Green Queen! How Princess Anne has been recycling coats, dresses and handbags from her wardrobe for decades - and still wears pieces dating back to the mid-70s

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Her mother, Queen Elizabeth II, was recognised for her impactful style choices.

And Princess Anne, known as the most industrious royal, has become well-known for repurposing her favourite clothing.

The 73-year-old royal has recycled a number of coats, dresses, hats and handbags over the years - some of which she has owned for decades. 

Not only does Anne re-wear pieces dating back to the mid-seventies, but she also dusts off identical outfits, often with the same jewellery and shoes. 

When asked about her habit of recycling, she once said: 'A good suit goes on for ever. 

'If it is properly made and has a classic look, you can wear it ad infinitum. The economy was bred into me.' 

Here, we delve into some of the best examples of Princess Anne's time warp wardrobe.

Turquoise dress 

The Princess Royal first wore this turquoise dress during the 1978 state visit of President Khama of Botswana, in London, when she was 26. 

Since then, Anne has worn the garment on a number of occasions, including Royal Ascot in 2013 and a visit to the Queen Elizabeth 2 hotel in Dubai in March.

Astonishingly, it retains its pristine condition. 

Lilac coat 

Anne wore this lilac coat on at least six royal engagements between 1982 and 2004.

The Princess debuted the outerwear, with a corresponding John Boyd veiled hat, when welcoming Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands for a state visit in 1982.

A year later, she wore it for the unveiling of the Mountbatten Memorial Statue in London, followed by an appearance in 1988 to launch the submarine HMS Talent.

Anne wore the elegant coat again for the 1992 Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey and then for a fourth time on a visit to Greenwich's Royal Naval College in 1997.

More recently, the royal reached for the A-line wool design on Christmas Day in 2001, 2004 and 2013, pairing it with her original hat.

Pink satin dress

The Princess Royal has demonstrated her style prowess in this perfectly eighties frock. 

Attending the 1984 Bafta Awards at Grosvenor House Hotel, she made a bold statement in a satin gown, featuring voluminous puff sleeves and a houndstooth-printed skirt.  

When it came to re-wearing the dress in 2001, Anne redesigned the sleeves to make it more appropriate for the decade.

Yellow and navy coat 

Princess Anne has showcased this yellow and navy coat five times since 2007. 

She debuted the tailored single-breasted design at the Easter Sunday service in Windsor 17 years ago.

She dusted it off again for Royal Ascot in 2009 and then a decade later wore it for the wedding of Lady Gabriella Windsor and Thomas Kingston at St George's Chapel in Windsor. 

Most recently, she wore the coat while visiting New Zealand and then Jersey in 2023.

Printed skirt suit 

Initially seen at Royal Ascot in 1988, this skirt suit played a key role in Princess Anne's nineties wardrobe. 

She selected the printed jacket and mid-length cream skirt again for the wedding of Lady Helen Windsor and Tim Taylor at St George's Chapel in Windsor in 1992.

It was next spotted at Ascot in 1994 and at a VE Day commemoration in 1995.

Following a 19-year break, the look was revived at Royal Ascot 2014. It was again complemented with the same ivory gloves and court shoes. 

Floral wrap dress 

The Princess has worn this floral print dress by Maureen Baker for two royal weddings - 27 years apart. 

Anne debuted the wrap dress, adorned with orange tulips and ruffles, at the wedding of her brother, Prince Charles, to Princess Diana in 1981.

She added pearl jewellery and a John Boyd floral hat in complementary tones.

Almost three decades later, Anne re-wore the look to the 2008 wedding of her cousin, Lady Rose Windsor, to George Gilman at the Queen's Chapel in London. 

Coral dress and floral jacket

In 2011, Princess Anne excelled with her vibrant mother-of-the-bride outfit. 

The proud parent looked radiant in a floral print jacket, layered over a coral pleated dress that fell to the knee, as she witnessed her daughter, Zara Phillips, tie the knot with Mike Tindall at Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh.

The next year, Anne recycled her ensemble for Royal Ascot, swapping her fascinator for a wide-brimmed hat. 

Orange-trimmed skirt suit

Anne first wore this sleek skirt suit to Trooping the Colour in 1987.

Since then, she has reached for the two-piece numerous times, including during a three-day visit to Pretoria, South Africa to mark Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

While her pearl jewellery remains untouched, Anne has paired the look with various hats - and once went bareheaded. 

Initially, she accessorised with an orange fascinator, before opting for a cream chapeau at the 2008 Founders Day Parade at Chelsea Royal Hospital. 

However, Anne wore the outfit sans hat to attend the Centenary Annual meeting of the National Federation of Women's Institute at the Royal Albert Hall in 2015.

Embellished gown 

Anne demonstrated her fearless fashion sense in this embellished lavender gown. 

In 1989, she wore the vivid design to an event at the Royal Albert Hall, marking the 70th anniversary of the Save the Children fund.

The royal swapped her velvet choker for a three-strand pearl necklace when she re-wore the dress to Grosvenor House in 2005.

Fur-trimmed coat 

This fur-lined coat has seen Princess Anne through five decades of winters. 

Aged 23, she wore the pastel-coloured coat to the 1976 wedding of eventing friends Chris Collins and Susanne Lumb, teaming it with a Yvette Jelfs hat and patent boots. 

It reappeared for a meeting with church dignitaries, which she attended with her husband, Mark Phillips, in 1983.

A blue scarf and bag appeared to be the only alterations when Anne sported the look for Christmas Day services at Sandringham in 2003 and 2006.

By 2008, she upgraded her knee-high boots and added a new hat, repeating this combination in 2012.

Cream and navy coat

Simple yet striking, this coat is another favourite of Anne's. 

She debuted the design, with a white pillbox hat at Royal Ascot in 1980, before recycling the look at the Derby at Epsom Downs in 1985.  

The Princess Royal dusted off the timeless coat for two Buckingham Palace garden parties in 2015.

She repeated the flawless ensemble for the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey in 2018. 

Yellow coat dress 

Anne has been loyal to this yellow double-breasted coat by Susan Small for over four decades. 

It was initially worn to Trooping the Colour in 1980, teamed with a matching printed dress and wide-brimmed hat. 

The Princess Royal replicated the ensemble at Epsom Derby in 1983. 

After a hiatus, Anne resurrected the coat in 2007 for the Central Benevolent Fund garden party and wore it again to Royal Ascot in 2011 and 2015.