Kate Middleton and Prince William attends Buckingham Palace Christmas lunch

Prince William, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge attended the Queen's Buckingham Palace Christmas lunch on Wednesday.

Tim Rooke/Rex/REX USA

Tim Rooke/Rex/REX USA

Tim Rooke/Rex/REX USA

Tim Rooke/Rex/REX USA

©James Whatling / Splash News

                            KATHERINE HOOKER Ascot Red Dress       MAPPIN & WEBB Necklace

Earrings date back to 2007, they were also worn by Catherine's sister - Pippa

Kate Middleton visited the East Anglia's Children's Hospices (EACH)

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge visits an EACH (East Anglia Children's Hospice) Appeal Launch Event at Norfolk Showground in Norwich, England. 25 November 2014

        KATHERINE HOOKER Dress        JIMMY CHOO Pumps       RUSSEL & BROMLEY Clutch

                                           KIKI McDonough Earrings          MAPPIN & WEBB  Necklace

Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 6-9 June

1. a) Attending the wedding of Prince William's cousin Emily McCorquodale, 9 June, in a series of repeats: b) the Katherine Hooker coat from Garter Day last year, c) the Jenny Packham dress seen watching polo in Los Angeles, and d) the Whiteley hat from last year's Epsom Derby.

Photos: BestImage/Katherine Hooker/Jenny Packham/Getty

Flashback Friday: Extreme Dress Makeovers

Way back in January, Crown Princess Mary turned up at the annual New Year's Courts in two old dresses recut, restyled, and repurposed.

In red in 2007 and 2012; in blue in 2006 and 2012

Mary's craftiness naturally started me thinking about other royals that have sent their clothes in for some sartorial surgery - it doesn't take a royal fashion encyclopedia to guess that Mary's far from the first to try it. In fact, this isn't even the first time Mary's tried this thrifty strategy for a new look.

In blue lace in 2004 and 2009; draped in 2010 and 2011

Fancy (and pricey) blue lace from an early gown was recut into a new shape for a trip to Vietnam in 2009, and just last year in Australia she debuted a remake of the Jesper Høvring gown she wore to Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden's wedding. Like many, I wondered at the time of the wedding if the original lace of the gown wasn't just a temporary solution to cover her shoulders for the church - after all, it did seem a bit of an odd match. But the extra over the shoulder touch in the finished product was a wonderful surprise outcome.

If Mary has the redesign flair, it's easy to trace it back to a possible source: none other than her mother-in-law, Queen Margrethe. Not at all surprising from such a creative mind, right?

In pink at Frederik and Mary's wedding in 2004 and the New Year's Court 2012; in the original blue and the end dress on display

Queen Margrethe's wonderful ensemble for Mary and Frederik's wedding lives on, though not in exactly the same amount of wonderfulness as the fuchsia coat has been recut into a regular frock. And one of the dresses included in the jubilee exhibit of her gala gowns has been redone several times: first made by Eric Mortensen for Balmain in 1990, Margrethe later had her trusty couturier Jørgen Bender alter the neckline and sleeves twice before adding on the dramatic lace overlay.

In 2004, 2005, and 2009

Another example we've seen before comes from Spain and the always budget conscious Princess Letizia. Her pre-wedding dinner dress came from Spanish royal favorite Lorenzo Caprile, and Caprile was called upon to change it up for a state visit the year after the wedding. But at some point, Letizia went totally off of Caprile and switched to Felipe Varela for reasons unknown. The third alteration of the dress, in 2009, was not Caprile's work...a fact which I think is quite evident. Important note about dress redos: quit while you're ahead.

In 2006 and 2011

Stepping out of the gown realm for a quick second, Kate Middleton made a thrifty pre-wedding splash by chopping some serious inches off of an old Katherine Hooker coat. It would not surprise me at all if she ends up with quite a string of clever reworks to her name as her royal years add up.

In 1989 and 1992

Perhaps she'll one day take a page out of Diana's book and cut any whiff of outdated flair right out of a look. The full skirt on this Catherine Walker gown gave way to a much sleeker sheath dress, all while keeping the intricate top.

In 1984 and 2001

Last but not least, look at this: even the Queen of Thrifty Royals, Princess Anne, isn't opposed to hacking up a 1980s monstrosity. Which leaves me with but one question...why doesn't she do it more often?!

These are by no means the only examples out there of royal dress makeovers, so let me ask you this:

What's your favorite dress redo?

And for bonus points:

Which current royal dress would you like to see go under the scissors?

