Dressing for your own party is never easy. But despite the inclement weather, the Queen sailed through the wardrobe dilemma as smoothly as the Gloriana barge that carried Britain’s Olympic medallists down the Thames.
Eschewing the royal blue that many pundits had predicted, she opted for a white ensemble whose simplicity belied a wealth of detail and embroidery far richer than her usual choice.
Designed by Angela Kelly, the dress and matching coat were made in-house at Buckingham Palace and had been a year in the planning. They were made of white bouclé, a lightly textured wool that takes embellishment well. And embellished it certainly was, the bouclé shot through with silk ribbon, embroidered with gold, silver and ivory threads, and studded throughout with Swarovski crystals.
Had the day been sunnier, no doubt the Queen would have glinted exuberantly in the light. Bereft entirely of the sun’s illuminating glow, her white outfit still drew the eye, standing out against the reds, golds and blues of the royal barge more effectively than any other colour would have managed.
Karl Lagerfeld, the Chanel designer, tweeted that “the grey light from the bad weather is helping the Queen’s white ensemble stand out”.
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The Queen’s white hat had a nautical feel, its swept-up brim ensuring that her face was fully visible. Made in the same material as her coat, it was decorated with feathers hand-dyed in Buckingham Palace as well as silk organza and Swarovski crystals.
The Duchess of Cambridge married old with new in an outfit that proved that when it comes to dressing for a really big occasion, there is only one designer she trusts for the job: Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen.
Granted, the pillarbox red ensemble, with its pleated knee-length skirt and narrow-shouldered jacket, was traditional rather than triumphant, but it was a modest choice that tactfully allowed the Queen to shine.
The Duchess added a brooch featuring two silver dolphins, as well as a Strathearn tartan scarf — a nod to her Scottish title, the Countess of Strathearn. Her hat was by Sylvia Fletcher from James Lock & Co, who was also responsible for the red maple leaf hat worn on her tour of Canada last summer.
She finished the outfit with her trusty nude patent LK Bennett “Sledge” shoes, now almost as familiar a sight as those flesh-coloured nylons.
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Similarly sober and traditional was her sister, Pippa Middleton, who wore an ultra-demure navy jacket with cream edging by Milly, teamed with a wide skirt with a gathered waist.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie lifted the fashion quota, Eugenie in a coral Roland Mouret dress and black lace Moschino cardigan, Beatrice in a silver and navy dress by Susannah. Unlike the “lobster” creation she chose for the Royal Wedding, her silver and pink Stephen Jones hat avoided being destined to trend on Twitter.
And despite the wind, not a single hat ended up in the river. In this respect at least, the weather was merciful.