At this past 2024 Royal Windsor Horse Show, Lady Louise Windsor created a truly charming fashion moment. Then, she made her hairstyle even more charismatic by incorporating a colorful scarf to elegantly adorn it. This event was a true reflection of her unparalleled personal flair. It rejoiced in the well-established practice of royal women to wear scarves in a multitude of creative ways.
The Royal Windsor Horse Show has turned into an unofficial additional European royal coronation — a jumping ground for cozy displays of haute couture. At the Pol Roger Meet of the British Driving Society, Lady Louise has displayed her originality by artfully incorporating her scarf into her ponytail. She showed us that this simple accessory can do it all exceptionally well. Her decision is a reflection of a growing pattern by royals. They are quick to adopt the scarf as a tool to express their style and make smart fashion choices.
In 2018, Queen Elizabeth II pretty much upstaged everybody at the show, and that’s saying something. She wore a beautiful silk scarf, artfully arranged and tied on her head. The scarf featured a stunning design of deep and pale pink blossoms. It was the perfect pop of glamour to enhance her look. This lovely example reminds us that royal women have loved scarves for centuries. They’ve come a long way from mere functionality, becoming mighty status symbols of style in the process.
The Princess of Wales, who has been hailed as a fashion icon for her elegant style choice, has repeatedly worn winter printed scarves during her royal outings. Her knack for accessorizing with them has quickly turned her into a go-to authority on royal fashion. In 2007, Kate Middleton—now the Princess of Wales—made a smart, chic statement at the Cheltenham Festival’s final day. She dazzled sartorial observers while rocking a fancy brown head wrap that sent fashion lovers into a frenzy.
Look who else has joined the scarf craze – Princess Anne! She insisted on wearing her Highgrove scarf while attending the QIPCO British Champions Day at Ascot Racecourse in England in 2023. This decision underscored the deep personal nature of her attachment to Highgrove. It also proved to be the perfect accessory for every event — fun and fashionable, ready for every occasion.
Internationally, other royal figures are making the switch to scarves. Queen Letizia of Spain wore a plain scarf paired with her houndstooth coat in 2024, demonstrating how this accessory can enhance even the simplest outfits. More recently, on her visit to Sotres, recently voted the 2024 Best Asturian Village, she decided to don a knotted scarf. This decision drove home her commitment to the intersection of style and local art and culture.
Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden raised eyebrows during her recent visit to the UK. Boy did she turn heads with her daring wearing of a red scarf! Her recent visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew has great implications for international collaborative research projects aimed at achieving greater publicity for biodiversity. It gave her an opportunity to flex her feminine aesthetic sensibilities.
In February during the United Nations Special Advocate event, Queen Maxima of the Netherlands wore an all ruby-red outfit, complete with a matching scarf. This extravagant proclamation emphasized her talent for color matching and in turn evoked her regal character.
Queen Camilla has made the scarf an everyday item in her wardrobes. For this year’s Advent Sunday service, held at Sandringham estate in 2023, she selected a warm brown shawl. She styled it perfectly with this plaid scarf. This pair demonstrated how scarves can bring the practical advantages of warmth and flair to otherwise formal wool business suits.
In 2018, Princess Charlene of Monaco stunned the crowd at a children’s Christmas gift-giving ceremony. She capped her sleek grey trench with a bold red plaid scarf, a shrewd fusion of the avant-garde and ageless couture.
Queen Mary of Denmark took a practical yet stylish approach with her accessory choice. On public occasions, her favourite ensemble was a grey shawl draped over her purple coat dress. These decisions show the depth of thought and planning that goes into all royal fashion, and the classic versus fresh blend.
