The hardest-working royal with the hardest-working wardrobe: Princess Anne's most memorable recycled outfits dating back to the mid-70s as she celebrates 75th birthday

Daily Mail​

15 hours ago

Princess Anne, often hailed as the hardest-working royal, is equally celebrated for her commitment to rewearing and repurposing her favourite pieces.
Over the decades, she has given new life to an array of coats, dresses, hats and handbags - some of which have been in her wardrobe for decades.
Speaking once about her approach to fashion, she remarked: 'A good suit goes on forever. If it is properly made and has a classic look, you can wear it ad infinitum. The economy was bred into me.'
Now, as the Princess marks her 75th birthday, we take a closer look at some of the most memorable moments from her 'time capsule' wardrobe.
Turquoise dress
The Princess Royal first wore this turquoise dress during the 1978 state visit of President Khama of Botswana in London when she was 26.
Since then, Anne has worn the garment on a number of occasions, including Royal Ascot in 2013 and a visit to the Queen Elizabeth 2 hotel in Dubai in March.
Astonishingly, it retains its pristine condition.
Lilac coat
Anne wore this lilac coat on at least six royal engagements between 1982 and 2004.
The Princess debuted the outerwear, with a corresponding John Boyd veiled hat, when welcoming Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands for a state visit in 1982.
A year later, she wore it for the unveiling of the Mountbatten Memorial Statue in London, followed by an appearance in 1988 to launch the submarine HMS Talent.
Anne wore the elegant coat again for the 1992 Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey and then for a fourth time on a visit to Greenwich's Royal Naval College in 1997.
More recently, she reached for the A-line wool design on Christmas Day in 2001, 2004 and 2013, pairing it with her original hat.
Pink satin dress
Anne has demonstrated her style prowess in this perfectly eighties frock.
Attending the 1984 Bafta Awards at Grosvenor House Hotel, she made a bold statement in a satin gown, featuring voluminous puff sleeves and a houndstooth-printed skirt.
When it came to re-wearing the dress in 2001, Anne redesigned the sleeves to make it more appropriate for the decade.
Yellow and navy coat
Anne has showcased this yellow and navy coat five times since 2007.
She debuted the tailored single-breasted design at the Easter Sunday service in Windsor 18 years ago.
She dusted it off for Royal Ascot in 2009 and, a decade later, wore it for the wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston at St George's Chapel in Windsor.
Most recently, she wore the coat while visiting New Zealand and then Jersey in 2023.
Printed skirt suit
Initially seen at Royal Ascot in 1988, this skirt suit played a key role in Princess Anne's nineties wardrobe.
She notably selected the printed jacket and mid-length cream skirt for the wedding of Lady Helen Windsor and Tim Taylor at St George's Chapel in Windsor in 1992.
It was next spotted at Ascot in 1994 and later at a VE Day commemoration in 1995.
Following a 19-year break, the look was revived at Royal Ascot 2014, complemented with the same ivory gloves and court shoes.
Floral wrap dress
The Princess has worn this floral print dress by Maureen Baker for two royal weddings - 27 years apart.
Anne debuted the wrap dress, adorned with orange tulips and ruffles, at the wedding of her brother, Prince Charles, to Princess Diana in 1981.
She added pearl jewellery and a John Boyd floral hat in complementary tones.
Almost three decades later, Anne re-wore the look to the 2008 wedding of her cousin, Lady Rose Windsor, to George Gilman at the Queen's Chapel in London.
Coral dress and floral jacket
In 2011, Anne excelled with her vibrant mother-of-the-bride outfit.
The proud parent looked radiant in a floral print jacket, layered over a coral pleated dress that fell to the knee, as she witnessed her daughter, Zara Phillips, tie the knot with Mike Tindall at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh.
The next year, Anne recycled her ensemble for Royal Ascot, swapping her fascinator for a wide-brimmed hat.
Orange-trimmed skirt suit
Anne first wore this sleek skirt suit to Trooping the Colour in 1987.
Since then, she has reached for the two-piece numerous times, including during a three-day visit to Pretoria, South Africa, to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.
While her pearl jewellery remains untouched, Anne has paired the look with various hats - and once went bareheaded.
Initially, she accessorised with an orange fascinator, before opting for a cream chapeau at the 2008 Founders Day Parade at Chelsea Royal Hospital.
However, Anne wore the outfit sans hat to attend the Centenary Annual meeting of the National Federation of Women's Institute at the Royal Albert Hall in 2015.
Embellished gown
The Princess demonstrated her fearless fashion sense in this embellished lavender gown.
In 1989, she wore the vivid design to an event at the Royal Albert Hall, marking the 70th anniversary of the Save the Children fund.
The royal swapped her velvet choker for a three-strand pearl necklace when she re-wore the dress to Grosvenor House in 2005.
Fur-trimmed coat
This fur-lined coat has seen Princess Anne through five decades of winters.
Aged 23, she wore the pastel-coloured coat to the 1976 wedding of eventing friends Chris Collins and Susanne Lumb, teaming it with a Yvette Jelfs hat and patent boots.
It reappeared for a meeting with church dignitaries, which she attended with her husband, Mark Phillips, in 1983.
A blue scarf and bag appeared to be the only alterations when Anne sported the look for Christmas Day services at Sandringham in 2003 and 2006.
By 2008, she upgraded her knee-high boots and added a new hat, repeating this combination in 2012.
Cream and navy coat
Princess Anne has worn her smart cream and navy coat on no less than five occasions since 1980
Simple yet striking, this coat is another favourite of Anne's.
She first wore the design with a white pillbox hat at Royal Ascot in 1980, recycling the look at the Derby at Epsom Downs in 1985.
The Princess Royal dusted off the timeless coat for two Buckingham Palace garden parties in 2015.
She repeated the flawless ensemble for the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in 2018.
Yellow coat dress
Anne has been loyal to this yellow double-breasted coat by Susan Small for over four decades.
It was initially worn to Trooping the Colour in 1980, teamed with a matching printed dress and wide-brimmed hat - an ensemble that was replicated at the Epsom Derby in 1983.