While the ladies of the royal family have all become style icons in their own right, even they have chosen outfits that have turned out to be major fashion misses. After all, it's just statistics — even if they get it right most of the time, they're occasionally bound to wear a dress that people just don't love.
From Princess Diana to Sarah Ferguson, they've all done it. (Because let's be honest, '80s fashion wasn't easy on anyone, including the royals.) And the younger generation hasn't been immune to these mistakes either — not even Kate Middleton and Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice.
Here are the worst royal dresses ever. We're sure these looks from history will eventually end up getting replaced by new, just-as-hideous ones in the future. But for now, it's kind of funny to look back on some of the most out-there clothes in royal closets.
A Very Busy Pattern
Usually, the Duchess of Cambridge is right on the money when she wears a floral pattern — or any pattern, for that matter — but this one was a major miss. The fact that it's so big didn't do her any favors, since this oversized print seemed to completely overwhelm her.
Dark Florals & Ruffles
Here's another floral choice of Kate's that we didn't love. It's not often that we see the Duchess of Cambridge wearing black, so it's a bit of a bummer that opportunity was so wasted with this frock. Maybe if the dress just had flowers, it would have been fine — but those ruffles really didn't help the situation.
Bright & Beachy
Don't get us wrong — we'd love to see Kate in bright, bold colors more often. But maybe in a different dress than this one! Since the royal engagement in question took place on a beach in the Solomon Islands, this strapless, tropical look from Erdem was perfect for the occasion, but a different pattern may have worked better.
Another Erdem
Why is it that so many of Kate's Erdem dresses are our least favorites? There's a lot not to love about this one — in fact, so much that it's hard to know where to start. The mustard yellow color isn't the best, and neither is the old-fashioned floral motif. Also, the fact that the dress is long and has a high neck makes Kate look a bit matronly.
A Maternity Miss
Most of Meghan Markle's maternity style was absolutely on point, but this outfit sticks out as one of her worst — pregnant or not. We can definitely see the chic look the Duchess of Sussex was going for here, but it doesn't really work with her bump — and that bump deserved to be shown off!
Much Too Drab
Another one of our least favorite Meghan looks is this olive green dress she wore to the Invictus Games in 2018. It's not the color — it's the dress itself. Unfortunately, the garment's not cut in a flattering way for her, and it's pretty boring. If it hadn't been so shapeless, it would have worked much better.
A Confusing Look
Another one of our least favorite Meghan ensembles also happens to be black and white (are we sensing a pattern here?). Is it a dress? Is it a top and a skirt? At first glance, this outfit just looks confusing — not to mention that the halter top and florals make it appear outdated.
A Lot Going On
In defense of Sarah, Duchess of York, she was in the royal spotlight in the '80s — and we all know what '80s fashion was like. In fact, this dress is a pretty great example of it. Everything from the hemline to the black accents to the sheer sleeves makes us wonder what she was thinking when she put this on.
Is It a Clown Costume?
Oh, Diana. Even with all the ways that the Princess of Wales set fashion trends, this outfit was simply not one of them — mostly because she looks more like a clown than anything else. Red usually looked good on her (most things did), but this ridiculous ensemble is taking things a little too far.
Parade of Pink
Again, another royal caught by '80s fashion — it wasn't just you, Sarah! This all-pink outfit would have been on trend when Diana wore it, but looking back, it's not her best work. The hat, the tights, the cut of the dress … put them all together, and she looks like cotton candy.
Nearly Nude
Normally, Princess Beatrice does a good job of wearing bold looks without going overboard, but this was not one of those times. The navy color is fine on her, but the nude lining underneath makes it look like she's actually naked at first glance.
Like a Peacock
This photo of Eugenie and Beatrice arriving at William and Kate's wedding is really something. Beatrice's dress is fine (though that hat — oh no!) but Eugenie looks like she's dressed up as a peacock with that outfit she's wearing.
A One-Shoulder Look
This is a bit of a throwback, but let's just say that Eugenie's outfits were once a bit … out there. This dress she wore in 2017 has a lot going on, between the one-shoulder design, the Halloween color palette, and the pattern itself. It's a bold choice for sure.
Too Much Peplum
There's such a thing as too much peplum, and this outfit that Kate wore to an awards ceremony in 2014 is proof of why. Technically, this isn't a dress — the top is separate from the Jenny Packham skirt she's wearing — but we're a bit confused about who let her leave the house like this.
Like an '80s Prom Dress
This is one of Diana's most memorable outfits — it's one she wore during her iconic tour of Australia with Prince Charles at the beginning of their marriage. But looking back at it from a 2022 perspective, it's definitely giving us '80s prom dress vibes.
