Regal Radiance: The Best Royal Maternity Looks Of All Time
Meghan and Eugenie aren't the first royals to rock a chic pregnancy look. Princess Diana made maternity clothing look effortless while Sarah, Duchess of York, took a ton of fashion risks when she was expecting Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice. And we can't forget Queen Elizabeth, who showed the world how to style a red carpet look while very, very pregnant. We've gathered some of the best royal maternity looks of all time. See for yourself how great the royals look when they're expecting!
Princess Diana Made Maternity Fashion Look Effortless
Princess Diana's legacy extends well beyond her fashion choices, but she is undoubtedly one of the greatest style icons of the last century. From her sleek suits to her larger-than-life wedding gown, Lady Di managed to follow the strict royal dress code while staying true to her personal style.
This maternity look is the perfect example of her taste in fashion. The bright dress coupled with a mohair kimono jacket is sophisticated yet playful — just like the Princess herself. Never one to forgo a good accessory, she completed this look with the perfect matching hot pink pumps.
Sarah Ferguson, Duchess Of York, Is the Unsung Hero Of Royal Maternity Fashion
Princess Diana gets most of the glory when it comes to royal fashion (and rightly so), but we can't forget about Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York. The Duchess, who lived in Princess Di's fashion shadow for much of the '80s and '90s, rocked some next-level looks back in the day -- maternity and beyond.
One of our favorites? This silk navy midi dress accented by white and pink flowers which she accessorized perfectly with simple black flats and a low ponytail. Effortless, chic, and very pregnant.
Kate Middleton Glowed In This Monochromatic Maternity Look
We've loved following Kate Middleton's maternity looks throughout the years. Not only does the Duchess of Cambridge always manage to look polished, but she also knows what looks work best for her, and rocks them royally.
Early on in her third pregnancy, Kate seriously upped her style game, stepping out in flawless fashions, including this gorgeous monochromatic look. We love that the Duchess pays attention to every detail in her outfits — just look at her matching suede clutch and hat! Pregnant or not, Kate's eye for subtle details is spot-on.
A Pregnant Princess In A Sea Of Dark Colors
This is a hard look to pull off, but leave it to Princess Diana to do it! Lady Di sported this bright red overcoat with blue and yellow detailing by Belville Sassoon as she was leaving the Guildhall in London in late 1981. While this look could have been toned down with the addition of neutral accessories, the Princess opted for cobalt blue heels and a matching hat by John Boyd. It's things like this that always set Diana's style apart from the rest.
Perhaps she wanted to wear something exceptional on this day since she was making a big announcement — that she was expecting her first child.
Black Velvet For The Queen
When it comes to royal maternity fashion, Queen Elizabeth II reigns supreme. Although you can hardly tell, she was pregnant with her fourth child, Prince Edward, when this photograph was taken on November 21, 1963.
The Queen looks as sleek as ever in this dress, which she paired with a black velvet overcoat. The subtle metallic detailing on her coat cuffs gives this look a slight edge while still maintaining its timeless look. Her classic black pumps tie everything together.
Princess Anne Stunned In This Instagram-Worthy Silk Cape Coat
Here are Princess Anne and her then-husband attending the wedding of her sister-in-law while she was expecting her daughter, Zara, in 1981. For the event, Anne donned this incredible Instagram-worthy creme silk cape coat and an oh-so-'80s headscarf. Her black gloves, pumps, and handbag perfectly complement the rest of her wedding look.
This outfit looks so glamorous and silky that we're not sure if we want to wear it to our next event or wrap ourselves in it and curl up on the couch with a good book. Let's go with both.
Princess Diana Wasn't Afraid to Wear Bold Prints While Pregnant
It takes a lot of guts to wear a bold print when you're expecting, but the People's Princess was always one to take fashion risks, and we think it paid off.
