How the Duchess of Cambridge’s ‘Commonwealth blue’ dress emphasises her dedication to duty

It’s a TV scheduling clash which has thrown the rift between Meghan and Harry and the rest of the Royal family into sharp focus. In the early hours of Monday morning, UK time, the Sussexes will speak freely to Oprah Winfrey about their experiences of life in the The Firm and their decision to leave. Meanwhile, on Sunday evening, the remaining senior working members of the family appeared in a special programme marking Commonwealth Day, a key date in the royal calendar.

While we don’t yet know exactly what the Duchess of Sussex will reveal to Oprah, we are aware that she has laden her look for the event with symbols of her newfound freedom, from a lotus flower dress to a bracelet worn by Princess Diana after she left the royal family.

Another great royal fashion communicator is the Duchess of Cambridge, who has mastered the art of sending messages through her outfits in the decade since she married Prince William.

For her appearance on the Commonwealth programme, Kate’s sartorial sign is clear: she is dressed for duty and her role as a future queen.

The Duchess wears Emilia Wickstead’s ‘Kate’ dress, a style which has become a kind of working uniform for her in recent years. The bold yet simple design echoes the block colours favoured by The Queen, who wore a delphinium blue suit created by Angela Kelly to deliver her Commonwealth Day message. Her Majesty added a personal touch to her outfit, with the the chrysanthemum sapphire brooch which she has worn for numerous family occasions, including portraits with the Duke of Edinburgh taken on their honeymoon in 1947.

Kate and The Queen created a united approach and sense of continuity between generations through their clothing choices. Prince William and Prince Charles also wore shades of blue for the broadcast.

The dark blue colour of the Duchess of Cambridge's dress is significant too as it reflects the key colour of the Commonwealth flag. It is a very literal message that Kate is conscious of the Commonwealth’s importance to her grandmother-in-law and the role she herself plays now and in the future in fostering the relationship between the 54 member states.

The Duchess has worn this dress , which has previously been available to buy in various colours for £1,350, twice before. She debuted it in November 2019 to launch the National Emergencies Trust and then brought it back in October 2020 for a visit marking Baby Loss Awareness Week.

Kate finished her Commonwealth look with the £60 organic pearl stacked hoops which she first wore in a video appearance last weekend. The earrings are a modern take on a classic style from Mejuri, a label creating affordable but sophisticated pieces. The choice shows that while the Duchess might be dressing primarily for diplomatic impact, she’s also keen to remain fashionably relevant.

Over the years, the Duchess has accumulated a wardrobe full of styles like this ‘Commonwealth blue’ dress by Emilia Wickstead, who is from New Zealand (a member of the Commonwealth), but has established her label in London. Kate owns the same style in lavender and green as well as two older versions, all by the same designer. She also has one-colour, knee-length frocks from more of favourite brands, including Jenny Packham, Beulah and Alexander McQueen.

While it remains to be seen how relations between the Cambridges and the Sussexes will develop in the coming days and weeks, this look emphasises Kate’s official role and duty to an institution at a time when that institution is subject to criticism from the Sussexes; it’s the style equivalent of The Queen’s ‘never complain, never explain’ mantra or that other very British cliché, Keep Calm and Carry On.

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