How Princess Eugenie is following the Duchess of Sussex style playbook

Telegraph

16 hours ago

Among a sea of celebrities, socialites and young royals in attendance at Royal Ascot last month, one in particular stood out as especially stylish. While the Princess of Wales was unable to attend for health reasons, her husband's cousin, Princess Eugenie, seemingly picked up her style baton, looking incredibly chic on two separate occasions.
Arriving on the fourth day of the races, the 12th-in-line to the throne wore a coffee and cream coloured two-piece skirt and top, with her wide-brimmed white hat giving her an Audrey Hepburn-esque appeal. Then, on the fifth day, she chose a vivid orange midi dress by Whistles, featuring a fitted bodice and flared skirt, which she accessorised with her go-to Aquazzura Bow Tie heels and corresponding headpiece.
And it's not the first time that Eugenie has looked more put together in recent weeks. In early May, she also looked notably chic at the Chelsea Flower Show, wearing a Rebecca Vallance floral dress, nude-coloured mules by trendy brand Staud and Sophie Lis's playful mushroom earrings. Then, at the Tate Modern 25th Anniversary Fundraising Gala, she chose a white Broderie Anglaise Self Portrait dress, while for a visit to a Salvation Army safehouse she wore a Veronica Beard denim midi dress with Peter Pan collar.
For some royal style-watchers, Eugenie's new look seems to be borrowing heavily from the Duchess of Sussex's sartorial playbook, and not just because they share a love of the same designers (including Rebecca Vallance, Aquazzura and Sophie Lis in particular).
'It's European summer, a season where royals usually embrace florals, pastels and classic English countryside styling, but Princess Eugenie seems to be taking a different approach, one that feels unmistakably Californian,' says the anonymous poster behind Instagram's popular Royal Fashion Daily account. 'At public engagements, from Royal Ascot to more casual daytime visits, she's shifted towards a wardrobe of earthy, neutral tones – olive, taupe, cream and sand. The palette calls to mind Meghan's now-iconic '50 shades of beige,' a soft, minimalist style that became her signature from her Sussex days through to her life on the west coast.'
And it's not just the designers or the colour palette that is reminiscent of Meghan, it's the unfussy silhouettes and seeming adoption of a 'quiet luxury' aesthetic. 'Eugenie's leaning into a quieter kind of elegance, one that prioritises ease and polish over ornament,' continues Royal Fashion Daily. 'It's a style that Meghan has long championed: clean lines, refined cuts and a sense of quiet confidence. In one recent appearance, Eugenie wore a sleeveless olive green dress with a belted waist – structured but relaxed, and entirely free of fuss. For another event, she chose a navy midi dress with subtle tailoring and no embellishment, paired simply with nude heels. It's a look built on clarity, not complexity.'
While it's unclear whether or not she's worked with a stylist on her current wardrobe revamp, Eugenie has previously been known to work with stylists. In 2011, it was revealed that she and her elder sister Princess Beatrice had worked with stylist Charlie Anderson for a year on overhauling their look following the cruel trolling they received about their outfits at the Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
The sisters went on to work with Mary Fellowes, who promised them she'd get them in the Vogue best dressed list. 'And I did,' she told the Telegraph in 2021. 'I'm very proud of them for that because I think they'd had quite a mixed style journey until then.'
Then, in the 2020s, it was reported that Eugenie had worked with Irish stylist Sarah Price on her wedding trousseau, which included bespoke Peter Pilotto and Zac Posen dresses.
If she's not working with a stylist, it could also just be via osmosis that she's been inspired by Meghan. After all, of all the members of the Royal Family, Eugenie is known for being the only one to still keep in close contact with the Sussexes, often visiting them in California.
For Royal Fashion Daily, the inspiration is obvious. 'Whether it's a structured dress, a minimal co-ord or a bold pop of colour offset by soft accessories, Eugenie's fashion evolution is clear,' says the page. 'She's stepping away from traditional royal tropes and towards a new kind of modern, understated and confident style, one that is quietly influenced by the woman who helped rewrite the rules of royal style.'
Whether or not anything that Meghan uploads on her ShopMy ends up in Eugenie's wardrobe remains to be seen…
Five ways that Eugenie and Meghan are working from the same style playbook
The stealth wealth colour palette
Meghan is known for her love of greige-y neutrals, and at Royal Ascot, it appeared that Eugenie was embracing them too. Her beige top, last seen in 2015, worn over a white dress, was very Meghan-coded and stood out in the sea of pastels.
The poppy red
When she does use colour, Meghan chooses her shades wisely, and her rich poppy red Carolina Herrera dress is a case in point. She first wore it back in 2021, but had it altered before she wore it again last year. Eugenie took a leaf from that book, again, at Royal Ascot, in a much more affordable Whistles dress which looked elegant with a matching hat.
The Sophie Lis jewellery
Meghan first wore the jewellery designer's 'Love' pendant in 2020, and went on to wear it in 2022 at the Invictus Games and on screen in With Love, Meghan. Eugenie is also a loyal fan, having worn Lis's 'Fallen Star' hoops on several occasions, and more recently, the Sophie Lis 'Mushroom' earrings too.
The emerald drape
It's not just that they've worn the same colour here, it's that both have chosen styles which feature Grecian-inspired draping for an elevated take on eveningwear.
The Aquazzura heels
Meghan has long worn Aquazzura heels, distinctive for their cut-outs and bow detail at the heel. So it was easy to spot Eugenie wearing the same brand at Royal Ascot. Perhaps they've traded notes on the most comfortable heels to wear for long periods of time?