age, and which with the Wales’s usual eye for coordination struck exactly the same brown tones as the ones sported by her mother.

Against the sea of brown and burgundy, it was impossible not to give top billing to the two royal women who have been credited, at least over the last two years, with keeping the royal show on the road. 

Queen Camilla and Princess Anne were both in holly berry red and impossible to miss.

Protocol demands that no one wear the same colour as the Queen, so when it does happen observers (fashion and otherwise) should stop and take notice. 

Queen Camilla and Princess Anne were impossible to miss in their bright red coats on their way to the Christmas Day service

Regardless of the youth, beauty and obvious chic of the younger members of the family – the message on Christmas Day focused firmly on two older women who I think we can argue are now the pillars of modern monarchy. 

Neither of them are fashion icons and both have had their moments of media controversy – but if we are to judge the sartorial soundings of Christmas Day – these are the woman to whom, at least in the immediate future, are to be the institution’s pillars. 

In the face of more controversy to come – it seems the British Royal Family have decided to play it safe – lean towards to women who, like the late Queen, embody the stoicism and strength that has been the family’s most successful formula.

 With the Princess of Wales waiting in the wings – a quiet supporter until her time comes – 2026 may be the year of the two oldest but most trusted royal women.