DINAH VAN TULLEKEN gives her fashion verdict on how the model duchesses dazzled us 

Faultless, flattering, the perfect fit.

But then we expected nothing less from the Duchess of Cambridge, whose pale yellow Emilia Wickstead dress proved why Kate was right to turn to a favourite designer.

With its A-line skirt and slim-fitting bodice, the custom-made design, which would cost upwards of £3,000, beautifully highlighted her figure.

The hat embellished with flowers was Philip Treacy – a favourite milliner of the Royal Family (price on application) and she completed the look with Emmy London nude court shoes (£415) and the Bahrain pearl and diamond drop earrings from Her Majesty’s private collection.

The Duchess of Sussex also got it right for most of the same reasons.

Meghan’s dress coat with statement collar and belt detailing was a little more fashion-forward, as befits Dior haute couture. 

Yet there was nothing attention-grabbing about her choice.

She teamed the outfit with a simple wide-brim hat by Stephen Jones Millinery, her favourite Snowflake Snowstorm diamond earrings from Canadian jewellers Birks (upwards of £10,000) and pointed white court shoes, also Dior (£590).

Princess Beatrice ticked all the right boxes in a blue belted midi-dress with pearl button detail from British brand Beulah (£775) and complementary hat from Juliette Botterill (£550).

Her sister Eugenie went for a striking orange dress from Emilia Wickstead (£1,630) and a hat also from Juliette Boterill.

Zara Tindall, Sophie Windsor and Home Secretary Priti Patel went for the colour of the season, hot pink.

Zara was in a bespoke Laura Green dress (upwards of £2,000) and a Juliette Botterill hat (£550).

Her shoes were from high street favourite LK Bennett and she carried Aspinal’s Micro Lottie bag (£395).

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, chose a cream and gold embroidered dress coat by Fiona Clare and, just like Kate, a hat by Philip Treacy.

Lady Louise Windsor, daughter of the Earl and Countess of Wessex, also opted for cream, wearing Ghost London’s Delphine dress (£195).

Chivalrous Charles! Sweet moment Prince of Wales blows a kiss to daughter-in-law Kate Middleton to greet her at St Paul’s – before keeping Harry and Meghan at a tactful distance in carefully choreographed ceremony

By Helen Roberts for MailOnline

Prince Charles showed a moment of warm affection towards Kate Middleton today at St Paul’s Cathedral when he blew his daughter-in-law a kiss as they met. 

Once the Prince of Wales and Camilla had arrived for the Service of Thanksgiving, the two met with William and Kate before they walked together to their seats. 

On previous occasions, Prince Charles has been seen greeting his daughter-in-law with a kiss on both cheeks, but today cameras captured the sweet moment when the heir to the throne gently blew Kate a kiss, as they met.

However, the Prince of Wales was not seen greeting or interacting with his other daughter-in-law Meghan Markle, after royal aides carefully managed the seating plan to keep Charles, Camilla and the Cambridges separate from the Sussexes. 

Harry and William have had a long-standing feud, while Harry has accused his father Charles of cutting him off financially and Meghan claimed an unnamed royal made a comment about Archie’s skin tone before he was born – with the Sussexes having a war of words with the Palace following last year’s bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview.

It was the first time Harry and Meghan, who now live in California, had been on full public view alongside the Windsors since they quit the monarchy for a new life in the US two years ago. 

Kate is known to have a warm relationship with her father-in-law and has reportedly helped smooth the sometimes fractious relationship between the heir to the throne and his son, William. 

The Duchess was warmly welcomed into the family by Charles after her engagement to William, and she’s been heard affectionately calling him Grandpa in public on previous occasions.  

For today’s service, Kate opted for a sunny yellow dress by Emilia Wickstead, teamed with a matching hat with floral adornments.   

However, there was no interaction captured on camera between Prince Charles and his younger son Prince Harry at today’s service. 

The couple were kept apart from Prince William, Kate, Prince Charles and Camilla after royal aides ensured they sat on the other side of the aisle – and they later left separately. 

The Sussexes did not attend a reception straight after at the nearby Guildhall which featured a series of other Royal Family members and politicians including Prime Minster Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel.

Buckingham Palace officials took great care to try to avoid a repeat of the frosty scenes when the Sussexes and Cambridges sat near each other and left together at their last joint event in March 2020 at Westminster Abbey.