Photos: Daylife/Mirror/Scanpix/PPE/Colourpress

Royal Fashion Awards: The Cheltenham Races, 2012

It's Cheltenham time once again, but sadly this year's annual race meeting didn't seem to attract as many royals as it did last year. Alas! We trudge on:

Best in Coats - Zara Division

Day 1

Left to Right: Days 1, 2, 3, 4

Never fear, though - Zara Phillips can always be counted on to bring the fierce racing style in Gloucestershire. A parade of lovely coats this year (including a Katherine Hooker number also owned by Kate), but my favorite was the gray Tonia Bastyan from day 1. She just looked ridiculously chic working that fur collar.

Best in Hats - Zara Division

Day 4

L to R: Days 1, 2, 3, 4

Look, fellow royals! Zara has proven that you can have all the explosive, feathery fun of a fascinator without bolting anything to your forehead. Love, love so much her saucy Amy Money chapeau from day 4, and am wishing now more than ever that she'll turn up for Ascot this year.

Best in Typical

Princess Anne

L, Day 2; R, Day 4

Zara's mum turned up for days 2 and 4...and she was there. That's about all you can say about that. 

Worst in Oh No, Here We Go Again

The Duchess of Cornwall

Camilla showed up too, for Ladies' Day, and earned one big Here We Go Again eye roll from me, and not because of the outfit - though, fair enough, we've seen that polka dotted business and that dowdy hat one too many times. I'm rolling my eyes at the brooch. With due apologies to emeralds and diamonds around the world, every time we see this brooch we have to go through the whole "She's wearing Diana's jewels! ZOMG How Dare She!" business [insert exasperated sigh here].

The brooch, which depicts the feathers of the Prince of Wales, belonged to Queen Alexandra and has been passed down from there. Some believe that there is a second identical brooch that belonged to Queen Mary (thus opening up the possibility that Camilla is wearing a different brooch than Diana wore). I don't, but it doesn't matter. The answer to the question "Is Camilla wearing Diana's brooch?!" is NO either way.

Do you know what I mean? I mean, it's not "Diana's" brooch. It's Queen Alexandra's brooch. It is a Prince of Wales brooch. Many ladies over time have rightfully worn it, including both Diana and Camilla. And everybody getting all in a bunch over it is why we can't have nice things, like the reappearance of the Cambridge Lover's Knot Tiara, say, or that magically delicious sapphire choker Diana wore (both on my wish list for future Catherine appearances but for which I fear I might be waiting forever to see because of the inevitable Diana comparisons).

Okay, sorry, I'll get off my soapbox now, and ask you:

Which look wins the Cheltenham Gold Cup for you?

Photos: Daylife/Reuters/Getty Images/Big Pictures Photo/Alan Davidson/The Picture Library/Pete Goddard/Splash News/The Daily Mail

Random Royal Appreciation: Windsor Shenanigans, Continued

When last we left off with those crazy Windsors, Harry was headed to Brazil, where he continued to be so very Harry.

You know: dashing and handsome, sporty and hilarious (yes, that's him with the wee bit creepy Wills mask).

And also UNBEARABLY ADORABLE. Quite the note to end his first solo tour, which I hope we can all agree was nothing less than a rousing success. Done your granny proud, H.

And speaking of granny - she was out and about and doused once again in pink for the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey yesterday (sporting a paisley motif diamond brooch from her mother). The Duchess of Cornwall turned up in purple, just for me I'm sure (much appreciated, Your Royal Highness).

And a bonus Wessex, back in action after her extended Caribbean tour! Sophie was radiant in her Katherine Hooker coat and kind as ever - as you can see, she graciously allowed some of the queen's swans to nest on her hat again. Lovely.


Photos: Daylife/Getty Images/Reuters/AP Photo

Week in Review: The Duchess of Cambridge, 12-18 June

Here's what Catherine wore from 12-18 June:

1. Attending Prince Philip's birthday service, 12 June, a) on Kate with Jane Corbett fascinator and LK Bennett shoes, b) the Zara dress underneath, c) the first appearance of the Jane Troughton coat, and d) her earrings.

Some of you said this was a bit of a blue overdose, with the blue brocade coat over the blue dress and topped with a blue fascinator. And while I won't disagree with you on that, I'm not docking her for it. My reasons are threefold: 1) she wore a color, and I'll take it, 2) she's not wearing the coat in exactly the same way she did when she first wore it, and you know how annoyed I get when people repeat the exact same outfit - mixing it up is good for the soul, and 3) she resisted the bridesmaid urge to stick blue shoes with the thing, so we know that she did in fact exercise some Smurf restraint. I threw the earrings in there too; lots of people are suspecting she's wearing a pair that used to belong to Diana - pretty generic earring form to have a definite identification on that, but it's a definite possibility.

2. Prince Philip's birthday dinner, 12 June, a) the best view, b) the full view, behind Zara, c) the dress from Stella McCartney, and d) the dress as worn by Madonna.

