Trooping the Color 2026 once again filled our screens with stunning royal fashion with every outfit being analyzed, praised, and debated across social media. But while some royal looks become instant classics, not every trooping the color outfit has been a success. Now, being on this list doesn’t mean these women weren’t stylish.
In many cases, the outfits were ambitious, trend- driven, or simply victims of changing fashion tastes. But for one reason or another, these looks failed to win over critics and remain some of the most talked about fashion missteps in Trooping the Color history. So today, we’re counting down the 15 most criticized and controversial Trooping the Color outfits of all time.
Princess Diana 1981. Now, I know putting Princess Diana on a worst dressed list might sound controversial, but hear me out. This look is iconic because of what it represents. Diana’s very first trooping the color appearance just weeks before her wedding to Prince Charles. But when we’re judging purely on fashion, it’s easy to see why this outfit feels far more dated than many of her later royal style triumphs.
For the occasion, the 19-year-old Diana wore a custom Bill Pashley suit in a soft blue floral print accented with hints of pink. While the delicate pattern perfectly reflected the romantic fashion trends of the early 1980s, the allover floral design can feel a little overwhelming by today’s standards.
The biggest issue, however, was the jacket’s enormous white ruffled collar. Intended to create a soft, feminine effect, the dramatic cascading ruffles ended up dominating the entire outfit and drawing attention away from Diana herself. Looking back, it’s one of those details that instantly dates the look to a very specific fashion era.
She paired the suit with a matching light blue pillbox hat complete with a bird cage veil draped across her face. While the styling perfectly captured the famous shy dye image that helped make her a global sensation, the combination of the floral print, oversized collar, hat, and veil made the overall ensemble feel quite busy.
The accessories remained traditionally royal, including classic white gloves that completed the formal appearance. Ironically, what saves this look is Diana herself. Her fresh-faced makeup and signature feathered hairstyle brought a youthful charm that made the outfit memorable, even if the fashion choices haven’t aged particularly well.
Historically significant? Absolutely. One of Diana’s strongest trooping the color looks. Not quite. Compared to the sleek Katherine Walker ensembles and bold color statements she would later become famous for, this debut feels more like a glimpse of a young future princess still trying to find her signature style. Princess Eugenie 2006.
Looking back, this outfit feels less like a royal trooping the color appearance and more like a snapshot of mid2000s teenage fashion frozen in time. At just 16 years old, Princess Eugenie attended the 2006 Trooping the Color celebrations in a Marc Jacobs ensemble that certainly stood out, but not necessarily for the right reasons.
The centerpiece of the look was a pink and black polka dot satin dress featuring an empire waistline and bow detailing. While the dress perfectly reflected the fashion trends popular among teenagers at the time, it felt somewhat out of place at one of the royal family’s most formal annual events. To make the strapless design appropriate for the occasion, Eugenie layered it with a matching cropped pink satin jacket.
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Unfortunately, rather than creating a polished royal silhouette, the combination made the outfit feel slightly disjointed, as though two very different looks had been merged together. But the most talked about element was undoubtedly the headpiece. Eugenie completed the outfit with a dramatic pink and black fascinator covered in faux roses and black feather sprays.
Even years later, this remains the aspect of the look that attracts the most criticism. Many fashion commentators have pointed out that the different shades of pink used throughout the fascinator didn’t quite match the tones of the dress, creating a noticeable color clash that distracted from the overall ensemble. What makes this look especially interesting is that it perfectly captures a very specific moment in fashion history.
In 2006, oversized fascinators, bold patterns, satin fabrics, and dramatic accessories were hugely popular. But viewed through a modern lens, the outfit feels busy, overly accessorized, and somewhat lacking in the elegance typically associated with trooping the color. To her credit, Eugenie clearly loved the dress, even rewearing it days later without the jacket for another public event.
A sign of the sustainable fashion approach she would become known for later in life. Still, while the look may have been youthful and trend-driven, it’s easy to see why it frequently appears on retrospective worstressed royal fashion lists today. Princess Beatatrice 2007. Princess Beatatric’s 2007 Trooping the Color outfit is one of those looks that wasn’t necessarily bad on paper, but the execution left many royal fashion watchers divided.
