While missing the service last year due to her cancer treatment, the Princess of Wales stepped out in pitch perfect form with Prince William today, re-wearing a red, Catherine Walker coat dress with bow detail she wore to host a Christmas carol concert, also at Westminster Abbey, in 2021. She paired the look with a matching, tomato-hue pillbox hat by and a hat by Gina Foster, a Miu Miu clutch and red Gianvito Rossi stilettos.
Catherine, Princess of Wales and William, Prince of Wales
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The Princess finished the look with drop-pearl earrings and a three-strand pearl and diamond choker necklace which was a favourite of both Queen Elizabeth II as well as Princess Diana. The pearls were gifted to the late Queen during her first state visit to Japan in 1975, and later constructed by court jeweller Garrard.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner
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She might well have been surprised to discover Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner looked almost identical in her Labour red outfit for the occasion, however. Rayner, who arrived with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, wore a red Ted Baker Puff Sleeve Midi dress paired with a matching coat, patent red heels and red fascinator.
The leader of the Commonwealth, King Charles III, will deliver a speech to the 56 nations that make up the Commonwealth, and arrived with a pink, silk pocket square that nodded to Queen Camilla’s jovial cherry blossom pink coat, matching dress and hat. Other royals in attendance included Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla
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Other guests included former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell-Horner, who wore a bright white peplum-waist midi dress by Royal-favourite designer Jenny Packham and Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the Opposition, who also opted for a white dress which she paired with a boxy, black blazer.
Outside Westminster Abbey, anti-royalists demonstrated against the monarchy, holding yellow signs which read “not my King” and “down with the crown”.
It did not stop proceedings, which began with The Dean and Westminster welcoming the royal party before they met the Shree Muktajeevan Swamibapa Pipe Band, a community band from Kingsbury, North London, the first Hindu eco-temple in the world. The King, the leader of the Commonwealth, and his family conducted a procession behind the Mace Bearer, three-time Paralympic champion, and two-time world champion track cyclist Kadeena Cox after their performance at the Great West Door.
Keep up with live updates from the service here.
Commonwealth Day Service 2025 fashion:
Princess Anne, Princess Royal
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Geri Halliwell-Horner
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The Duchess of Gloucester
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Kemi Badenoch
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Lord Mayor of the City of London Alastair King and Lady Mayoress of the City of London Florence King
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Foreign secretary David Lammy
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Commonwealth Secretary General, Patricia Scotland Baroness Scotland of Asthal
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Baroness Dame Floella Benjamin
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