And aides would have been delighted that today’s service in front of 2,000 guests passed without any such incident or negative ‘optics’ given the attempts to ensure today was about the Queen and her 70-year reign.

Kate and William chatted to Prince Charles and Camilla inside the cathedral, but there was no sign of the same rapport with Harry and Meghan who sat in between Lady Sarah Chatto and Princess Eugenie’s husband Jack Brooksbank, and were under strict instructions to keep a low profile during the event.

Harry and Megan walked down the aisle of St Paul’s hand-in-hand after the service, joined by other members of the royal family and following Charles and Camilla and William and Kate – but did not appear with them outside.

The Sussexes turned to talk to Lady Sarah Chatto, who had been sat next to Meghan, and her husband Daniel Chatto. Senior clerics waited to bid the congregation goodbye and Meghan shared a joke with the Archbishop of York and touched Harry’s arm as he joined the conversation. The trio then laughed before the Sussexes moved on. 

Members of the crowd outside St Paul’s sang the National Anthem while they waited for the Royal Family to leave at the end, before Charles and Camilla were the first to walk out as the bells began to toll at the end of the service.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge followed, with Kate waving cheerily to the crowds while chatting to her husband. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex left holding hands and were seen chatting to Zara Tindall and her husband Mike. Both Harry and Meghan shook hands with the Lord Mayor before getting into a car.

During today’s service, there were smiles from the Earl and Countess of Wessex as the Archbishop of York referred to the Queen’s love of horse racing, while the Princess Royal nodded her head in approval.

The Archbishop of York said the Queen was ‘still in the saddle’, as he thanked her for ‘staying the course’.

In his sermon at St Paul’s, The Most Rev Stephen Cottrell compared the monarch’s well-known love of horse racing to her long reign, suggesting it ‘reflects the distance of Aintree more than the sprints of Epsom’.

Mr Cottrell told the congregation, which included senior members of the Royal Family, he was ‘sorry’ the Queen could not attend, but glad there is ‘still more to come’.

He said: ‘It is well known that Her Majesty likes horse racing.

‘I don’t have any great tips for the Derby tomorrow, but since the scriptures describe life as a race set before us, let me observe that her long reign reflects the distance of Aintree more than the sprints of Epsom.

‘Certainly, less dressage than most people imagine. But with endurance, through times of change and challenge, joy and sorrow, she continues to offer herself in the service of our country and the Commonwealth.

‘Your Majesty, we’re sorry you’re not with us this morning in person, but you are still in the saddle. And we are all glad that there is still more to come.’

In his address, the Archbishop said the best leaders are those who ‘know how to be led’ and ‘lead for others, not themselves’.

‘People whose heart’s desire is to serve the common good and build up the common life; who don’t try to do it all themselves, or act in their own strength alone; people who take a longer view; and who seek out places of replenishing, even places where they might learn the mind of Christ,’ he said.

‘I say this today, knowing that in Her Majesty the Queen we see an example of this kind of service; a staunch constancy and a steadfast consistency; a faithfulness to God, an obedience to a vocation that is the bedrock of her life.’

The Queen missed out on the service this morning, due to episodic mobility issues that she’s been experiencing. 

Buckingham Palace revealed Her Majesty ‘greatly enjoyed’ her birthday parade and flypast but ‘did experience some discomfort’.

Buckingham Palace said: ‘Taking into account the journey and activity required to participate in tomorrow’s National Service of Thanksgiving at St Paul’s Cathedral, Her Majesty, with great reluctance, has concluded that she will not attend.’

 

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall arrived at the reception and were greeted by the former lord mayor Sir David Wootton and Colonel Simon Duckworth. They were then followed by William and Kate.

It is understood the decision ahead of the service, which was at 11.30am today, was considered regrettable but sensible due to the length of the journey and time involved and the physical demands the service would require.

Senior members of the monarchy attending this morning also include the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who will be joined by the extended royal family.

Tributes were paid to the Queen’s ’70 years of faithful and dedicated service’ in front of 2,000 people including Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Cabinet ministers, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and former prime ministers.

Public service was the theme at the heart of the religious event, with 400 people who are recipients of honours, including NHS and key workers who were recognised for their work during the pandemic.

 

‘My phenomenal wife looking stunning!’ Princess Beatrice’s husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi gushes over the royal and ‘wonderful’ sister-in-law Princess Eugenie after service at St Paul’s

By Harriet Johnston for MailOnline

Princess Beatrice‘s husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi gushed over his wife in an Instagram post after attending the Queen’s Jubilee celebrations at St Paul’s today.

