Princess of Wales flies the flag for British fashion on solo visit to Italy
The Princess of Wales made her entrance in Reggio Emilia, her first official overseas solo visit since 2022, in sharply tailored blue - Samir Hussein/WireImage
The Princess of Wales cut a businesslike figure as she arrived in Reggio Emilia, Italy, for her first official overseas solo visit since 2022.
Wearing a cornflower blue suit by Edeline Lee, with a Holland Cooper wrap blouse and an Asprey bag, she had made every effort to celebrate and amplify British fashion talent.
It’s an outfit that speaks volumes about how she sees her role as a senior working member of the Royal family. While this trip will focus on her work on early childhood development, the Princess understands that she also has a role in promoting British businesses. Every engagement, no matter its purpose, serves as an opportunity to further that message.
Mayor Marco Massari (left) welcomed the Princess of Wales to Reggio Emilia’s Town Hall on the first day of her visit - Stuart C Wilson/Getty Images
It will come as a positive step for the British fashion industry, many members of which were dismayed in February 2025 after a palace source said that it would not always share information about what the Princess was wearing. “There will always be an appreciation of what the Princess is wearing from some of the public, and she gets that. But do we need to be officially always saying what she is wearing? No. The style is there, but it’s about the substance,” The Sunday Times reported.
It inspired so much debate that a clarification was swiftly issued by a spokesperson: “To be clear, there has been no change in our approach to sharing information about Her Royal Highness’s clothing.”
In the time since, Catherine has thrown her support behind a range of home-grown labels, from emerging talents like Tolu Coker, to tailor Chris Kerr, to Victoria Beckham. Canadian-born, London-based Edeline Lee is emerging as a reliable go-to for Catherine, who already has two dresses from the brand: the Pedernal in emerald green and a custom version of the Jeté in chocolate brown.
The label is also loved by the likes of Grace Dent, Dame Helena Morrissey and Toni Collette – serious, high-achieving women with demanding lives, who do not need to be worrying about their clothes on top of everything else.
Catherine previously wore Edeline Lee’s emerald green ‘Pedernal’ dress (pictured here in 2022 with Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design winner Saul Nash) - Chris Jackson/BFC
Catherine’s latest outfit comprises the “Lola” blazer, £1,350, and “Averill” trousers, £650, which are made from a mid-weight, smooth-textured Georgette Champion woven in Italy. The jacket has a cinched back to create a nipped-in waist and peplum silhouette. It also features distinctive white, fabric-covered buttons.
Every piece is made in the UK, adding further emphasis to Catherine’s “best of British” ensemble.
Choosing a statement hue is also key to this mission. While a black or navy suit is always chic, bright blue is a conversation-starter that draws attention to her wardrobe.
It also reflects the late Queen’s approach to style: she would largely wear bold colours because she knew she had to “be seen to be believed”. It was a service to anyone who might be hoping for a glimpse of her.
For the crowds of Italians gathered to witness the Princess’s visit on Wednesday, the eye-catching colour will surely have been appreciated.
This is the first outfit of several that we’re expecting to see over the next 48 hours, and among them, we may well see some Italian labels in the mix, in homage to her host country. We’ll be tracking each look and detailing them here.
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