Temple Church London You Tube still/ fair use

More than a year after her death, Queen Elizabeth II is still dictating tendencies, at least for her children. As King Charles and Queen Camilla headed back to the UK following a four-day official visit to Kenya, Princess Anne attended the Choral Evensong in London’s Temple Church. 

And she did so wearing one of her mother’s favourite clothing pieces: the Admiral cloak that the late Queen sported in many official portraits and photographs. 

On Thursday, 2nd November, the Princess Royal attended the Grand Day Choral Evensong Service at Temple Church in the British capital, during which she was tasked with reading 1Cor, 13, 1-3.

Interestingly, a passage from St Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians was also chosen for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, which made the appearance of one of her favourite pieces of clothing even more poignant. 

The cloak, in the Boat Coat model, was made by the British brand Admiral and is made of black wool. It features golden buttons that fasten the cloak at the neck, making it secure but still keeping the regal aura of a cape. 

The late Queen donned it for the official portraits shot by Cecil Beaton in 1968 and then again in the images created by Annie Leibovitz in 2007. It also made an appearance during the Diamond Jubilee concert in 2012. 

As her only daughter, Princess Anne was the only one to be able to inherit some pieces of Queen Elizabeth II’s wardrobe; to see one of her favourites reemerge in the same month that saw Queen Camilla pull out her favourite tiara is clearly a tribute to the woman she was, and the inspiration she continues to be for so many.