The iconic national dress of Japan
Members of royal families typically don luxury brands which most of us can only dream of wearing. With the grandeur of the whole institution, we often don't expect to see royals wearing anything we can afford. But, sometimes, a royal rocks a look that's actually affordable. And while these moments are rare, some incredibly stylish royals have had some great fashion moments in reasonably priced clothing.
From Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle to Queen Letizia of Spain, let's get inspired by these wallet-friendly royal looks.
The Princess of Wales caused a commotion when she appeared at the 2023 BAFTAs rocking these US$28 earrings from fashion retailer Zara. Simply fabulous!
As she left for her honeymoon in 2011, Kate wore a blue pleated Zara dress that cost just under US$90.
This all-green outfit consisted of a US$39.99 ribbed knit Mango sweater, US$50 culottes from Zara, and US$50 Marks & Spencer sneakers. Kate rocked this look at the SportsAid Stars event in London in 2020.
Kate visited the Brookhill Children's Centre in 2015 in London wearing this maternity wrap dress from ASOS. The brand ended up naming it after her.
During Kate's first official visit to New York City in 2014, she stepped out in a US$79 maternity dress from Seraphine.
The expecting royal wore a US$50 polka dot Topshop dress to visit Warner Bros. Studios. It sold out within an hour. Plus, she wore it again to Prince George's godfather's wedding.
In 2016, while visiting the Eden Project in Cornwall, Kate wore these US$30 pants from Gap.
A fan of Zara, the royal wore this US$55 red ribbed midi dress from the retail brand. She rocked it at the Bulldogs Development Centre in Port Talbot, Wales, in 2020.
Another Seraphine maternity dress, Kate wore this lacy blue number for lunch with the King and Queen of Norway in 2018.
While Prince William played polo in the Maserati Royal Charity Polo Trophy in 2018, Kate wore this stunning US$70 dress from Zara.
Kate visited a farm in rural England wearing sensible US$50 pants from Zara in 2017.
The princess wore a leopard-print skirt from Zara, priced at US$50 in January 2020. She wore the outfit to visit Ely and Caerau Children's Centre in Cardiff, Wales.
Pretty in beige! Meghan wore a US$34.99 H&M dress for her visit to the Mayhew Animal Welfare Charity in 2019.
The Duchess of Sussex wore this US$49 purple Aritzia dress from her maternity wardrobe for the second time in 2019. Definitely a stunning color!
On her royal tour of South Africa in 2019, Meghan wore a US$85 dress by Mayamiko, a sustainable fashion label from Malawi.
Meghan wore this US$56 ASOS dress while visiting Wellington, New Zealand, in 2018. What a stylish arrival!
For her first public appearance of 2020, Markle wore a US$70 sweater from Massimo Dutti. Monochrome looks so good on her!
Spotted in London at the Women's Empowerment reception in 2018, the duchess proved that a little black dress doesn't have to be couture. This one is from Saks Fifth Avenue.
At the 2017 Invictus Games, Meghan was spotted rocking this beautiful US$75 burgundy dress from Aritzia. This was when she first started dating Harry.
Another royal fan of Zara, Queen Letizia of Spain wore a US$20 snakeskin-print skirt from the brand to an event at Zarzuela Palace in 2019.
The royal wore this US$65 hot-pink dress by Cayro, with side cutouts, to a fundraising event in Valencia back in 2022. Definitely an eye-catching look!
In 2022, she wore a US$75 Mango dress to present an award to Inmaculada Vivas Tesón. Both showed up to the event wearing the exact same look!
Queen Letizia wore this cute US$26 linen top from Zara while visiting Cieza, Spain, in 2020. Her US$74 handmade pink espadrilles are from the Spanish brand Macarena.
While visiting Gran Canaria, Spain, in 2020, the queen wore this US$26 sleeveless midi dress from Zara. She added her favorite Macarena espadrilles, but in white.
In 2018, Princess Eugenie rocked these cool US$85 sunglasses at the wedding of Charlie Van Straubenzee, a school friend of Prince Harry's.
Princess Sofia attended Crown Princess Victoria's 41st birthday celebration in 2018 wearing an affordable and cute floral frock which only cost US$65 from & Other Stories.
Kate isn't the only royal to skip diamonds and gemstones at fancy events. The Swedish princess wore these cool dangly earrings from Stockholm's Charlotte Bonde back in 2017.
Sources: (CNN) (Insider) (Cosmopolitan)
See also: The worst royal fashion faux pas moments
Beyond diamonds and tiaras: when royals rock affordable fashion
These stylish royals embrace budget-friendly clothing
FASHION Royals
Members of royal families typically don luxury brands which most of us can only dream of wearing. With the grandeur of the whole institution, we often don't expect to see royals wearing anything we can afford. But, sometimes, a royal rocks a look that's actually affordable. And while these moments are rare, some incredibly stylish royals have had some great fashion moments in reasonably priced clothing.
From Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle to Queen Letizia of Spain, let's get inspired by these wallet-friendly royal looks.