At just 18 years old, Beatatrice embraced a soft monochromatic palette that felt fresh and summery. The foundation of the look was a vanilla toned pleated dress with an empire waist paired with a coordinating cropped cream jacket featuring delicate frilled cuffs. Individually, the pieces worked well enough.
The neutral shades of cream, vanilla, and champagne created a cohesive tonal look, and the layered styling felt youthful and appropriate for the season. The problem, however, was the headpiece. Beatatrice chose a dramatic champagne colored fascinator adorned with an abundance of sweeping feathers. And while it certainly made a statement, many felt it became the focal point for all the wrong reasons.
Rather than complimenting the outfit, the oversized feather arrangement seemed to dominate it. The asymmetrical shape stretched dramatically across her head, drawing attention away from the dress and overwhelming her relatively petite frame. In photos from the day, it’s often the hat, not the outfit that people remember.
That’s really where this look stumbled. The dress and jacket were soft, elegant, and understated. While the Fascinator felt far more theatrical and attention-grabbing, the two elements seemed to be competing with each other rather than working together. Her styling remained youthful and simple. Beatatric wore her signature strawberry blonde hair in loose waves and opted for fresh natural makeup, allowing the outfit to take center stage.
But for many critics, the headpiece pushed the look too far into whimsical territory for such a formal military occasion. While trooping the color has always welcomed statement hats, this particular fascinator was often viewed as a little too avantguard for the event’s traditional atmosphere. It’s not the worst outfit ever worn at Trooping the Color, but it’s certainly one of the clearest examples of how one accessory can completely change the perception of an entire look.
Queen Camila, 2007. This is one of those trooping the color outfits where the dress wasn’t the problem. the hat was. When Camila returned to the trooping the color balcony in 2007 after missing the previous year’s event, she chose a sophisticated beige and pink ensemble that perfectly suited her classic royal style.
Elegant, polished, and understated. The outfit itself was actually quite refined. The tailored dress and matching coat featured clean lines and a timeless silhouette that fell below the knee, creating a look that felt appropriate for such a formal royal occasion. The soft neutral color palette was also flattering and easy on the eye.
Unfortunately, that’s not what most people remember. Instead, all the attention went straight to her enormous Philip Tracy hat. The wide-brimmed design was covered in layers of fluffy pastel feathers that dramatically spilled across the headpiece. While it was certainly eye-catching, many critics felt it completely overwhelmed the rest of the outfit.
In fact, the hat became so famous that it generated far more discussion than the dress itself. Over the years, some commentators jokingly compared it to a feather duster, while others argued that the sheer volume of feathers distracted from both Camila’s appearance and the event itself. That’s really the biggest issue with this look.
The dress and accessories were elegant, but the headpiece was so dominant that it threw the entire outfit out of balance. Ironically, her jewelry choices were among the strongest parts of the ensemble. Camila elevated the muted tones with a beautiful three-strand pearl necklace, diamond and pearl earrings, and the historic Queen Mother’s Topaz Art Deco brooch, adding a touch of royal history and sophistication.
But even those stunning pieces struggled to compete with the sea of pastel feathers sitting above them. On the Buckingham Palace balcony, the oversized brim and dramatic plumage became an even bigger talking point, with some observers noting that the hat occasionally drew attention away from the other royals standing nearby.
Queen Elizabeth II, 2010. Putting Queen Elizabeth II on a worst dressed list feels almost impossible, but even the late Queen had a few looks that divided fashion commentators. and her 2010 Trooping the Color Ensemble is one of them. For her 84th official birthday celebration, the Queen stepped out in a soft lavender outfit designed by Angela Kelly.
At first glance, the look seemed to check all the boxes of her signature style. Bright color, elegant tailoring, and instantly recognizable royal accessories. The centerpiece was a structured double- breasted lavender coat featuring decorative pearl and diamonde embellishments. Underneath, she wore a coordinating floral dress in complimentary pastel shades, adding extra texture and visual interest to the outfit.
She completed the look with a matching wide-brimmed hat, her signature three-strand pearl necklace, pearl earrings, white gloves, and the brigade of guards brooch, a traditional trooping, the color choice that honored the household division regiments. So, why did this look attract criticism? The main issue was surprisingly subtle. While the coat leaned toward a cooler lavender tone, some fashion commentators noted that the hat appeared slightly warmer and more pink toned.
