The Duchess of Edinburgh stepped out in a Roland Mouret dress at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, just days after the designer detailed an alleged falling-out with Meghan Markle in his memoir. The timing of the outfit choice has drawn attention, though it remains unclear whether it was deliberate.
Sophie, 61, appeared during the Sultan of Oman's state visit wearing a navy dress by Roland Mouret, featuring an asymmetric bow neckline, long sleeves and the designer's sharp tailoring. The appearance came four days after Mouret made headlines with claims about the Duchess of Sussex.
Designer's memoir details alleged row
In his memoir, I Am Roland Mouret: The Butcher's Boy Who Dressed the World, the French designer revisited his relationship with Meghan. He claimed he offered her clothing when her romance with Prince Harry became public in 2016, helping the then-actress navigate royal attention.
According to Mouret, a member of his team mistakenly contacted Princess Catherine's stylist at Kensington Palace about returning dresses loaned to Meghan. He alleged the Duchess of Sussex was furious, telling him: "You don't realise what you've done! You've embarrassed me."
Mouret claimed Meghan said she would never wear his creations again, though their professional relationship later resumed and she has since been photographed in his designs. The Daily Express contacted the Duchess's representatives for comment, but her team declined to comment.
Timing raises questions
Sophie may have selected her outfit weeks in advance, as royal wardrobes for diplomatic occasions are typically planned meticulously. Yet the choice to wear Mouret's design after the controversy erupted has raised questions about whether the connection went unnoticed.
Roland Mouret is a familiar name in Princess Catherine's wardrobe, with the future Queen wearing his designs for events including Wimbledon appearances and major royal celebrations. Sophie's choice places the fashion house back in the royal spotlight, days after the designer's claims made headlines.
Previous bold fashion choices
This is not the first time Sophie's designer choices have drawn attention. In January, she wore a forest-green Victoria Beckham suit days after Brooklyn Beckham's allegations against his parents made headlines. Her decision to champion Victoria Beckham's designs was interpreted by some as a show of solidarity, though no deliberate message was confirmed.
There is no evidence that Sophie deliberately selected the dress as a show of solidarity with Catherine. However, the timing adds another layer to an otherwise understated appearance, given Sophie's close working relationship with Catherine and her reputation as one of King Charles's most trusted supporters.
