We may only be in the second week of the year, but in Europe, stylish royals are already starting to show off their know-how in dressing up.
An example of this is Queen Mary of Denmark, who attended a traditional New Year’s celebration this month in a white and gold embroidered dress by local designer Terry John from Riki .
Meanwhile, over in Spain, the ever-stylish Queen Letizia went for a more completely Castilian approach to dressing up for the recent Pascua military ceremony, wearing a rich burgundy maxi dress accessorized with pearl earrings and necklace.
While some royals may conform to their country’s fashion ethos, such as the Scandinavian emphasis on practicality or tradition, the individual personalities and backgrounds of royals often play a larger role.
It’s only been a year since Queen Mary was crowned alongside her husband King Frederick X, but within those 12 months, she quickly became one of the most elegant monarchs in Europe.
Having been a princess for two decades before becoming Queen, The Australian mother already knew that the key to being loved for her fashion was to stand up for local talent, something she does all the time.
However, she has also improved her style in the past year, often opting for structured pieces characterized by corsets, waistcoats, prominent sleeves and a high neck that symbolize her focus and seriousness as a doppelganger (it is certainly easy to see why she is often compared to her English counterpart, the Princess of Wales).
After making her first solo trips as Queen in 2024, expect to see more of Mary on the world stage this year.
The 40-year-old former model-turned-royal is known for her minimalist Scandi style. In Sweden, they like the Royals to be “from the people”, with a trimmed royal family and a low-key way of life (they are sometimes called” Bicycle royalty ” because of their fondness for traveling by bike), so it’s not surprising, they are often seen in jeans.
In Monaco, elegance is in the DNA of the family; this is what happens when Grace Kelly is the late mother of the family.
Beatrice Borromeo, the wife of Pierre Casiraghi, stands out especially among today’s current group of fashion experts within the Grimaldi family, known for her love not only for French fashion houses (she works a lot with Dior) but also Italian brands, paying tribute to her own heritage.
No mean feat when considering her sisters-in-law are Charlotte Casiraghi and Tatiana Santo Domingo. Look for her at Paris Fashion Week, the Monaco Grand Prix, and at the Rose Ball wearing the haute couture dresses that she cast as a modern-day princess.
Over the past decade, the Argentine-born Queen of the Netherlands emchexima has honed her sense of style, becoming her own in the last few years.
With a penchant for bright colors and prints inherited from her South American upbringing, she is also known to resort to sculptural details to make an impression, a combination that in the past has led to a few howls.
Fortunately, she has improved her sense of style as she reaches middle age, often focusing on one bold color with tonal accessories, wearing designer dresses with fun details that make an impression.
The Spaniards do the high street well-see the amazing shows of mango, zara, Pemba Y Lola and pull and bear, all of which are known to be worn by the King.
In 2025, it was business as usual for the prolific monarch – known for being one of the most difficult in Europe – especially since her daughter and heir to the throne, Princess Leonor, graduated from Military College. Expect a mother-daughter clothing duet to appear during the year.
