The best looks from the coronation weekend

It’s been a weekend of celebrations and history in the making for the coronation of King Charles. Last week some of the most fashionable celebrities, heads of state and members of royal families across the globe attended the official coronation at Westminster Abbey, which saw over 2000 guests witness the historical ceremony.

Although guests came dressed to the nines, they were actually asked to dress down for the occasion, breaking royal tradition as part of the King’s attempt to add an element of modernisation to the coronation. So, tiaras were swapped for fascinators and, with the exception of the King, Queen and Prince and Princess of Wales in royal regalia – robes and grand ceremonial garments were eschewed for more relaxed look. The result? Some stunning fashion moments from everyone from Katy Perry to Princess Beatrice.

Then on Sunday 7 May, the new King and Queen were thrown a star-studded concert with thousands of cheering members of the public – some 20,000 of them – in the audience in the grounds of Windsor Castle. The evening was hosted by Downtown Abbey actor Hugh Bonneville and saw the likes of Katy Perry, Nicole Scherzinger and Tiwa Savage take to the stage. Meanwhile, Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, gave us a lesson in summer suit dressing (in her go-to Alexander McQueen, of course).

The evening also saw Prince William pay a touching tribute to his father and late grandmother, saying: “Pa, we all so proud of you,” before continuing: “I know she’s up there, fondly keeping an eye on us.”

Kate Middleton

In keeping with the Alexander McQueen theme of the weekend, the Princess of Wales wore a red McQueen suit and her hair in soft waves to attend the coronation concert celebrations.

Katy Perry

Katy Perry stunned on stage in a metallic gold ball gown with matching opera-length gloves, and her hair slicked back into a sleek updo.

Sonam Kapoor

Making a spoken word performance at the coronation concert, actor Sonam Kapoor wore a floral gown co-designed by Anamika Khanna and Emilia Wickstead.

Kate Middleton

The Princess of Wales wore formal regal robes and a deep blue Royal Victorian Order mantle edged in

scarlet over an embroidered silk dress by Alexander McQueen for the coronation on Saturday 6 May. She didn’t opt for a tiara or flower crown, but a crystal and silver bullion leaf headpiece by Jess Collett for Alexander McQueen.

Rania Al Abdullah, Queen Consort of Jorda

Queen Rania wore a lemon yellow silk pencil dress by Tamara Ralph Couture.

Queen Letizia of Spain

Queen Letizia of Spain wore a fuchsia two-piece with a blush netted hat.

Pippa Middleton

We love the soft yellow shade of Pippa Middleton’s gown.

Emma Thompson

Emma Thompson arrived at Westminster Abbey in a red rose print coat from Emilia Wickstead over a black dress with black satin bejewelled pumps by Roger Vivier.

Princess Beatrice

Princess Beatrice wore a pink belted dress with a pearl clutch bag, statement headband and jewels by Garrard.

Jill and Finnegan Biden

Jill Biden wore a blue skirt with matching jacket, while granddaughter Finnegan Biden wore a custom Markarian sommer seamed corset dress with a matching cape in yellow silk crepe. The colours together appear to be a tribute to Ukraine, and the pair were seated next to Ukrainian First Lady Olena Zelenska.

Zara Tindall

Zara Tindall wore a cornflower blue belted dress with a brooch belonging to her mother, Princess Anne.

Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan

Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan wore a traditional kira in a beautiful purple shade as she arrived at Westminster Abbey with King Jigme Khesar.

Kate Middleton has arrived at Westminster Abbey ahead of the Coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla, a hugely historic event, so it’s no wonder the Princess of Wales chose to pay touching tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana with her choice of jewellery.

To pay tribute to the two royal women who came before her, the Princess of Wales wore the late Queen’s George VI Festoon necklace, three tiers of stunning diamonds which was originally created in 1950 as a gift from King George VI to his daughter, then Princess Elizabeth before being crowned Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

Meanwhile Kate also honoured Princess Diana by wearing her pearl and diamond earrings, which she’s worn many times before.

To pay tribute to the two royal women who came before her, the Princess of Wales wore the late Queen’s George VI Festoon necklace, three tiers of stunning diamonds which was originally created in 1950 as a gift from King George VI to his daughter, then Princess Elizabeth before being crowned Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.

Kate also honoured Princess Diana by wearing her pearl and diamond earrings, which she’s worn many times before.

The Princess of Wales wore formal regal robes and a deep blue Royal Victorian Order mantle edged in scarlet – at the request of the King and Queen – over an embroidered silk dress by Alexander McQueen. She didn’t opt for a tiara or flower crown, but a crystal and silver bullion leaf headpiece by Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen. The embroidery work of rose, thistle, daffodil and shamrock symbolised the four nations of the UK. Princess Charlotte dressed the same in an adorable mini-me moment, matching her mother in an ivory Alexander McQueen dress with the same floral embroidery and Jess Collett x Alexander McQueen headpiece.

Between the Royal Family, A-listers and the international elite, the Coronation of King Charles III was always going to be a fashion spectacle for the ages.

The pomp and pageantry of the ceremony lived up to expectation, and while spouts of protest accounted for moments of ruckus outside, guests making their way to the 2000-strong congregation did so in spectacular style.

