Now, the Duke and Duchess of York’s eldest daughter has been hailed “a beacon of sartorial elegance” by the fashion magazine.
The Princess’s fashion evolution has led to the recognition that she is a royal style pioneer in her own right, dressing in brands also favoured by the Princess of Wales, including Beulah London, Self-Portrait and The Vampire’s Wife.
When celebrating her style in an article for her 35th birthday last summer, Tatler said the Princess “reigns supreme as an undisputed queen of sartorial savvy” – a departure from the coverage she faced at Christmas in 2005 when she wore an unusual purple hat to church at Sandringham.
New stylist
The transformation appeared to begin when stylist Olivia Buckingham entered the Princess’s life six years ago.
Buckingham was named in Tatler’s 2023 best-dressed list, alongside the Princess’s husband, the Italian-British property developer Edo Mapelli Mozzi, with whom the Princess has a two-year-old daughter, Sienna.
The Princess has also attended what is typically hailed as the biggest night in the global fashion calendar, the Met Gala, in 2018. For the high-profile event, she chose a modest purple dress by Alberta Ferretti with an embellished neckline and a matching headband.
Other names on Tatler’s 2024 list include Annabel Elliot, the Queen’s sister, and Lord Will Gordon-Lennox, son of the 11th Duke of Richmond.