THIS IS SO SAD. I mean, she wears something with color and it's shiny and it's Stella Freaking McCartney and it's...this. With all due apologies to Kate's army of admirers, somebody has to call it: we've got her first official Hot Mess on our hands. I'd say we need to give it another outing with better lighting and better photography, but sadly that outing can obviously not be anything involving such strenuous activities as, uh, sitting without this thing getting creased to bugger and back. (Also: I strongly object to the choice of black pumps - court shoes, if you please - with this. Give me a little metallic strappy number and we'll talk.)

3. Garter Day, 13 June, a) on Kate with a Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat, and b) from Katherine Hooker.

I love that she's not just sticking with Philip Treacy as her main hat boyfriend, by the way. Clearly that strategy isn't working out so well for Beatrice and Eugenie, so a little variety is just what the milliner ordered.  With regards to the rest of it, I stand by my original assessment of this outfit: aging? Yes. Timeless/princessish/eminently appropriate? Also yes. Of this week, I'd have to declare this one my favorite.

Do you have a favorite this week?

Photos: Daylife/Getty/Robin Bell/Daily Mail/Katherine Hooker/Zara

Royal Fashion Awards: Garter Day 2011

You guys, I love Garter Day. Celebrating the oldest order of chivalry in the world? How much more royal can you get? Most of the gentlemen and selected ladies turn up in their Hogwarts finest (yes, I did make a Harry Potter reference last year, and I will make one every year that we do this thang), but we do get a few ladies that turn up in their English-hatted best for our entertainment too. So let's get to business and throw some awards out on the table.

Best Future Repeat

The Duchess of Cambridge

I saw two opinions on this Katherine Hooker coat and Rachel Trevor-Morgan hat today: OMGAMAZINGOMGSOPRETTY, or ...why is she dressing like a 60-year-old? I could agree with you either way, actually. This is very similar to what the Countess of Wessex has been wearing lately, and the Countess is 46 years old. It's very similar to the silhouette that Camilla wore today, and Camilla is 63 years old. But there's a reason why this style crosses generations: it's universally flattering. It's like the International Princess Uniform. And you know we'll be seeing this for as many years to come as Kate's figure/tailor will allow.

Best in Benjamin Button

The Countess of Wessex

Speaking of the 46-year-old Countess...damn. Sophie looks younger than she did when she married Edward, no? Loving her with her hair up. Thus, I hereby confer a second Benjamin Button title (the first belongs to dear Marie-Chantal, of course) on our Sophie. Well played, Countess.

Best in Froof

The Duchess of Cornwall

This lady has a tremendous ability to pull off a wackadoodle hat. Personally, I love it when she whips that talent out and lets it shine, and this harried Cousin It chapeau is just the thing. Add in a new coat, flattering as can be, and I'm sold.

Best in Bling

Queen Elizabeth

This is one of the times when she brings out the serious daytime bling - every year, the Queen's earrings are killer. Now, these are some sapphire and diamond earrings: Kate, take note. (Yet another reason why I love Garter Day: excuses for diamonds in the daylight are always welcome!)

Best Knight

Princess Alexandra

Garter Knights, left to right: the Duke of Edinburgh, Princess Alexandra of Kent, the Duke of Gloucester, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal, the Duke of Kent, the Prince of Wales, the Earl of Wessex, the Duke of Cambridge

I heart Princess Alexandra, plain and simple. There's no one more elegant, especially in velvet and feathers. As I threw out on Twitter earlier today, we need to get a petition started for Alexandra to take Kate under her wing and teach her the Princess way. Who's with me?

Best Enthusiasm

Lady Louise Windsor

And you thought smiley Kate and her blushing husband were the tops of the cute tree. Good thing Louise, watching from the side with her school chums, is here to show you what's up. More Louise, please!

Best Theme

Lady Sarah Chatto

You know how I don't like neutrals. You know how I don't like it when people wear the same thing over and over again. Well, I'm breaking all my rules. Here's Lady Sarah (attending because one of her sons was pageboy for the Queen this year), looking a whole lot like she did yesterday, and a whole lot like she did at the wedding, and I don't care. This lady is on a one-woman crusade to bring back 1950s glam, and I am behind her all the way. You go, Lady Sarah! Show 'em how it's done!

Worst in Mysterious

The Duchess of Gloucester

Here's Birgitte, only seen because she's sitting next to Anne. You can also see her hiding between Kate and the gentleman on the right in the first picture in this post. Barely visible because once again she's not worn anything of note. How sad! She's so utterly lovely (and a total candidate for another Benjamin Button award, I'm telling you). I'm not saying she should start borrowing from the millinery closet of Princess Beatrice, but we could do a little better than navy/black, right?

Who topped your best-dressed list at the Garter Ceremony?

Photos: Getty Images/Daylife/Reuters/Isopix/Newspix/Belga