Princess Anne has a famously strong winter wardrobe, but she confused royal fans on 25 February as she stepped out on a solo engagement. The 75-year-old sister of King Charles wore full winter attire on Thursday amid a temperature spike in England, where Londoners have basked in sunshine and 17-degree heat all day long.
However, from a first glance, her followers may not have realised that the Princess Royal had quietly travelled to Scotland to attend the American Geophysical Union Ocean Sciences Meeting in Glasgow – where it is a decidedly cooler 11 degrees.
The Princess Royal during her visit to the American Geophysical Union Ocean Sciences Meeting
As for the outfit in question, Anne donned a heavy structured blazer in a deep crimson colour. It featured a collarless neckline and was fully buttoned up. She also added a thick wool pleated skirt, patent knee-high boots and warm winter gloves.
The Princess Royal opted for a warm winter ensemble while in Scotland
Adding to the warm look, Anne also slipped a printed scarf on and added her signature black crossbody bag, but hung it from one shoulder.
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Princess Anne’s style staples
A crimson skirt and knee-high boots are Anne’s winter wardrobe staples, worn on public engagements and to events such as the Cheltenham Festival (which takes place this year from 10 – 13 March).
Last October, the royal swapped her trusty flippy skirt for a more structured pencil style as she visited the British Racing School and Newmarket Pony Academy in Suffolk, before dropping in at a Save the Children shop in Whitby in Yorkshire. Here, she added a printed coat and the same gloves to keep the chill off.
Anne’s ‘polished’ ensemble
Of her understated ensemble, Angela Kyte, a luxury stylist with a decade of experience, told us at the time: “Princess Anne continues to prove that true style transcends trends. Her latest ensemble is a masterclass in understated British elegance, and it’s practical, polished, and deeply authentic.”
The stylist added: “The deep claret skirt injects a refined pop of colour, offering warmth against the neutral tweed and giving the outfit a feminine lift without losing its practicality. Paired with sleek black knee-high boots, Anne strikes the perfect balance between function and form, which is ideal for public engagements that demand both comfort and poise.”
Princess Anne donned cigarette trousers alongside SRU President Keith Wallace during a Guinness Six Nations match
That said, Anne is not afraid to play it cool in trousers. She opted for a cigarette style and casual trainers on 14 February while attending a Guinness Six Nations match between Scotland and England at Murrayfield Stadium.
Anne often wears a tartan scarf to watch Scotland play rugby
Her cropped duffel coat gave the look a sense of structure, and she added a pop of colour through her navy and forest green plaid scarf that signalled her role as patron of the Scottish Rugby Union.