The British Royal Family are known as some of the best-dressed people in the world, particularly Diana, Princess of Wales, renowned for her unwavering style legacy.
Meghan Markle, Zara Tindall, Duchess Sophie and of course, Kate, Princess of Wales are the modern style icons in the family, but it doesn’t leave them exempt from the odd fashion faux pas.
Along with a comprehensive list of royal style “rules”, which shape everything from hem-line lengths to appropriate head accessories, the female members of the family battle with everyday mishaps too, like see-through skirts.
Experienced by the best of us in the warmer months, transparent material is something Meghan, Diana and even Queen Camilla have been caught wearing in public.
But even then, the royal women still styled it elegantly, wearing tasteful colours and flattering silhouettes.
Meghan Markle experienced the most recent fashion mistake of this kind while on a tour of New Zealand with Prince Harry in 2018.
The 42-year-old was a vision in blue, wearing a navy sweater and pleated skirt by Givenchy to her walkabout of Rotorua, New Zealand.
But royal admirers noted that her skirt was see-through, despite costing a fortune as a bespoke garment created by Clare Waight-Keller.
It’s unclear whether the fashion choice was a wardrobe malfunction or simply an intentional, bolder look, but the Duchess styled it well either way.
Meghan accessorised her outfit with navy suede Manolo Blahnik BB pumps and Boh Ronga Disco Logo gold studs (£140). She also tucked her hair back into a low bun – renowned as one of her signature hairstyles.
Previously, Diana, Princess of Wales was caught out by transparent fabrics on a sunny day in Ottawa, Canada in 1983.
The then 21-year-old looked elegant in a long-sleeved chiffon dress which boasted a two-tiered skirt, boat neckline and subtle floral pattern in white and lilac. Completed with a thin waist belt and wide-brim hat in a matching shade of purple, Diana was the epitome of a royal fashion icon as she embarked on her first overseas tour.
But there was one caveat to the smart look, as Diana’s whimsical dress appeared transparent between the top and bottom tier of the skirt.
It wasn’t the first time the former Princess of Wales had been struck by this problem either. In September 1980, Diana was photographed by royal photographer Arthur Edwards.
To capture both her lifestyle and fashion sense at the time, Arthur took her photo wearing her usual shirt-and-sweatervest combo with two nursery children on her hips.
But the photo was controversial because Diana was also wearing a skirt, which was see-through. The transparent garment was made of a sheer, white material, and fans could see Diana’s bare legs through it.
Despite being risqué, the photographer said he hadn’t intended for the photo to come out as it did. He told TODAY in 2017: “I didn’t do it on purpose, I promise. I didn’t do it to embarrass her, but it was such a good picture you couldn’t not publish it.”
Queen Camilla donned a white pleated midi skirt in July 2015 while visiting Humble by Nature, a working organic farm run by broadcaster Kate Humble in Monmouth, Wales.
The sheer, see-through garment looked chic on the then Duchess of Cornwall, who teamed it with a fitted beige jacket and summer scarf draped around her neck. Perhaps the most relatable of all of the royal fashion faux pas, Camilla’s look is one many people fail to recreate without finding the fabric is see-through.
However, Giorgio Ammirabile, fashion expert at ConsignedSealedDelivered claimed that the best thing you can do is embrace it. Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, he said: “This year, recycled materials, organic fabrics and sustainable production practices dominate the catwalk for major fashion houses, and we’ve seen many celebrities adorn lightweight fabrics during the rising temperatures.
“Unfortunately, though, this trend does come with the risk of see-through skirts and clothing, which even Royals like Princess Diana and Meghan Markle have become victims of.
“It doesn’t need to be a fashion faux pas though and thanks to brands like Givenchy, Dolce & Gabbana and Sportmax, transparency in attire is no longer reserved for sexy or romantic outfits but has become an integral part of daily clothing. What’s more, you can still embrace this transparency trend with style and modesty. Consider wearing a mini slip dress or body under sheer fabrics.”
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