On their own, neither piece was problematic, but together they created a small color mismatch that prevented the outfit from achieving the perfectly coordinated monochromatic effect the queen was usually known for. Critics also pointed out that the floral dress beneath the embellished coat made the overall look feel a little busier than her most successful trooping ensembles.
Compared to the clean, bold color blocking she often favored. The combination of floral prints, embellishments, and multiple lavender tones felt slightly less streamlined. To be fair, these criticisms were relatively minor. In fact, public reaction to the outfit remained largely positive, and the color palette aged far better than many expected.
The Queen herself clearly had a fondness for the ensemble, later revisiting the same dress and coat combination for an official portrait during her Platinum Jubilee celebrations. That’s what makes this entry so interesting. Unlike many outfits on this list, the criticism wasn’t about an overwhelming hat, a questionable silhouette, or a dramatic fashion mistake.
Instead, it was simply a rare example of an outfit that didn’t feel quite as perfectly coordinated as the Queen’s Strongest Trooping the Color appearances. Princess Beatatrice 2013. Princess Beatatrice has never been afraid to take fashion risks, but her 2013 Trooping the Color look is a perfect example of how sometimes more isn’t always better.
For the summer parade, she chose a structured gray coat dress paired with a navy Rosie Olivia hat. Individually, some of the elements had potential, but together, many fashion critics felt the outfit became far too complicated and visually overwhelming. The coat dress featured a tailored a-ine silhouette with an oversized collar and double- breasted front.
However, the detail that immediately grabbed attention was the enormous collection of fabric bows cascading down the front of the garment. And honestly, this is where the outfit started to lose people. Rather than adding elegance or visual interest, the rows of oversized bows seemed to completely overpower the design. The eye didn’t really know where to focus, and what could have been a classic royal coat dress ended up looking overly busy and cluttered.
The color choice didn’t help either. The combination of muted gray fabric and darker accents felt surprisingly heavy for a bright June celebration. While trooping the color is usually filled with vibrant summer shades, this outfit came across as unusually gloomy by comparison. Critics also questioned the fit of the coat dress itself.
The strong tailoring and bulky embellishments created a boxier silhouette that many felt didn’t flatter Beatric’s frame, making the overall look appear heavier than intended. Then came the hat. She paired the outfit with Rosie Olivia’s navy thesis beret featuring dramatic wiry loops extending outward from the headpiece. Unfortunately, instead of balancing the outfit, the hat added yet another competing focal point.
Many commentators felt the unusual loops clashed with the already bowheavy coat dress, creating an outfit that looked chaotic rather than cohesive. Her beauty styling remained simple and polished. She wore her long o hair in soft waves and opted for understated makeup which probably helped prevent the look from feeling even busier.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, 2015. Now, this might be one of the most controversial entries on the list because honestly, the outfit itself was beautiful. In fact, many royal fashion fans loved this look when Catherine stepped out for Trooping the Color 2015, making her first major public appearance after welcoming Princess Charlotte.
But when we’re talking about the worst dressed looks, sometimes it’s not about a bad outfit, it’s about styling choices that didn’t quite come together as perfectly as they could have. For the occasion, Kate wore a custom Katherine Walker Astrid coat dress crafted from ivory and ice blue silk. The elegant design featured a delicate floral print, a neat rounded collar, 3/4 sleeves, and a sleek pencil silhouette.
The dress itself was fresh, feminine, and perfectly suited to a summer royal event. She paired it with a dramatic ivory hat by Sylvia Fletcher for Lock and Co. finished with a large curled feather detail that added movement and visual interest. Her jewelry was equally eye-catching, including beautiful aquamarine and diamond drop earrings that perfectly complemented the cool blue tones of the outfit.
So, why did this look attract criticism? The biggest talking point wasn’t the dress at all. It was the styling. Unlike her later trooping appearances, where she almost always opted for polished chinons and structured updo, Kate wore her hair long and swept loosely to one side. Some royal commentators felt the relaxed hairstyle looked slightly too casual for one of the monarchy’s most formal military ceremonies.
Looking back, it’s interesting because this appears to be one criticism Kate may have taken seriously. Starting the following year, she consistently chose more structured buns and elegant updos for trooping the color, a styling approach she has maintained ever since. There were also minor discussions surrounding the footwear styling.
