UK Edition
Queen enlists help of Duchess of Cambridge to host London Fashion Week event at Buckingham Palace
For centuries, the women of the Royal Family have used their clothes to send a message.
This year, they will put that soft diplomacy front and centre to cement Britain’s relationship with the Commonwealth, as the Duchess of Cambridge and Countess of Wessex team up on behalf of the Queen to host a fashion extravaganza.
The two women, regularly hailed as the most stylish members of the Royal Family, will host a Commonwealth Fashion Exchange Reception at Buckingham Palace in February, as part of the lead-up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
The ties of the Commonwealth are a key passion of the Queen, who has seen, and inspired, its growth from seven member countries to 52 during her reign.
Buckingham Palace this week announced the fashion reception will be held on behalf of the Queen during London Fashion Week to celebrate a new scheme to encourage cross-country partnerships.
It will see established designers including Stella McCartney, Bibi Russell and Karen Walker, paired with artisan producers in smaller or developing countries who “exemplify traditional handcraft techniques and trades”.
"The initiative uses fashion as a common language and platform to help people understand the modern Commonwealth in a different way," a spokesman for Buckingham Palace said.
“The reception at Buckingham Palace will showcase the best of Commonwealth contemporary fashion and creativity with an exhibition of some of the bespoke fashion 'looks' which are the result of these exchanges.”
The fashion reception, on February 19th, is part of an extensive programme of events surrounding CHOGM.
While the Queen will host dinners, meetings and formally open the summit, other members of the family have been asked to do their bit for Commonwealth relations.
While the Duchess of Cambridge’s style is analysed around the world at every opportunity, with labels regularly selling out of anything she wears to public engagements, the Countess of Wessex has also gained style plaudits in recent years for her look during her quiet, understated work for the Royal Family.
The pair will be considered the perfect combination, blending the safe pair of hands of the Countess, patron of the London College of Fashion, with the global profile of the Duchess to ensure all eyes are on the event.