The Duke of York’s daughter, 33, looked elegant as she arrived at St Paul’s Cathedral alongside Edo, 38, and her younger sister Princess Eugenie, 31, as well as her husband Jack Brooksbank to attend a Thanksgiving Service in honour of the Queen this morning. 

Posting two photos of his wife online, the father-of-two wrote: ‘My wonderful sister-in-law and phenomenal wife looking so stunning.’

Edo, who married in an intimate private ceremony at the Royal Lodge in Windsor in 2020 and welcomed their first baby last autumn, has made regular public appearances this spring alongside Beatrice. 

Eugenie, 32, looked stunning in a £1,503 orange dress from Emilia Wickstead as she walked to the Cathedral with Jack. 

Meanwhile, her older sister Beatrice, 33, dazzled in a blue dress by Beulah as she was accompanied by Edo. 

The two sisters joined Prince Charles, 73, the Duchess of Cornwall, 74, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children for the event. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex also made a noted appearance.

However, it was announced the Queen wouldn’t attend the service today after experiencing some ‘discomfort’ during the first day of celebrations.

Also absent from proceedings was the girls’ father Prince Andrew, who last night announced he’d tested positive for Covid.

The Duke has been absent from public life since being cast out of the working monarchy and no longer uses his HRH style after Virginia Giuffre, who was trafficked by Andrew’s friend Jeffrey Epstein, accused him of sexually assaulting her when she was 17. The Duke has always strenuously denied the claims.

The Duke of York and Sarah Ferguson’s daughters looked relaxed as they made their way to the Cathedral this morning.

The two mothers, who had left their respective children, August, 16 months, and Sienna, eight-months, at home, looked a picture of unity.

Eugenie’s brown locks were styled neatly in a ponytail under a discreet black hat from Juliette Botterill.

Meanwhile, Beatrice’s strawberry blonde mane was styled in a similar do, under a fascinator that completely matched her dress.

Both sisters sported a glamourous daytime makeup, with a dash of mascara and bronzer to compliment their healthy glow.

Meanwhile, Jack and Edo looked in their element in finely tailored jackets and morning coats.

Jack, who was wearing glasses, was wearing a sunny yellow tie, while his brother-in-law donned a baby blue one that matched Beatrice’s dress.

The two sisters and their husbands were seen smiling and waving at fans as they made their way inside the Cathedral for the service.

It comes after royal authors said Princess Beatrice is stepping into the limelight to ‘help her grandmother the Queen’ following Prince Andrew’s downfall and is ‘much more confident’ after becoming a wife and a mother.

Earlier this week, she attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace as one of a host of royals who were standing in for the Queen, 96, who has bowed out of this year’s garden parties amid ongoing mobility issues.

She has also visited the Chelsea Flower Show alongside Edo and the Royal Windsor Horse Show for a Platinum Jubilee celebration this month, while in April she joined members of the Swedish royal family in Stockholm to attend the World Dyslexia Assembly Sweden.

Yet the mother-of-one, who welcomed her daughter Sienna in September 2021, has previously been seen as rather private, having had a surprise secret wedding on 17 July 2020, and reportedly held a ‘private christening’ for her daughter earlier this month.

Editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine Ingrid Seward told FEMAIL Beatrice ‘wants to help her grandmother as much as she can’ after Prince Andrew was cast out of the monarchy over his civil sexual assault case.

Royal author Angela Levin added that the Queen’s granddaughter is ‘reliable’ and ‘trusted’ by the Firm and seen as ‘much more confident’ since welcoming her daughter and marrying Edo.

Speaking to FEMAIL, Angela said: ‘I think [Beatrice] is a trusted member of the royal family and seen as somebody who is sound.

‘When her father was going to be interviewed by Emily [Maitlis for BBC Newsnight in 2019], she was the one who told him not to do it.

‘And now she is married and a mother, she is seen as much more confident,’ added the royal biographer, who said Beatrice has always been seen as ‘having good judgement’ and being ‘reliable’.

Royal biographer Ingrid said: ‘Princess Beatrice is a lovely person and I imagine she wants to help her grandmother as much as she can.

‘She has a baby but has a top Norland nanny to take over when necessary. So I think she enjoys doing royal events with her husband and has the ability and wherewithal to do them.’