While her neutral pumps were perfectly elegant, some fashion critics felt they were a somewhat safe choice and didn’t fully capitalize on the beautiful icy blue palette of the outfit. To be clear, this isn’t a fashion disaster by any means. In fact, compared to many entries on this list, it’s remarkably elegant. But that’s also what makes it interesting.
The criticism wasn’t about the dress itself. It was about the details. And sometimes with royal fashion, the smallest styling decisions can make all the difference. Beautiful dress. Absolutely. Perfectly executed trooping the color look. According to some critics, not quite. Princess Beatatrice 2016. Princess Beatatrice 2016 trooping the color look proves that sometimes all it takes is one accessory to completely divide opinion.
For Queen Elizabeth II’s historic 90th birthday celebrations, Beatatrice chose a relatively simple and elegant foundation, a tailored navy blue dress with a clean silhouette and understated styling. In fact, if she had stopped there, this probably wouldn’t have landed on many worst-dressed lists at all. But then came the hat.
Instead of opting for a traditional royal fascinator, Beatatrice chose a bold tangerine orange headpiece featuring dramatic architectural loops that immediately became the focal point of the entire outfit. And depending on who you ask, that’s either what made the look memorable or what ruined it. The bright orange color created a striking contrast against the navy dress and certainly complimented her strawberry blonde hair.
However, many traditional royal fashion observers felt the neon-like shade was simply too attention-grabbing for such a formal military occasion. The criticism wasn’t necessarily about the dress. In fact, the dress itself was widely viewed as polished, elegant, and appropriate. The debate centered almost entirely around the fascinator, which some commentators described as looking more suited to a high fashion runway than a royal parade.
Unfortunately for Beatatrice, the outfit was also judged against her existing fashion reputation. Following years of headlines about the York sisters more unconventional hat choices, many critics were already expecting another bold fashion moment, and this look quickly became part of that conversation. She kept the rest of the styling remarkably restrained, choosing minimal jewelry, neutral heels, and soft waves, allowing the dramatic color blocking effect to remain the star of the show.
Looking back, this outfit feels like a clash between two very different fashion philosophies. The dress embraced classic royal elegance, while the fascinator pushed toward modern, attention-grabbing fashion. And that’s exactly why the look remains so divisive today. Princess Eugenie 2016. For the occasion, she wore a structured bottle green dress featuring a wide boat neckline, short sleeves, and a classic fit and flare silhouette.
The dress itself was elegant and relatively understated, making it a solid choice for the formal military celebration. The problem, according to many critics, was the hat. Eugenie paired the dark green dress with a large white sides swept fascinator decorated with oversized floral elements and delicate netting. While the dramatic headpiece was clearly designed to make a statement, many felt it overpowered the rest of the outfit.
The stark contrast between the dark green dress and the bright white fascinator created a look that some commentators found visually unbalanced. Rather than blending seamlessly with the ensemble, the hat became the only thing people noticed. She wisely kept the rest of her styling minimal, opting for simple earrings, a classic clutch, and polished curls tucked neatly behind her ears.
Her makeup remained soft and sophisticated, allowing the accessories to take center stage. Unfortunately, that’s exactly where the criticism began. The oversized fascinator once again placed Eugenie in familiar territory as royal watchers continued to compare her fashion choices to the bold attention-grabbing headpieces that had previously attracted widespread commentary.
Looking back, the dress itself was perfectly respectable. But in the eyes of many critics, the dramatic white floral fascinator tipped the look from elegant into overly theatrical territory. It’s another example of how at tripping the color, a single hat can completely define an outfit and not always in a good way. Princess Beatatrice 2017.
Compared to some of Princess Beatatric’s more infamous fashion moments, her 2017 Trooping the Color outfit was relatively restrained. But that doesn’t mean everyone loved it. For the Queen’s official birthday celebrations, Beatatrice opted for a soft spring inspired ensemble built around a floral Ted Baker coat dress.
The iceb blue design featured delicate white flowers and swallow motifs creating a romantic feminine aesthetic that certainly felt appropriate for the season. The coat itself had an elegant a-line shape with 3/4length sleeves and a flattering silhouette. On paper, it sounds like a safe choice. The criticism, however, came from the overall styling.
