From Meghan Markle to the Queen, how the royals do Christmas Day dressing

Last Christmas, the internet went into a collective frenzy following an unprecedented break in royal protocol. Meghan Markle, newly-engaged to Prince Harry, had been invited to attend the Queen’s annual Christmas Day church service. Held at St Mary Magdalene near Sandringham House, the event is normally reserved for members of the royal family (the Duchess of Cambridge has only attended since her marriage in 2011), so Markle’s presence raised a number of questions. Would the couple disregard protocol in other matters? What were their plans over Christmas? And, what had she chosen to wear on this momentous occasion?

The answer to the latter was a Sentaler camel coat, a chestnut-brown Philip Treacy hat, suede Stuart Weitzman boots and a Chloé Pixie bag. No sooner were the items identified, that many of them promptly sold out online. Bojana Sentaler, the designer behind the Toronto-based outerwear label Sentaler, told People that she began receiving orders for the coat from around the world. “Meghan has been a fan of Sentaler for a couple of years now, so I was aware that she owned our coats,” she added. “But it wasn’t until that day, at 6am, that I woke up to a tweet of Meghan Markle wearing my coat. It was the best Christmas present I could have ever received!”

“‘The Meghan effect” has proven to be as lucrative for brands as “the Kate effect”. On the same day, the Duchess of Cambridge opted for a Miu Miu tartan coat with gold buttons and a black velvet collar. Within 24 hours, it was out of stock online and being advertised on eBay for exorbitant sums. In the past, the Duchess’s Christmas Day uniform has consisted of sleek coats, knee-high boots, Lock & Co. hats and delicate Kiki McDonough earrings. She has a penchant for jewel tones and an eye for a high-street bargain: in 2016, she wore a burgundy belted coat from Hobbs that cost just £182. The brand benefited from the association, posting a 14.3 per cent increase in sales over the 13 weeks leading up to New Year’s Eve.

Also of note are the Queen’s Christmas ensembles: brightly-coloured coats, coordinating hats, brooches and her signature pearls. Meanwhile, Prince Philip, William and Harry rely on dark suits and wool coats, rounding off a supremely stylish group. As the royal family prepare to reunite for this year’s outing, Vogue looks back at their best Christmas Day outfits to date.