QUEENS of British fashion

The crowning glory for any designer is to be worn by a royal

From the Queen Mother to the late Queen, Diana to Kate, and countless princesses in between, every week is London Fashion Week for the Windsors. And it's not a new phenomenon - throughout history, the royals have not only been trendsetters but champions of British fashion.

Palace support is the highest possible endorsement for a label. 'Getting clothes worn by a royal is the holy grail for brands,' says personal stylist Chantelle Znideric. 'It's the ultimate kudos, as their status and lifestyle is rarely attainable, much more so than: celebrity,' she says. 'When their clothes are worn by a royal, it can not only raise their profile but almost always guarantees the item will sell out.'

Courting drama

In Georgian times, the catwalk was more 'courtwalk', as trends were set by high-society men and women and reported in the newspapers. 'Kensington Palace was home to the original red carpet of the Georgian court,' says Polly Putnam, curator at Historic Royal Palaces. The Georgian era saw fashion become accessible to the masses and the first fashion magazines appear.

Queen Charlotte - wife of George III - was an early champion of British textiles and, according to the Royal Collection Trust, requested ladies of the court only sport British silk. Fastforward to Queen Camilla's Coronation Gown last year, which was also designed by British label Bruce Oldfield and woven by Stephen Walters in Suffolk.