Many fashion commentators felt the look bordered on being overly sweet and somewhat forgettable. The pale blue floral print, matching accessories, and soft color palette combined to create an outfit that some viewed as lacking the sophistication typically expected at a major royal event. She paired the coat dress with a wide-brimmed Emily London boater hat in a coordinating shade of blue finished with a crisp white band.
While the hat complemented the outfit well, critics argued that the entire look felt a little too coordinated and lacked a strong focal point. Unlike some of her previous trooping appearances, where a dramatic fascinator became the center of attention, this outfit suffered from the opposite problem. Nothing truly stood out.
Her styling remained classic and youthful. Beatatrice wore her signature auburn hair in loose waves and kept her makeup soft and natural with pink tones and defined lashes. Another factor working against the outfit was comparison. Riding alongside Princess Eugenie in similarly soft blue tones, the coordinated sister styling was charming, but some observers felt it made Beatric’s look blend into the background rather than stand out on its own.
To be fair, this wasn’t a fashion disaster. The tailoring was neat, the colors were pretty, and everything was appropriately polished. But in a countdown of memorable royal fashion moments, critics often point to this look as being a little too safe, a little too predictable, and ultimately lacking the impact of Trooping the Color’s Strongest Ensembles.
Meghan Markle 2019. After the controversy surrounding her 2018 Trooping the Color debut, all eyes were once again on Meghan Markle in 2019. Making her first Trooping appearance after the birth of Prince Archie just 5 weeks earlier, Megan chose a custom Gioveni ensemble designed by Clare Wait Keller.
At first glance, the look appeared elegant and understated, but it still generated plenty of discussion among royal fashion watchers. For the carriage procession, Megan wore a structured navy cap style coat that created a polished and sophisticated silhouette. However, once she appeared on the Buckingham Palace balcony, she removed the outer layer, revealing the dress underneath, and that’s where opinions started to divide.
While some praised the design for feeling modern and fresh, others felt it looked noticeably more like a cocktail outfit than a traditional trooping the color ensemble. Compared to the more conservative coat dresses typically worn by senior royals, the short sleeves and contrasting white accents struck some traditionalists as slightly too informal for such a ceremonial occasion.
Megan paired the outfit with a coordinating navy fascinator by Noel Stewart, navy gloves for the carriage ride, and a striking peacock blue Gioveni clutch that added a pop of color to the otherwise monochromatic look. Her styling remained sleek and polished. She wore her hair in a neat low bun and kept her makeup soft and natural, allowing the outfit to remain the focus.
What makes this look particularly interesting is that much of the discussion surrounding it extended beyond the fashion itself. Because Megan was already under intense public scrutiny, every detail of her appearance was analyzed and compared to previous royal trooping looks. As a result, the outfit became one of the more debated ensembles of the modern era.
Critics argued that the dress felt too contemporary and lacked the formality expected for the occasion. While supporters viewed it as a shick and modern interpretation of royal style, fashion-wise, this certainly wasn’t a disaster. But in a ranking of the most criticized Trooping the Color looks, Megan’s 2019 appearance remains a notable entry because of how strongly it divided opinion among royal watchers.
Princess Beatatrice 2019. Princess Beatatric’s 2019 trooping the color look is one of those outfits that tried very hard to be modern and fashion forward. But for many royal watchers, it ended up feeling unnecessarily complicated. For the occasion, she wore a customized Amelia Wixstead dress in a soft baby pink shade.
At its core, the dress had the potential to be a beautiful and elegant royal look. However, the addition of bold black woven lace detailing across the sleeves and bodice immediately divided opinion. The contrast between the delicate pastel pink fabric and the sharp black cutout elements created a striking color block effect, but many critics felt the combination looked harsh rather than harmonious.
Instead of complimenting the dress, the black detailing became the first thing people noticed. The outfit became even more dramatic when paired with her headpiece. Beatatrice chose a black straw bando style fascinator by Judy Bentink decorated with oversized white silk flowers. While the hat coordinated with the black accents on the dress, some felt it added yet another competing element to an already busy outfit.
That’s really the biggest criticism of this look. There was simply a lot happening at once. Between the pink fabric, black lace cutouts, black fascinator, and large white floral embellishments, the eye was constantly being pulled in different directions. To her credit, Beatatrice kept the rest of the styling relatively simple.
