After the ‘naked dress’ trend swept red carpet fashion in 2025, we’ve seen numerous celebrities such as Margot Robbie jumping on the trend, but there was one royal who was ahead of the curve.
The Duchess of Edinburgh was pictured in a very daring lace top back in May 2006 for a party at the Royal Windsor Horse Show – so how did she pull off the daring look as a member of the British royal family?
Instead of choosing something entirely sheer, Sophie leaned into the illusion, layering a flesh-toned top underneath the white lace overlay and drawing the eye with statement features such as a stand-up collar leading to a low V-neck, floral pattern and flared sleeves.
A black floor-length skirt with a mermaid silhouette and a small silver clutch bag completed her look. Flashing a coy smile at the cameras, she styled her blonde bob in a soft straight style that framed her face as she made her way into the venue alongside her husband, Prince Edward.
The late Queen Elizabeth II’s son had similarly dressed up for the occasion, opting for a black suit with a colourful splash of red on the lapels and cuffs.
© Tim Graham Photo Library via GetThe Duchess of Edinburgh wore a sheer lace top and a mermaid skirt for a dinner in 2006
Royals taking on the ‘naked’ trend
Sophie is not the only royal who has experimented with a more daring sartorial portfolio. While royals are traditionally conservative with their dress sense, the Princess of Wales and Princess Diana have also been spotted in sheer outfits.
One of the most famous instances was in 2002, when then-Kate Middleton is thought to have captured Prince William’s romantic interest after she walked the runway at the university fashion show in a black lace shift dress that revealed her black underwear.
© Ian GavanCharlotte Todd desgined the sheer dress Kate wore on the runway at St Andrews
“Everyone says that the fashion show was when the romance started, so a small part of me will always be part of royal history,” the dress designer Charlotte Todd previously told People magazine. “It’s madness!”
Discussing how royal ladies have continued to bend the rules, even after they married into the royal family, HELLO!’s Online Royal Correspondent Danielle Stacey explained: “While the likes of the Princess of Wales are unlikely to ever fully embrace the naked dress trend, the examples we have seen some royal ladies wear never push the boundaries of what is appropriate for a member of the royal family.
“Their outfit choices are often a feminine, subtle play on the risqué design, proving that royals like to have fun with their fashion.”