They are both tall, willowy brunettes with enviable blow-drys and an elegant understated style. The Duchess of Cambridge and her Danish counterpart Crown Princess Mary have many similarities that have been noted before.
And yesterday it was possible to get a direct comparison, when the pair met up in Copenhagen during the duchess’s two-day visit to learn about Denmark’s approach to early childhood development.
Nearly ten years separates the royals (Kate recently turned 40 and Mary is 50) but their fashion choices are strikingly in sync – both chose monochrome coats (or in Kate’s case a coat dress) accessorised with black gloves, heels and handbags and pearl drop earrings.
Kate is the mistress of mixing high end with High Street and her outfits during this solo tour have been no exception.
While her grey herringbone Catherine Walker coat dress costs around £3,000 and her Mulberry handbag £1,095, not to mention her £510 Gianvito Rossi heels, her earrings were a relatively modest £150 and her Monica Vinader necklace £120. Very much a statement for a woman who can wear ‘proper’ jewels whenever she wants.
In sync: The Duchess of Cambridge and Mary, Crown Princess of Denmark, meet up in Copenhagen on Wednesday, both wearing monochrome coats and accessories
Mary meanwhile chose an off-white boucle coat – there’s debate whether it’s real Chanel or merely Chanel-inspired – which she last wore to lay a wreath in Poland in 2014. Like Kate, she re-uses classics from her wardrobe.
But while both women looked chic and confident, very much the future Queens they are, it’s Kate’s outfit choices that have the fashion edge.
Her structured military-style coat dress is right on trend – accentuated shoulders and nipped-in waists having been favoured by Yves Saint Laurent on the catwalk – and gives her a streamlined, fuss-free style that flatters her figure.
This is harder to achieve when layering a coat over a dress, as Mary did. While chic, her coat looked just a little ‘safe’. She also wore Gianvito Rossi pumps.
Kate’s look showcased her talent for practicality, not to mention diplomacy. Her full-length Catherine Walker is made from a cashmere mix and keeps the duchess warm enough that she can get away with the sheerest of tights.
It’s long enough to make the subtle flash of flesh at the ankle elegant, and prevents the overall look from becoming too frumpy. Given the shorter hemline of Princess Mary’s dress and coat, black opaque tights are essential to avoid goose-bumped legs but they do look a little more mumsy.
Kate’s fuss-free approach to dressing is also shown in her choice of bag. Mary has tucked her £250 black suede and leather Diane von Furstenberg clutch neatly under her arm, but Kate’s top-handle bag appears more modern.
Warm embrace: The women say goodbye after a busy day visiting the Danner Crisis Centre in Copenhagan, Denmark, during Kate’s two-day trip
Shining pearls: The royals wear remarkably similar earrings. While Kate’s are modest in terms of cost, Mary’s are rather more pricey – £1,110 by Dulong Fine Jeweller
Both have chosen classic leather gloves: Kate’s look to be a modest £59 pair from Dents. It’s not a coincidence that they’re ‘twinning’ in their jewellery choices, with remarkably similar drop pearl earrings. The spring-summer 2022 catwalks showcased lots of pearls.
The accessory de rigueur of the Eighties Sloane Ranger, they’ve recently undergone an edgy makeover, led by brands such as Maria Black, who is Danish-born but now based in Britain and made Kate’s earrings.
Note that the pearls are hammered and slightly distressed, not the smooth, gobstopper types of years gone by. While Kate’s earrings are modest in terms of cost, Mary’s are rather more pricey – £1,110 by Dulong Fine Jewellery.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s look also highlighted the fashion challenges faced by royals on tour. Earlier in the morning she’d visited Stenurten Forest Kindergarten near the city.
Given that she was taking part in outdoor activities including chopping wood and running around with the little ones, a coat dress and heels would not have been appropriate.
Instead she wore a practical combination of jeans, jumper and waxed jacket. Her flat ankle boots were by Australian outdoor specialists Blundstone, perhaps a subtle nod to the Australian heritage of Crown Princess Mary.
The Duchess of Cambridge pictured arriving at the Stenurten Forest Kindergarten in Copenhagen on the second day of her visit to Denmark
Kate also swapped her trusty British Barbour for a similar style by Danish brand Seeland. While her belt is Mulberry – £150 – her cream roll-neck is a bargain £29.99 from H&M. Her high-waisted skinny jeans are £49.99 from favourite Zara.
Her long-time stylist Natasha Archer is on maternity leave and it’s not known whether she helped Kate create these looks remotely or if the duchess has had advice from others.
After her kindergarten visit, it’s likely she made her quick change at the Ambassador’s Residence, with her hair and make-up for the day chosen to help with a seamless changeover.
She took only a small team to Denmark – her private secretary, a PA and her hairdresser, thought to be Amanda Cook Tucker, who she pays for privately.
Her wavy blow-dry stayed the same for both visits, and while her make-up might have looked a little heavy for mucking around outside, it looked spot on in the more formal surroundings of a palace.
Both non-royal by birth, Kate and Mary have grown into their roles. Certainly with Kate’s increased confidence in her work has come an increased confidence in her fashion choices. The Queen has a distinct style, and now, so does the Duchess of Cambridge. Safe to say she’s learnt from the best.