Princess Catherine stepped out in London last month for a visit to the Anna Freud Centre, debuting a head-turning take on seasonal dressing in a bespoke houndstooth Emilia Wickstead midi. The royal chose a long-sleeved, belted silhouette that struck the perfect balance between structure and softness, paired with muted accessories and her signature neutral glam. 

It was a look that instantly commanded attention, fashion stylist Ciara Russell said as she sat down with the Express. “Houndstooth just gives that instant winter in London energy,” she said. “It’s classic, it’s a bit heritage, and it always looks expensive.”

Catherine’s dress played into one of the strongest style codes she’s refined over the last few years: a silhouette that communicates confidence and approachability in equal measure. 

“This is where she really gets it right,” Ciara says. “The sharp collar and shoulders give that quiet confidence, but the soft, fluid skirt keeps everything feminine. It’s strong but still graceful, which is exactly her lane. Catherine always manages to look powerful without losing that softness, and this outfit really shows that.”

In keeping with her modern royal wardrobe, Catherine opted for accessories that didn’t distract. She stepped out in grey Boss heels, her Small Hudson bag by DeMellier, and delicate sapphire drop earrings. 

According to Ciara, this is one of the Princess’s most intentional styling strategies. “Understated accessories are honestly one of the biggest style secrets. When everything is clean and minimal, simple heels, tiny jewellery – it lets the actual outfit shine,” she notes. 

“It also gives off this really modern, effortless royal vibe. Like, she doesn’t need to add loads to make a statement. The simplicity is the statement.”

And for those eager to emulate the aesthetic without the designer price tag, Ciara insists it’s absolutely achievable. 

“You can recreate this look so easily without going high-end. All you really need is a checked or houndstooth midi, a belt to cinch the waist, a simple court heel or sleek boot, and delicate jewellery,” she says. “Hair soft and natural, makeup neutral. It’s the shape and the simplicity that make it look luxe, not the price tag.”

Her final advice for readers hoping to channel Catherine’s understated autumn elegance is just as approachable: choose one classic print, go for a midi with movement, keep tones cool and refined, and let the outfit speak for itself. As Ciara puts it, “Don’t overcomplicate it – the elegance comes from the simplicity.”

I’ve tried a lot of makeup over the years, but the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray is one of the few products I recommend without hesitation – and it’s a worthy investment for Christmas party season (or makes a generous stocking filler). 

On my wedding day, my make-up artist used it and promised me it wouldn’t budge. She was right. Through dancing, drinking, sweating (it was a hot day), hugging relatives I barely knew, and crying at least twice. My makeup didn’t move. Not a smudge. Not a crease. Nothing.

So when Charlotte Tilbury went on This Morning last week to talk about festive make-up and called setting sprays something “the world needs to know about”, I was already nodding along. She said, “If you’ve ever wondered why a celebrity’s makeup looks flawless, poreless, glowing all night, it’s because they’re using a setting spray… Setting sprays lock in your makeup for up to 16 hours and it will not budge.”

While Charlotte Tilbury’s setting spray isn’t the cheapest, the travel size starts from £20, and I can attest to its brilliance. 

During the segment, Charlotte also demonstrated her “airbrush sandwich hack”, which is to apply powder, spray, powder again, stippling – pressing or tapping with a brush – rather than swiping. It may sound faffy, but the finish really is different: blurred, smooth, glowing but not shiny. Even the model on the show, Caroline, who’d never used a setting spray before, looked genuinely stunned: “It really has lifted my face… so natural as well… really blurred.”

My own experience is similar. I don’t use it every day, but any time I want my makeup to last, weddings, nights out, days when I’m working long hours, it’s the one thing I reach for. The mist is incredibly fine, so it doesn’t leave droplets or that tight, hairspray-ish feeling some setting sprays give. It has a light, floral smell that is very inoffensive. It just softens everything, takes away that powdery look, and somehow makes your skin look better than it did before you put makeup on.

And it’s not just me and Caroline who are firm fans, other users say the same thing. One person wrote: “I purchased the setting spray this month, and I understood the hype right after my first application. It gave me this glow, and my makeup was set for the whole day. Awesome product.”

A second wrote: “It keeps my makeup in place all day. I wear glasses and I often get makeup on them but not if I use this.”

A third shopper added: “The best setting spray out there, I have tried others, but this is number one. It’s long-lasting and doesn’t make face shine.”

However, not everyone is a devotee. One user wrote: “I like the setting spray as my make-up stays on ok, but it does make my skin quite dry.” While most reviewers say they like the smell, one said “an unscented version would be the dream” for them. 

The setting spray comes in three sizes, 34ml priced at £20, 100ml at £32, and 200ml at £49. Shoppers can currently get two 100ml Airbrish Flawless setting sprays for £60.80, saving 5% off the usual RRP. Or a travel-sized duo is available for £30, which is a £10 saving compared to if the products were bought separately. 

The German State Visit delivered some of the most memorable royal style moments of the year, and it all began long before the tiaras came out. Last week, the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh appeared in near-twinning black ensembles,  in a striking display of unity from two of the Firm’s most influential women. 

In sleek, tailored silhouettes and understated jewellery, they mirrored each other with quiet precision, projecting stability and an unspoken solidarity as they welcomed the German President and First Lady.  

It was a deliberate fashion harmony: Catherine leading with poised confidence, while Sophie offered the calm, steady strength she is increasingly known for. Together, their outfits acted almost as a visual prologue to the diplomatic day ahead. 

Princess Catherine led the fashion narrative in a sleek black Burberry dress worn beneath her coat, the minimalist silhouette sharpened by Diana, Princess of Wales’s cabochon sapphire earrings and lifted with a vintage-inspired faux-pearl collar necklace by Susan Caplan. 

Sophie echoed her polished elegance in another all-black look, elevated by delicate, high-jewellery details, including Chopard’s Happy Diamonds earrings and G. Collins & Sons’ diamond infinity pendant.  

Together, the duo delivered a seamless study in monochrome refinement, proving that quiet luxury can speak louder than colour. 

As they moved around the room, the pair naturally seemed to move in sync. Their body language mirrored the quiet confidence of their outfits, creating a harmonious balance rather than a competition for attention. In many ways, their coordinated styling underscored how the monarchy now functions as a team effort, with each woman playing to her strengths.

It was a masterclass in diplomatic dressing and a reminder that sometimes the most powerful statements are made in the most controlled shades.

By evening, that synergy evolved into full royal glamour – but the dynamic between them remained the same.

At the State Banquet later that evening, Princess Catherine stole the spotlight in a bespoke midnight-blue Jenny Packham gown drenched in sequins and finished with a sweeping cape that drifted behind her as she entered. 

Duchess Sophie, meanwhile, delivered her own moment of refined sophistication in a bespoke navy Debutante Silk Gazar gown by Suzannah London.