Princess Diana Was Honored and British-Nigerian Talent Was Spotlighted During State Visit
King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton) were on hand to officially welcome Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady of Nigeria Oluremi Tinubu for their state visit to the U.K. on March 18.
As per usual with high-profile royal events, all eyes were on Prince William’s wife as Kate has become such a fashion icon over the years. With her look, the princess made sure to honor her late mother-in-law, Princess Diana, and spotlight a designer whose work often celebrates Yoruba culture, one of the largest ethnic groups in Nigeria.
She did so by wearing a pair of Diana’s pearl-drop earrings with a grey coat dress by young British-Nigerian fashion designer Tolu Coker. The same designer whose show King Charles made a surprise front-row appearance at during London Fashion Week in February. Kate matched her outfit with a gray Jane Taylor fascinator, which featured a white bow.
Lauren Bulla is a fashion journalist who has been featured in The Independent, New Wave Magazine, and several other publications. She recently became the Fashion Editor of Groupie Magazine. There, she provides in-depth, on-the-ground coverage of New York, Paris, London, Berlin, and Copenhagen fashion weeks.
Speaking on behalf of Slots Temple, Bulla told Showbiz Cheat Sheet, “The grey coat dress features a white detail along the collar and front lapels. Its structured shoulders reflect 80s-influenced trends, particularly the return of shoulder pads. [Kate] paired the look with a set of earrings from Princess Diana’s collection, a subtle nod to the history and lasting impact of the royal family.
“Kate has long championed emerging talent, so it makes sense that she chose an ensemble by designer Tolu Coker. The matching hat pulls the elegant look together, emblematic of nuanced sartorial influence while leaning into the classic silhouettes associated with the royal family. It was a pointed choice to wear a garment crafted by a designer of Nigerian descent to welcome the President and First Lady of Nigeria.”
Bulla added, “The outfit showcases Coker’s excellence in craftsmanship and distinctive styling, paired with British influence. In doing so, it opens up conversations about how different cultures can grow together and traverse new horizons, while still honouring the past. This piece was selected from Coker’s AW24 collection, entitled ‘Broken English.’ The collection was inspired by her two-week trip to Ghana and served as a thought-provoking commentary on mass consumption.”
As for the rest of the royals, Queen Camilla donned a pink wool crepe dress by Fiona Clare with a pink beret-shaped hat by Philip Treacy. She paid homage to a royal before her as well by wearing the late Queen Elizabeth‘s Cartier flower clip brooches.
King Charles, meanwhile, donned a traditional morning suit. Upon his arrival at Windsor Castle, he was seen carrying a black top hat in his hand. Like his father, William chose a morning suit. His was worn with a blue waistcoat and he opted not to go with the top hat.