This playful polka-dotted dress was made by designer Catherine Walker. Princess Diana wore the loose-fitting dress, which looks both comfy and chic, on a visit to the Isles of Sicily in April 1982. This was her last official engagement before giving birth to Prince William — and she opened a new community center. Philanthropy is always a good look!
Princess Anne At The Horse Trials
You know what they say...get you a girl who can do both. From wedding chic to roughing it at the horse trials, Princess Anne did it all when she was pregnant — and looked stylish the whole way through!
Here she is driving her Range Rover at the Knowlton Horse Trials. For this outing, she opted for wide-legged trousers, a plaid button-up blouse, and an argyle sweater over top. Her yellow bandana was likely worn more for function, but we think it adds a perfect touch of personality to her outfit.
A Pregnant Princess Diana Looked Chic In This Off-Duty Outfit
Here, a very pregnant Princess Diana looks effortlessly chic in a flowy pink dress and white slip-ons while visiting her then-husband at the polo.
Lady Di always had a knack for impeccable style, even when she wasn't attending extravagant events. The late Princess always managed to look fashion-forward without trying too hard, even when she was nine months pregnant! If you look closely at Diana's outfits, you'll likely see she paid attention to every detail. From her watches and earrings to her purses and sunglasses, the People's Princess nailed even the smallest style details.
Meghan And Harry Announced Their (First) Pregnancy On October 15, 2018
This photo of Meghan Markle was taken on October 12, 2018, as she arrived at the wedding of Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank. Just three days later, she and Prince Harry announced that they are expecting their first child in the spring of 2019.
As per usual, Meghan looks stunning in this sleek navy dress, which was hiding her baby bump at the royal nuptials. It's safe to say we're super excited to see what maternity looks Meghan has in store over the coming months!
Meghan Markle Stuns In White After Announcing Her Pregnancy
Just three days after Meghan Markle was photographed at Princess Eugenie's wedding, she and hubby Prince Harry announced they were expecting their first child. Later that day, the duo was spotted at Invictus Games in Toronto — their first appearance since the big news hit the airwaves.
Not surprisingly, Meghan looks absolutely stunning. The Duchess wore a dress by Australian designer Karen Gee, fittingly named the "Blessed Dress." Markle styled the piece with a chic oversized trench coat and Stuart Weitzman Legend pumps. However, the best part of her look was that she accessorized with some of Princess Diana's jewelry.
Princess Diana Rocking A Red Mohair Overcoat
Here is a very pregnant Princess Diana mixing bold colors and textures and making it look easy. Lady Di had a knack for making any piece of clothing look stylish, but this red mohair overcoat is a true statement piece.
We love that she paired it with a loose-fitting chambray dress and a matching red hat. If only we could all make maternity look effortlessly chic.
Meghan's Casual Summer Dress For Baby Number Two
After stepping down as senior members of the royal family, Prince Harry and Meghan moved to Montecito, California. It was while living there that the couple posed for a photoshoot with Misan Harriman. It wasn't just any photoshoot-- it was a maternity photoshoot that would also be used to announce that they were expecting their second child.
Meghan wore a floor-length flowing summer dress, looking happy and relaxed under the big trees with her husband Harry.
Princess Diana Serving Up Red Carpet Maternity Looks
Looking chic on the red carpet is hard enough -- even when you're not an expectant mother. But leave it to Princess Diana to demonstrate how a red carpet maternity look should be done.
Princess Di attended the Barbican Centre in London in April 1982, just a few months before she gave birth to Prince Harry. The royal donned this deep red gown by Belville Sassoon, with voluminous sleeves. She tied the look together perfectly with a silver clutch and shoes.
Markle Sparkled In A Chic Black And White Ensemble At A Royal Variety Performance
Check out this sparkly look worn by the Duchess of Sussex as she and hubby Prince Harry arrived to the London Palladium, where attending a Royal Variety performance for charity in December 2018. Meghan opted for sleek separates in a black-and-white floral print.