She wore her hair in soft waves, opted for natural makeup, and accessorized with a delicate cardier bracelet rather than adding even more statement pieces. What’s interesting is that the dress design itself had already been worn by Sophie, Countess of Wessex. the previous year. However, Beatatric’s styling choices gave it a noticeably more fashionforward and experimental feel.
For supporters, the outfit was modern, bold, and refreshingly different from traditional royal fashion. For critics, it felt overly styled and lacked the effortless elegance that usually works best at trooping the color. It’s certainly not the most controversial look on this list, but the clashing textures, strong contrasts, and busy accessories make it one of Princess Beatatric’s more divisive trooping appearances.
Duchess Sophie 2024. This entry might be one of the most debated on the entire list because while fashion experts largely loved it, not everyone agreed. For the 2024 Trooping the Color ceremony, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, stepped out in a vibrant canary yellow Bula London dress that immediately made her one of the most noticeable royals in attendance.
And that’s exactly where the debate began. The tailored Yavi dress featured a classic silhouette with a fitted waist, covered buttons, long sleeves, and a flowing skirt. It was elegant, polished, and undeniably eye-catching. But for some royal watchers, the color itself was simply too much. The bright lemon yellow shade stood out dramatically against the gray, rainy conditions of the day.
While supporters described Sophie as a ray of sunshine, critics argued that the bold color felt almost overwhelming in photographs and drew attention away from the more traditional tone of the event. She paired the dress with a matching Jane Taylor saucer hat featuring netted detailing across the front. Although the coordination was impressive, some commentators felt the monochromatic styling pushed the yellow theme a little too far.
Another point of criticism centered on the dress’s proportions. The structured sleeves and heavier tailoring created a strong silhouette, but some fashion observers argued that the volume of the sleeves made the outfit appear slightly bulky and overwhelmed her frame. To complete the look, Sophie added gold toned drop earrings, keeping her accessories relatively simple and allowing the dress to remain the main focus.
What’s interesting about this outfit is that the criticism wasn’t really about poor styling or mismatched accessories. Instead, it came down to personal taste. If you loved bold color, this was one of the standout looks of the day. If you preferred softer, more traditional royal fashion, the bright yellow felt a little too loud for the occasion.
Either way, the outfit certainly got people talking, which is probably why it remains one of the most divisive trooping the color looks of recent years. Lady Louise Windsor 2024. Lady Louise Windsor’s 2024 Trooping the Color look earned praise for its sustainability, but when it came to fashion, it wasn’t without its critics.
For the rainy royal ceremony, Louise chose to rewear the same Susanna London gown she had previously debuted at King Charles III’s coronation. The floorlength dress featured a high neckline, long sleeves, and a delicate watercolor iris print in shades of lilac, blue, and white. Up close, the craftsmanship was undeniably beautiful, but from a distance, many fashion commentators felt the dress told a very different story.
One of the biggest criticisms centered on the print itself. While the watercolor floral design was intended to look artistic and romantic, some observers argued that the blue splashes across the pale fabric appeared oddly blotchy on camera. In long-distance photographs, particularly under the gloomy weather conditions, the pattern sometimes looked less like flowers and more like accidental ink stains scattered across the gown.
The silhouette also divided opinion with its high neckline, long sleeves, floor-length skirt, and flowing fabric. Some critics felt the dress overwhelmed Louis’s frame. Combined with the busy watercolor print, the overall effect was viewed by some as heavy and overly conservative compared to the cleaner, more structured looks worn by other royals that day.
The hat became another talking point. Louise borrowed a periwinkle blue Jane Taylor hat from her mother Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, a sweet sustainable gesture that many people admired. However, fashion critics questioned whether it truly worked with the dress. The structured floral appliques and feather detailing created yet another focal point which some felt competed with the already busy print rather than complimenting it.
The dress was beautifully made, the hat was sophisticated, and the styling was polished. The criticism came from how everything worked together. For some observers, the combination felt too busy, too heavy, and lacking the visual balance that makes a truly memorable royal ensemble. Burgett, Duchess of Gloucester 2026.
