Princess Anne has built a reputation for tastefully redeploying outfits years apart, with the habit earning her the unofficial title ‘Queen of Royal Recycling’.
But Wednesday evening surely marked the pinnacle of her recycling career, after the Princess Royal strode into St George’s Hall wearing a coat first seen a staggering 57 years ago.
The Princess, 75, slipped into a floor-length, cream-coloured coat to attend the banquet at Windsor Castle, hosted by the King to honour the first Nigerian state visit in almost 40 years.
Eagle-eyed royal fans noticed it was the same garment she donned as an 18-year-old in June 1969, when she attended the premiere of Run Wild, Run Free in London.
Minor differences can be noticed when comparing photos from the two occasions, but it is not uncommon for the royals to have their dressmakers alter a piece. And they had almost six decades to rework this one.
For example, the collar in 1969 was decorated with an intricate pattern of concentric circles, but now appears to have been replaced with a more traditional shape and plain material.
As a teenager, the Princess Royal wore the front of the coat open – revealing an underlayer that was patterned both around the collar and by the lower hem.
On Wednesday night, the coat was closed, making it impossible to tell whether the ornate underlayer remained.
Here is Princess Anne as an 18-year-old in 1969, attending the premiere of Run Wild, Run Free at the Odeon in Leicester Square, London
And here is the Princess Royal at the state banquet for the Nigerian president on Wednesday night… wearing the same coat 57 years later
Anne wore the coast closed on this occasion, unlike last time when it was open to show a decorated underlayer
The Princess Royal first wore this turquoise dress during the 1978 state visit of President Khama of Botswana, in London, when she was 26. She wore it most recently during a visit to the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Dubai in March 2024
A feature unmistakably the same on both outings, however, was the design of the sleeves, which features the pattern of circles seen elsewhere on the original coat.
Princess Anne has many times circled back around to her favourite coats, dresses, hats and handbags over the years.
Sometimes, she goes a step further by replicating the outfit in its entirety – complete with jewellery and shoes.
Other classic examples of Anne’s recycling include the turquoise dress, which she wore for the first time during the 1978 state visit of President Khama of Botswana when she was 26.
The dress has popped up again numerous times over the years, including at the Royal Ascot in 2013 and for a visit to the Queen Elizabeth 2 hotel in Dubai in 2024.
There is also the lilac coat, which made an appearance at least six times on royal duties between 1982 and 2004.
She once addressed the habit, asserting: ‘A good suit goes on forever.
‘If it is properly made and has a classic look, you can wear it ad infinitum. The economy was bred into me.’
Princess Catherine broke into a winning smile as she took her seat next to the Nigerian president
The Princess of Wales dazzled in a green evening gown by Andrew Gn with her favourite Lovers’ Knot Tiara and earrings belong to Queen Elizabeth II
King Charles and Queen Camilla pulled out all the stops for their guests from West Africa
It was a magnificent scene in St George’s Hall as the 160 guests tucked into their food
While Princess Anne looked the part at the banquet, Princess Catherine looked impossibly regal in a flowing green evening gown by Andrew Gn with her favourite Lover’s Knot Tiara and earrings that belonged to Queen Elizabeth II.
The Princess of Wales showed the guests the best of British hospitality, smiling warmly as she took her seat between the president and another of his entourage.
The rest of the present royals added to the dazzling display, with the Prince of Wales wearing white tie with the Windsor tail coat and his Most Noble Order of the Garter Sash with the ‘Lesser George’.
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla sported a cream embroidered gown by Fiona Clare with a sapphire and diamond tiara with matching earrings, both belonging to Queen Elizabeth II and given to her by her late father, George VI, as a wedding gift.
The King also wore a blinding array of diamond-studded orders as he led the procession into the banquet hall and stood to give a speech.
Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his wife, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, took their seats among the British royals for the crescendo of their two-day visit.
Running the length of St George’s Hall, the 155-foot dining table had been laden with sweet-smelling spring flowers gathered locally, bathed with the light of 143 candles.
Staff began laying the table out on Monday morning, and the finishing touches were made only a few hours before guests were due to sit down – little wonder with 960 knives and forks and 62 pepper pots for the 160 invited.
The King and the president lead the procession into St George’s Hall for the banquet
President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu claps in his seat between Princess Kate and King Charles III, who is making a speech
Prime Minister Keir Starmer and England rugby captain Maro Itoje, whose family is from Nigeria
A view of the banquet table in St George’s Hall, ahead of the guests arriving
Notable Nigerians invited to the occasion included author Sir Ben Okri, artist Yinka Shonibare, footballer Eniloa Aluko, singer Tiwa Savage, presenter Ade Adepitan, athlete Christine Ohuruogu and Diana Awards chief Tessie Ojo.
In a speech, the King began by wishing his guests ‘peace, blessings and an abundance of joy’ during such a holy month.
He highlighted the fact that, in January, Nigeria became the UK’s biggest export market in Africa.
He also praised the UK’s large Nigerian diaspora, which he described as a ‘living bridge of over half a million people who connect our nations… and help make our cultures richer, our shared security stronger and our economies more prosperous’.
The King acknowledged that there are ‘chapters in our shared history that I know have left some painful marks’ but said that ‘history is not merely a record of what was done to us – it is a lesson in how we go forward together to continue building a future rooted in growth and hope for all, and worthy of of those who borne the pains of the past’.
He concluded to cheers: ‘Naija No Dey Carry Last’ – Nigerians Never Come Last.
Adjustments had been made for those guests who are Muslim and fasting during the holy month of Ramadan, including setting aside an area for prayer and Iftar.
Indeed, for the first time in living memory, the royal household was serving canapés at the pre-banquet reception for guests to break their fast, mindful of the fact that, after the speeches, people would not be eating until 9pm.
While the President – the first Nigerian leader to be honoured with a state visit in 37 years – had been given orange juice for his toast, a special non-alcoholic cocktail was also made in honour of the occasion.
Based on a traditional African cocktail known as The Chapman, the royal Crimson Bloom contained Zobu (a traditional west African soft drink), English rose soda and homemade hibiscus and ginger syrup, with lemon and a hint of spice.
English sparkling wine was used for the toasts for those who were drinking alcohol, and the menu did not include meat.
