Skip to main contentSkip to footer
LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 21:  Prince William, Prince of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend the State Banquet at Buckingham Palace on November 21, 2023 in London, England. King Charles is hosting Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee on a state visit from November 21-23. It is the second incoming state visit hosted by the King during his reign. (Photo by Yui Mok-WPA Pool/Getty Images)© WPA Pool

6 magnificent gowns worn by royalty's most glamorous ladies in 2023

From Princess Kate's recycled BAFTAs gown to Princess Charlene's disco ball sequins...

Georgia Brown
Senior Lifestyle & Fashion Writer
December 31, 2023
Share this:

As the year draws to a close, so does another chapter of spellbinding style moments from royalty's best dressed ladies. 

We've seen the Princess of Wales prove her penchant for sparkles, her daughter Princess Charlotte make her designer debut, Queen Camilla don a dress that took six years to make, and Princess Beatrice wear her mother's York tiara in a surprise fashion moment nobody was expecting. 

As HELLO!s Senior Lifestyle and Fashion Writer, there are few royal style moments I haven't covered this year. While we've already ranked which fashionable frocks and Barbie pink power suits made the cut of the most memorable royal outfits of 2023 - which formal gowns take the crown as royalty's most glamorous moments?

Let's take a fashion flashback to the most daring, opulent, and decadent gowns worn by the royal fashion set this year.

Most glamorous royal gowns of 2023

Kate Middleton wears sequin gown and embellished heels at the Jordan royal wedding© Royal Hashemite Court

Princess Kate's glittering pink gown

If there was ever a dress to wear twice, it would be the Princess of Wales' pastel pink Jenny Packham gown, which first made its debut at the royal wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Princess Rajwa in June, then later at the annual Diplomatic Reception in December. 

Beaded, bold and beautiful, the royal's glittering pink gown is a rarity in her typically understated daytime wardrobe. On both occasions, the Princess paired it with the Lover's Knot tiara; made by Garrards in 1914 for Queen Mary and a favourite of the late Princess Diana.

Princess Beatrice poses as she attends Jordan's Crown Prince Al Hussein bin Abdullah II's Royal Wedding Banquet at Al Husseinieh Palace in Amman, Jordan, on June 1st, 2023.© Balkis Press/ABACA/Shutterstock

Princess Beatrice's embellished wedding guest gown

Princess Beatrice made a surprising appearance at the royal wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan and Princess Rajwa in June, wearing a breathtaking Champagne-hued satin gown featuring an embellished bodice by Reem Acra.

Most striking, however, was the royal's choice to wear the York tiara. The occasion marked only the second time in her life she had worn a tiara in public - and was made even more special by the fact it was her mother's wedding tiara. 

WATCH: Princess Beatrice wears York tiara for Jordan royal banquet
Princess Charlene of Monaco looked breathtaking in a sequin dress© © Eric Mathon - Prince Palace

Princess Charlene of Monaco's sparkling silver gown

Princess Charlene of Monaco is no stranger to a sequin gown. The royal debuted yet another sparkling gown as she attended the annual Bal de Noel of her eponymous Foundation this year. 

The Monegasque royal, 45, looked sublime in a long-sleeved ball gown embellished with all-over silver sequins. 

The spellbinding dress, which featured an elegant boater neckline, waist-cinching bodice and full length skirt, perfectly complemented her silver slingback pumps from Gianvito Rossi and her silver metallic 'Milan x Micaela' clutch from The Bella Rosa Collection.

DON'T MISS: Glittering royals in festive sequins: Princess Kate, Duchess Sophie, Princess Charlene & Co's best sparkling outfits

Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte holding hands at King Charles' coronation© Getty

Princess Charlotte's ivory gown

The Prince and Princess of Wales' eight-year-old daughter Charlotte was every inch a Princess as she stepped into the spotlight for her grandfather King Charles' coronation in May. 

The young royal was the double of mum Princess Kate in a silk crepe dress designed by Alexander McQueen, her mother's beloved wedding dress designer, which also marked Princess Charlotte's first time wearing the coveted British designer. She may be years from reaching her full style potential, but Princess Kate's mini me already has a more fashionable wardrobe than most.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, attends the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2023 at The Royal Festival Hall on February 19, 2023 in London, England. The Prince of Wales, President of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA), and The Princess will attend© Getty

Princess Kate's eco BAFTAs gown

The Princess of Wales' eco credentials reigned supreme when she recycled her one-shoulder Alexander McQueen gown at the 2023 BAFTAs in February. The royal made a serious sustainable statement by re-wearing the dress, which she previously wore to the event in 2019. 

Reworking it to remove the blooming floral motif and adding a contemporary cape detail, the Princess proved that repeating outfits is not only acceptable, but in vogue for red carpet events. 

While many considered them divisive, I loved the dramatic ebony opera gloves the royal slipped into to give her recycled gown its revival. 

camilla wearing white dress © Getty Images

Queen Camilla's Coronation gown

One of the most magnificent gowns in royal history, let alone in 2023, is undoubtedly Queen Camilla's bespoke Coronation gown crafted exclusively for the wife of King Charles by one of her most trusted designers, Bruce Oldfield. 

The gown, which took Oldfield "six years to make" featured stunning personalised embellishments, including delicate garlands of abstract wildflowers from fields and hedgerows, and the names of Queen Camilla's grandchildren embroidered along the hem. 

Camilla's ivory dress was made from Peau de Soie, a silk fabric with a dull lustre finish, and woven by Stephen Walters in Suffolk, England. With an ivory, silver and gold colour palette, bracelet length sleeves, a strong shoulder and a wide V-neck neckline – it gave the royal an undeniably regal silhouette for the historic ceremony.

Sign up to Royal Style and discover the latest royal fashion moments

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.

More Royal Style

See more