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Princess Anne and Queen Camilla Coordinate Looks on Christmas in Rare Show of Unity

The royals’ annual Christmas walk brought a lot of surprises, but it was Anne who stood out from the rest, given her choice of outfit that closely matched Camilla’s.

Apart from being one of King Charles's most cherished traditions, the Sandringham church walk is also one of the most closely watched events of the royal calendar. This Christmas as well, the public and the media eagerly waited for the royal family to take their annual walk to St. Magdalene Church, followed by their customary greetings to well-wishers outside. As expected, senior royals stepped out with Charles leading the way. However, it was Princess Anne who stood out from the rest, thanks to her choice of outfit that closely matched Queen Camilla’s.

The Princess Royal arrived alongside her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, and the two walked with the wider royal family as they made their way to the church on the Sandringham Estate. Anne’s appearance turned heads as she and Camilla both turned up for the walk wearing long red coats in a rare show of unity.

Anne's outfit was a recycled one, and she had worn the same vintage red coat for the first time in May 1997. She then also brought it out for Christmas Day 2000. Now, almost 28 years later, it still remains one of the most striking clothing pieces in her wardrobe. She paired the coat with navy boots and a brown fur hat perfectly suited for the chilly Norfolk weather.  

Interestingly, this was not the first time the two royal women had worn matching outfits. In July, the two attended a garden party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Scotland, wearing bright blue outfits that immediately caught the attention of royal watchers. While the Princess Royal looked regal, matching outfits with the Queen is allegedly considered a big no-no. This was something the late Queen Elizabeth was quite particular about. She believed the Queen was supposed to stand out, visible to everyone gathered, and so always wore bright colors and was not particularly fond of junior royals coordinating with her.  

So why did Anne, a stickler for royal protocol, break a rule upheld by her mother? Well, there might be a symbolic reason why Anne coordinated with Camilla. The monarchy is currently going through a major reputational crisis due to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's past ties with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. It is hence believed that the color-coordinated outfits may have been an attempt at projecting a united front amid the mounting controversies.

Anne and Camilla have shared a rather distant relationship, largely because the latter entered the family after a long, controversial relationship with Charles. Anne, famously known for being strict about rules and public behavior, was reportedly not a fan of the public scrutiny that followed with the Queen Consort. But, over the years, the Princess Royal seems to have had a change of heart and, on several occasions, has talked kindly about her sister-in-law.