Kate, Princess of Wales has regularly worn ribbons as a key accessory to her outfits for various events and appearances over the years. Princess Beatrice is also a fan of this modern version of a hat or fascinator. For tonight’s vigil, however, it was interesting to see that all four cousins opted for headbands instead of more traditional hats or fascinators. According to The Kit, headbands are “more than a bold representation of the fanciest form of royal headwear” and padded headbands are said to offer a modern alternative to “sensible” headgear. Headbands are not only pretty, but they’re also practical as they keep hair off the face, which is perfect for those royals prone to touching their hair as a relaxing ritual. Designer Simone Rocha previously told Vogue: “I love them [headbands] as they frame your face and extend your silhouette.” READ MORE: Princess Anne wears bag in sweet nod to Queen every day this week Zara also wore a pair of Rebecca Jet Black Suede Pumps by Emmy London. Her headband was by Bee Smith and was the Darcey Black Velvet Veiled Headband without the embellishments. The headband is priced at £180 and is a happy widow’s veil halo with sequin flowers, however Zara had removed the sequin flowers. Lady Louise chose a round strap, which had multiple looped bows on one side. Princess Beatrice on the other hand had an incredibly thick band with a large stiff rectangular bow. Her bow was the Waterfall Bow Band from JBH Millinery and she has worn it before. As for her outfit, the royal chose a new dress from Self Portrait and that was the Black Tailored Crepe and Chiffon Midi Dress. READ MORE: Kate and Meghan to wear major accessory to Queen’s funeral It’s a midi wrap dress “cut from tailored crepe, chiffon and delicate lace.” “Designed with a long-sleeve fitted bodice with a drop waist and a pleated midi skirt. This style is lined with a fabric belt and pockets,” says the official product description, and is available to buy online for £400. Princess Eugenie on the other hand opted for a Misha Nonoo Honoria coat in black which she has worn before. The royal also opted for a pair of Gianviato Rossi Linda Black Suede Pumps. Both Zara and Eugenie opted for veiled headbands, also known as “mourning veils”. The black lace veil is symbolic as it shows that the wearer is in mourning. There is also a more practical element to the accessory: it allows the wearer to mourn privacy as it is harder for others to see their face. This is perhaps ideal for the ladies who stood for 10 minutes by their grandmother’s coffin as hundreds of members of the public passed by to pay their respects. Zara accessorized her outfit with a pair of large pearl earrings, while Eugenie wore a pair of gold hoops. Lady Louise was seen wearing a silver necklace, with a pendant in the shape of a horse.
