It is a timeless pattern that has graced the wardrobes of monarchs, princesses, and young royals alike.
From the late Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Anne to Princess Diana and now Kate Middleton and Princess Charlotte, polka dots have remained a fashion staple.
Indeed it was Charlotte who continued the trend at Wimbledon earlier this month, when she attended the men’s singles final with her mother in a polka dot navy ruffled frock from Guess.
The fashion-forward Princess Margaret bought the print into the royal household in the late 1940s and it was quickly adopted as a go-to for the late Queen Elizabeth II, particularly in the early years of her reign.
Diana and Sarah, Duchess of York, then flew the flag for dotty dresses in the 1980s – after Princess Anne had done so in the 60s.
Princess Charlotte wore a polka dot navy ruffled Guess frock for her attendance at the Wimbledon men’s final alongside her mother the Princess of Wales last Sunday
The fashion-forward Princess Margaret bought the print into the royal household in the late 1940s. Above: Margaret re-opening a teacher training college in Eltham, south-east London, 1949
In May 1981, shortly after her engagement to Prince Charles was announced, Lady Diana Spencer wore a polka dot outfit by Jasper Conran
Kate’s use of the pattern shows that she knows that her clothes are much more than just clothes – they send a message to.
Alessandra Rich has been the designer behind the majority of Kate’s polka-dotted pieces, from her midi dress at Wimbledon in 2022 to a high-necked, long-sleeved number at Royal Ascot the same year.
The latter was an almost exact replica of a Victor Edelstein dress Princess Diana wore at the same event four decades earlier.
For Prince Philip’s memorial service in March 2022, she chose a monochrome polka dot design.
Back in 1982, Diana introduced a newborn Prince William to the press on the steps of St Mary’s Hospital in teal polka dots.
Kate then chose a similar frock by Jenny Packham 35 years later when she emerged with a newborn Prince George.
Back in 1982, Diana introduced a newborn Prince William to the press on the steps of St Mary’s Hospital in teal polka dots
Diana wore a fuchsia polka-dotted dress by Donald Campbell when she visited Rome in 1985
Princess Diana wearing a blue Catherine Walker outfit boasting white polka dots as she awaits the arrival of West German president Richard von Weizsacker at Victoria station at the start of his state visit, 1986
At the 1987 Epsom Derby it was an 80s padded shoulder polka dot skirt suit for Sarah Ferguson, who dressed in monochrome from head to toe
At home in Kensington Palace, Princess Diana chose a nautical navy and white polka dot dress with white lapel and pussybow neck, October 1985
Princess Anne wore this white and pale blue polka dot dress in the grounds of Buckingham Palace in the 1960s
For the 1952 Royal Windsor Horse Show, Queen Elizabeth II – newly on the throne after the death of her father – wore a structured peplum jacket and A-line skirt, each boasting a polka dot pattern
Kate wore a chic button-up frock by her go-to designer Alessandra Rich for an exhibition at Bletchley Park in 2019
In a look reminiscent of Princess Diana, for Royal Ascot in 2022 Kate wore a white dress with brown polka dots by Alessandra Rich with a co-ordinating Sally-Ann Provan hat
Kate attended Prince Philip’s memorial service at Westminster Abbey in 2022 in an Alessandra Rich long sleeve dress complete with a high neck, a nod to the style of the seventies
For Royal Ascot in 2022 Princess Beatrice gave her spots a glamorous edge with crystal bows adorning the front of her black and white polka dot dress by It-girl brand Saloni
Zara Tindall steps out in a spectacular spotted LK Bennet dress embellished with glitzy statement buttons for Easter Sunday in 2022
So what has made this print so enduringly appealing over the decades?
The simplicity and versatility of the print are key factors.
Polka dots can be both casual and formal, making them suitable for all occasions.
Whether on a tailored dress for a formal engagement or a playful blouse for a more relaxed event, they effortlessly transition across different settings.
Moreover, polka dots have a nostalgic charm that evoke a sense of vintage glamour.
This sense of continuity and timelessness is particularly significant for the British royal family, who are seen as custodians of tradition and heritage.