Some royal outfits feel timeless. Others feel like they’ve been transported straight from another century. At the 2026 Trooping the Color, Vgett, Duchess of Gloucester, arrived in an ensemble that immediately divided opinion among royal fashion watchers. While some admired its traditional elegance, others felt it looked far too historical for a modern summer celebration.
The centerpiece of the look was a navy and white polka dot coat that the Duchess had worn before. The coat featured oversized buttons and most notably a dramatically oversized ruffled collar inspired by historic rough designs. And honestly, that’s where much of the criticism began. While the collar certainly made a statement, many commentators felt it dominated the outfit.
Rather than appearing regal or sophisticated, critics argued that the exaggerated ruffles looked overly theatrical and distracted from the rest of the ensemble. Some even described the collar as cartoonish because of its sheer size and structure. She paired the coat with a matching pillbox hat by Jessica Turley Design, complete with a dark mesh face veil.
While the hat coordinated perfectly with the outfit, critics felt it added even more visual heaviness to an already structured look. The dark navy color palette also became a talking point. Trooping the color is typically known for bright summer shades and cheerful colors, but Brigett’s outfit leaned firmly into darker, more traditional tones.
As a result, some fashion observers felt the look appeared slightly gloomy compared to the vibrant ensembles worn by other royals that day. Ironically, the strongest part of the outfit was arguably the jewelry. The Duchess showcased her reputation as one of the royal family’s finest jewel collectors with a beautiful multistrand pearl necklace, diamond floral earrings, and two remarkable diamond brooches that were originally salvaged from a royal tiara.
But even those spectacular pieces struggled to compete with the dramatic collar and dark styling. What makes this look so divisive is that it perfectly reflects Brigett’s personal style. She has always embraced classic royal fashion and rarely follows modern trends. However, for many critics, this particular ensemble crossed the line from timeless into dated.
Elegant to some, old-fashioned to others, it’s a look that continues to spark debate, and that’s exactly why it earns a place on this list. Queen Camila 2026. Topping this list is a look that perfectly proves how an outfit can be packed with symbolism yet still leave fashion critics completely divided. For the 2026 Trooping the Color, Queen Camila chose a bold military inspired ensemble honoring her role as Colonel of the Grenadier Guards.
While royal traditionalists appreciated the tribute, many fashion commentators felt the outfit sacrificed elegance for symbolism. The centerpiece was a bespoke Fiona Clare coat dress inspired directly by the famous red tunics of the Grenadier Guards. Crafted from red silk crepe and wool, the design featured gold epillets, black cuffs trimmed with gold braid, and an embroidered collar packed with military references.
There’s no denying the craftsmanship. The issue, according to critics, was the overall effect. Rather than feeling fresh and celebratory for a June event, the heavily structured silhouette came across as rigid and overly formal. Compared with the softer colors and graceful tailoring often associated with trooping the color, the military styling felt severe and somewhat heavy.
But the biggest controversy surrounded the hat. Camila paired the coat dress with a black Philip tricy beret style hat featuring a prominent white plume known as a heckle alongside a gold grenadier guard’s badge. While the military references were intentional, many commentators felt the dramatic feather completely overwhelmed the look.
In fact, the plume became the main talking point of the entire outfit. Critics compared it to everything from a feather duster to a misplaced bird, arguing that it distracted attention from both the queen and the carefully designed coat dress beneath it. Another factor working against the outfit was the fact that it wasn’t new.
Camila had originally debuted the exact same Fiona Clare design at her first Trooping the Color as Queen in 2023. While royal wardrobe recycling is usually applauded, some fashion writers argued that this particular coat dress was so distinctive and memorable that repeating it at the same event diminished its impact. Meaningful, absolutely.
Fashion forward, according to many commentators, not quite. And that’s why Queen Camila’s 2026 ensemble tops our list of the most criticized Trooping the Color looks of all time. And that’s our ranking of the 15 worst dressed trooping the color looks of all time. Of course, fashion is subjective and some of these outfits still have plenty of fans today.
What one person sees as a fashion disaster, another might see as bold, memorable, or ahead of its time. But whether it was an overwhelming hat, a controversial color choice, an awkward silhouette, or simply a look that didn’t age well, these outfits definitely got people talking. Now, I’d love to hear from you. Which look do you think deserved the number one spot? And which outfit do you think was unfairly criticized? Don’t forget to like, subscribe, and I’ll see you in the next video.