Designed by Safiyaa, the belted top complemented Meghan's changing figure and she clearly felt confident in it, based on her radiant expression. The bottom half of the oufit was a solid black skirt
Sarah Ferguson Pulled Off Sailor Chic
How fun is this look? Here, Sarah Ferguson is serving some serious sailor vibes in this white suit-dress with navy detailing. The Duchess of York paired the dress with matching low-heeled pumps and a cute straw hat.
This look was very on-brand for Sarah, who was known for her playful style that sometimes pushed the boundaries for what was considered appropriate for a royal.
Kate Stunned In This Festiva Green Coat
How sweet is this photo of Kate Middleton presenting a sprig of shamrock to an Irish Wolfhound? The Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William attended the annual Irish Guards St. Patrick's Day Parade in Hounslow, England, when Kate was pregnant with their third child.
Kate looked stunning as ever in this festive green coat with matching hat. The coat was designed by Catherine Walker, the designer who famously provided more than 1,000 dressed for the late Princess Diana.
Catherine Walker Designed Over 1,000 Outfits For Princess Diana
Princess Diana was loyal to a select few designers. One of her favorite during her pregnancies and beyond was Catherine Walker. Walker, a French-born designer who was based in London, supplied over 1,000 outfits for the Princess — including this muted green and white polka dot dress.
While pregnant, Prince Di especially loved wearing her collection of Catherine Walker dresses as they were comfortable but still chic. Walker even designed the black gown that Princess Diana was buried in when she was laid to rest in 1997.
Meghan's Adorably Unannounced Appearance at the British Fashion Awards
Adding a dose of glamor and excitement to an already-thrilling event, Meghan Markle showed up unannounced at the British Fashion Awards in November 2018. Meghan and her growing baby bump made an appearance to The Royal Albert Hall in London to honor designer Clare Waight Keller of Givenchy, who had created Meghan's wedding gown.
The Duchess wore a one-shoulder velvet black gown (designed by Givenchy, of course). She wore her long hair slicked back into a bun and accentuated with a set of three gold Pippa Small bangles. That pregnancy glow really topped the look off!
A Sweet (And Stylish) Moment
We love this tender moment between Princess Diana and her then-husband Prince Charles. Lady Di visited Charles while he was at the polo, and donned this sweet baby pink dress. She completed the look with a white cashmere cardigan, neutral stocking, and low-heeled pumps.
While we love seeing the Princess in a bold look, it's nice to see her in something a little more toned down. This outfit almost radiates tenderness — something we're sure the couple was feeling while expecting their bundle of joy.
Skiing While Pregnant? Sarah Made It Fashionable
In full transparency, we Googled whether or not you should ski while pregnant, and as it turns out, most doctors say it's totally fine during the first trimester. Although she wasn't quite showing in this photo, Sarah, Duchess of York, was pregnant with her first child, Beatrice.
The Duchess and a group of friends took a luxurious vacation to the French Alps in Maribel where they hit the slopes. Somehow, Sarah managed to look insanely chic despite wearing a ski suit.
Who Says Black And Brown Don't Go Together?
If you don't think black and brown have any business being in the same outfit, think again. Here, Kate Middleton proved these two colors actually make a fashion-forward duo. While attending the traditional Easter Sunday church service at St George's Chapel, the Duchess sported this lovely black Catherine Walker coat along with a brown Lock & Co hat.
She completed the classic look with cream accessories, including this sleek clutch and a pair of matching Gianvito Rossi pumps.
Pregnancy Never Slowed Queen Elizabeth II Down
It’s no mystery that being a member of the royal family comes with a strict dress code, even when you’re expecting. While looking put together in your third trimester may sound like a challenge, Queen Elizabeth II demonstrated just how regal she could make pregnancy look.
Here she is walking through the Liverpool Street Station in London with Prince Charles and their trusty team of dogs. Not only does she look dressed to the nines, but she’s wearing heels and leading the pack — all while eight months pregnant. The Queen was expecting her third child, Prince Andrew, Duke of York. She gave birth just one month and one day later, on February 19.
