The fashion world is witnessing what appears to be the emergence of a new royal style phenomenon as Princess Lilibet, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, demonstrates an early talent for sparking shopping frenzies reminiscent of her mother's influence.
The Thanksgiving Outing That Started It All
During a Thanksgiving volunteering visit to a community kitchen in Los Angeles this week, four-year-old Lilibet captured attention with her carefully chosen outfit. The young princess wore a festive red tartan 'Taffeta Party' dress from sustainable childrenswear brand Hope & Henry, which featured a black bow and ruffled short sleeves.
Though photographers respectfully kept her face out of shots, Lili's distinctive bright red hair was visible, neatly pulled back into a plait for the occasion. The outing saw the entire Sussex family - including Prince Harry and six-year-old Prince Archie - participating in baking cookies, slicing vegetables and packaging meals for people experiencing food insecurity through their Archewell Foundation initiative.
The Instant Sell-Out Phenomenon
Within hours of the photos emerging, the £38 dress had completely sold out, despite being purchased at its sale price of £26. This rapid sell-out has drawn immediate comparisons to what royal watchers are dubbing 'The Lilibet Effect', echoing both her mother's documented fashion influence and the well-established 'Kate Effect' associated with the Princess of Wales.
Social media users were quick to note the parallel, with one commenting: 'Like mother like daughter,' while another enthusiastically declared: 'Meg done passed her power down to them babies. Welcome to the Lili Diana effect y'all!' A third admirer simply noted: 'If I had a daughter I'd buy it too. Adorable!!'
A Growing Legacy of Royal Fashion Influence
The phenomenon of royal family members influencing fashion sales is well-documented. The Duchess of Sussex has previously spoken about how brands she wears frequently experience significant sales boosts after she's seen wearing them. One notable example occurred in 2018 when a bag from Scottish brand Strathberry sold out just eleven minutes after Meghan carried it during an engagement with Prince Harry.
Similarly, the Princess of Wales has long been known for her ability to make items sell out within minutes of being photographed in them. This influence extends to the younger generation too, with ten-year-old Princess Charlotte regularly causing items to sell out, such as the £39 Rachel Riley dress that disappeared within 24 hours of her surprise appearance at the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
While Lilibet's chosen dress has sold out directly from the brand, it remains available through third-party retailers like Amazon, and other colour variations appear to still be in stock at the time of writing.
The Thanksgiving outing provided a rare glimpse of the Sussex children, who are increasingly appearing in the couple's social media posts. Earlier in October, Meghan marked International Day of the Girl with a heartwarming photo of herself and Lilibet holding hands, along with a clip of the four-year-old running on their lawn. The young princess celebrated her fourth birthday in June, with Meghan sharing touching images of Harry with their daughter, describing their bond as 'Daddy's little girl and favourite adventurer.'
