In a moment that shimmered with continuity and quiet grandeur, Catherine, Princess of Wales, and her daughter, Princess Charlotte, arrived for Trooping the Colour 2025 in matching shades of aquamarine—a modern royal tableau steeped in tradition, elegance, and emotional symbolism.
This year’s celebration of the King’s official birthday unfolded beneath strikingly blue skies, as the grandeur of the British monarchy was on full display. But amidst the spectacle of scarlet uniforms, polished cavalry, and fluttering Union Jacks, all eyes were on Catherine and Charlotte—Britain’s most fashion-forward mother-daughter duo—who brought a sartorial synchronicity to the day’s proceedings.
The Princess of Wales opted for a tailored Catherine Walker coatdress in a vibrant aquamarine wool—cinched at the waist, with ivory silk lapels and cuffs that offered a whisper of vintage refinement. Her wide-brimmed hat by Juliette Botterill, sculptural and unfussy, crowned the look with architectural elegance. Of course, no royal ensemble is complete without its heirlooms: Catherine wore the Irish Guards Regimental Brooch—honouring her colonelcy—and a pair of earrings once beloved by the late Queen Elizabeth II, quietly tethering the present to the past.
By her side, young Charlotte mirrored her mother’s palette in a sweet aquamarine frock, delicately belted with a white bow at the waist. Her shoes were classic ballet flats, her hair parted and plaited in a polished braid—her signature style already emerging with poise far beyond her years.
The symbolism of this sartorial synchrony wasn’t lost. Aquamarine—a hue associated with serenity, clarity, and resilience—felt deliberate. It was a subtle, shared message of unity and lightness after the more somber tones of Trooping 2024, where Catherine made her first appearance post-cancer diagnosis in an upcycled monochrome Jenny Packham. This year’s outing was no less meaningful, but exhaled joy, vibrancy, and a visible sense of ease.
Elsewhere, Queen Camilla appeared resplendent in a white coatdress and hat ensemble, paired with the Grenadier Guards Brooch once worn by Queen Elizabeth II. King Charles, ever the statesman, rode proudly in the procession, while Prince William—dutiful in his military regalia—saluted from horseback.
One detail not to be missed: black armbands discreetly worn by senior royals, in mourning for the victims of the recent Air India tragedy—a solemn counterpoint to the celebratory pageantry.
But in a day filled with military precision and centuries-old rituals, it was the quieter, more intimate tableau—the twinning of mother and daughter in tones of sky and sea—that felt like the most enduring image. A reflection of legacy, love, and life at the heart of the monarchy.
