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Here’s a list that is bound to cause a little controversy and more than a few heated debates amongst royal fashion fans: Tatler has just released its list of Best Dressed Brits—and not only is Kate Middleton nowhere to be found on the list, a different royal took first place. Who, you may be wondering? Princess Beatrice, King Charles’ niece and Middleton’s cousin-in-law
Of course, this is not to say that Beatrice is not deserving of the title of Best Dressed Brit. After all, the concept of “best dressed” is ultimately subjective. Plus, the royal has developed a rather chic and distinctive sense of style over the past few years, frequently making daring sartorial choices that only the true fashion It girlies can fully comprehend. Just take that utterly iconic sculptural fascinator she wore oh so proudly at Will and Kate’s wedding. Then, there was her wonderfully flouncy Blair Waldorf-esque pink fascinator at Royal Ascot this summer.
It could be argued that, while Kate may be the most dependable dresser in the family, Beatrice is one of the boldest. As Tatler put it, she is the “pinnacle of contemporary splendour.”
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Beatrice has recently been working with stylist Olivia Buckingham, who has also styled the likes of Carey Mulligan and Poppy Delevingne.
Beatrice has made a number of royal appearances this year, where she has had a chance to showcase her ever-evolving style. Just last week, she visited a London school on a royal outing wearing a fresh, floral maxidress by British brand ME+EM. She opted for florals again while attending Wimbledon earlier this month, wearing a striking white lace shirtdress by Monique Lhuillier. She made two appearances at Royal Ascot this year, wearing first a pink floral dress and then a green floral dress. She paired bother summery looks with elaborate fascinators.
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Tatler’s nod to Beatrice’s fashion sense comes after she and her sister, Princess Eugenie, have “stepped up” to take on a more active role in the family in the wake of Middleton’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. As a source told Us Weekly earlier this year, “Beatrice will be stepping up the number of engagements she does.”
Meanwhile, sources have suggested that Middleton intends to keep her calendar more balanced in the future. “Before, she used to live her life by the calendar, and now she is living her life, and the calendar comes in after,” royal biographer Robert Jobson told People. “She will be back, but when you have had an experience like this, it changes your perspective and the order of things.”