Inevitably, it was the Firm’s chief of glamour, the Princess of Wales, who won hearts with the most fashionable look from the family – this time, with the added presence of her mini-me. Catherine enlisted the help of Alexander McQueen’s creative director Sarah Burton, her longtime trusted designer who was behind her 2011 lace wedding dress, to craft the ivory crepe gown, embroidered with roses, thistles, daffodils, and shamrocks she wore under her blue state robe.

Importantly, McQueen worked with London based milliner Jess Collett to make Greek-like, silver floral headbands in the place of a tiara squashing months of speculation over whether she would be borrowing from the Royal collection, and fears of a flower crown more suited to Glastonbury. Making headlines, however, was her daughter Princess Charlotte, who at 8 years old won hearts in her matching McQueen white cape, sparkling headpiece, and white ballet pumps, alongside her brother Prince Louis who, though restless in ceremony, looked smart in navy.

Ranking high in grandeur was Princess Anne, who wore her her Blues and Royals uniform and the green velvet Thisle cloak complete with a red feathered, bicorne hat. Her daughter, Zara Phillips, was less stoic but still elegant in a baby blue dress coat, matching Strathberry bag and diamond brooch last worn by Princess Anne in 2017.

Sisters Princess Eugenie and Beatrice took opposing routes, the former in subdued navy Fendi and the later a hot pink Beluah dress, a label whose tagline is “fighting slavery through fashion”. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh was respectful in her Suzannah London white gown which, designer Suzannah Crabb told The Standard, “features a beautiful hand embroidered train inspired by gowns and regalia from the Queen’s Coronation in 1953.” While not heaving with Hollywood superstars like a Royal Wedding, a number of famous faces did pull focus. Dame Emma Thomspon was an early arriver, doing so in a flamboyant red and black rose woven opera coat by Emilia Wickstead. She was joined by Lionel Richie, who was dapper in a top hat and Garrad diamond brooch, Ant and Dec, in three-piece morning suits and Nick Cave who was ever the vamp in a black suit with dark hair slicked back.

Also outside the Abbey was Dame Joanna Lumley, who is infamously fond of the royal family, and looked thrilled to be in attendance wearing her 60s style navy dress with a contrast white collar and white bowler hat. Stealing focus, though, was a sugar-pink Katy Perry who wore a bespoke suit from Vivienne Westwood, UK fashion’s late Queen of Punk, as she arrived with British Vogue’s editor in chief Edward Enninful. Left and right came together as streams of UK politicians made their way into the Abbey for the ceremony. It was Penny Mordaunt, the Tory MP who is the Leader of the House of Commons and Lord President of the Privy Council, who stole the spotlight as she demonstrated impeccable upper body strength holding up the mighty 17th-century Sword of State for the duration of the service.

Her outfit, a teal caped dress with golden fern embroidery from Hand and Lock, was more controversial, giving way to a string of less favourable memes. UK Prime Minster Rishi Sunak arrived with wife Akshata Murty, who opted for a soft blue, jacquard dress by London based designer Claire Mischevani. “It was an absolute pleasure to dress Mrs Murty, for such a momentous, British occasion,” the designer told The Standard. “As an independent British brand, it means so much to see our pieces worn to such occasions.”

Former Prime Ministers included David Cameron and his wife Samantha, who wore a floral red frock with scarlet hat, Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie, who opted for a blue dress and navy tweed jacket, as well as Liz Truss and Thersea May who both braved shots of orange in their looks.

And with no fear of controversy, it was Suella Braverman who won prize for most outlandish head piece as she demanded attention wearing an huge, cream organza fascinator and grey suit.

The Coronation would not have been complete without a helping of international razz-matazz – and there was no shortage of that. Led by the woman dubbed Spain’s answer to Kate Middleton, Queen Letizia did not disappoint in a hot pink peplum skirt suit by Carolina Herrera, complemented by a wide brimmed hat as she made her way into the Abbey with husband, King Felipe. Marie-Chantal, Crown Princess of Greece was another adopter of the popular powder blue in her custom look by Mary Katrantzou, which she finished with an unconventional clutch – a model of Marcel Proust’s novel In Search of Lost Time. Rounding off the best dressed European royals was Princess Charlene of Monaco, who was ever-striking but understated in a pale beige, button-up skirt and blazer complete with sash-style drape.

Jill Biden, First Lady of the United States, opted for a periwinkle power suit, with matching gloves and ribbonned headpiece nestled in blonde hair. It comes after her shocking hot pink statement as she met with Akshata Murty at No.10 Downing Street yesterday. First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, wife of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, also made an inspiring appearance alongside Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in a monochromatic, pale-teal look.

Her smart overcoat featured side pleats, worn over a coordinating slip dress and finished with drop pearl earrings and white heels. French president Emmanuel Macron wore an all black suit and tie as he was joined by his wife Brigitte, who channelled quiet luxury in an uber-chic pastel pink dress and matching coat designed by Nicolas Ghesquière for Louis Vuitton. Elsewhere, looking resplendent in their respective national dress, were King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck and Queen Jetsun Pema of Bhutan, Queen Nanasipauʻu Tukuʻaho of Tonga, and  Crown Princess Kiko of Japan.