Diamond Jubilee 2012: Elegant Kate ‘the chicest of chic’

THE Duchess of Cambridge led the royal fashion pack yesterday in a dress by Alexander McQueen and a hat by Jane Taylor.

Kate chose the nude-coloured, knee-length lace dress with long sleeves, designed by Sarah Burton for McQueen, for the service of thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral. The Duke of Cambridge wore a morning suit.

The Queen wore an outfit of fine silk tulle, embroidered with tiny mint-green, star-shaped flowers embellished with silver thread. It featured a mint-green chiffon drape, scattered with Swarovski crystals on the shoulders. The crown of the hat was covered in the same tulle and was also draped in mint-green chiffon and Swarovski crystals.

She was wearing matching drop pearl earrings and necklace, and a brooch on her lapel.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, often criticised for their choice of dresses and accessories, won praise for their choice of outfits. Beatrice wore a Kinder Blue coat dress with tan-coloured Gina stilettos. Eugenie wore a purple dress by Suzannah.

Carly Wood, who set up the katemiddletonstyle.org blog, said: “We’ve seen Kate in McQueen for every event over the weekend so far. She is very fond of the designer. She looks very feminine in the dress, which is both pretty and elegant.”

Harold Tillman, chairman of the British Fashion Council, was full of praise for the duchess’s “demure” outfit. He said: “It was superb and elegant – the chicest of chic. With the eyes of the world on her, I just thought it was a wonderful choice.”