It’s not everyday that a new a monarch accedes to the throne. And what does one wear to the official coronation of said new ruler? We found out today as King Charles III was officially sworn in as monarch of the British Commonwealth following his mother Queen Elizabeth’s death in 2022 after more than 70 years on the throne.
RELATED: Is Princess Anne the Best-Dressed Royal?
It was a typically rainy and dreary U.K. day as international politicians, members of the Royal Family, and select celebrities filed into the Westminster Abbey for the coronation. But the gloomy weather didn’t stop many guests from wearing cheerful colours and striking chapeaux. Take the ever-stylish Queen Letizia of Spain who wore a bubblegum peplum skirt suit with killer matching heels and a hat covered in pink netting.
Also in pink were Sophie Trudeau, who wore a rose satin skirt with matching sheer-sleeved top, textured clutch and (what else?) a hat perched atop her head, and Katy Perry, who wore a retro pastel pink suit with opera gloves and an out of this world fascinator.
There was much pomp and circumstance around the event, as is to be expected at such a rare occasion in history, despite the fact that King Charles III’s Coronation was at times plagued by rumours of musical guests turning down offers to perform and, of course, speculation over the attendance of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Ultimately, the former was in attendance while the latter chose to remain in California.
Kate Middleton looked the part of the Princess of Wales in a regal velvet cloak atop bespoke Alexander McQueen and diamond headband, with Princess Charlotte by her side in a matching, albeit more age-appropriate, version of the sparkly headpiece.
Here, we round up the most eye-catching coronation outfits from King Charles III’s big day, from punchy colourful dresses and traditional regalia to gravity-defying fascinators.
Photography by Getty Images
Jennifer Berry is the digital director of FASHION Magazine. She has spent her career in media writing, editing, optimizing and marketing digital content at publications like The Kit and FLARE. A Montreal native, Jenn now lives in Toronto with her fiancé, young son and old cat. She loves all things related to style, beauty, and pop culture, and has been known to go down a TikTok rabbit hole.
The next best thing to being a fashion editor - BTS access to trends, products & news.