One of the most notable things about the time Jill Biden spent with Kate Middleton and Queen Elizabeth over the last few days might be how much all three women visually belonged together. For one of their busiest weekends since before the pandemic, the royal women opted for florals, pastels, and a few bold summery colors, and the First Lady followed along in outfits that matched and complemented her hosts.
Biden started off the trip with a bit of old-school fashion diplomacy. On a Thursday outing with Joe Biden and Boris Johnson, she wore a polka-dot dress by American designer Brandon Maxwell and a custom Zadig & Voltaire that read “LOVE” across the back, perhaps as a nod to one of the most notorious outfits worn by her predecessor, Melania Trump.
For the rest of the weekend, Biden opted for slightly quieter looks. On Friday, Kate and Biden both wore nude heels and vibrant shades of pink as they toured the Connor Downs Academy in West Cornwall. Kate was wearing a magenta sheath dress by one of her favorite brands, Alexander McQueen, while Biden accessorized her white Akris dress with a hot pink blazer and nude slingbacks by Valentino. The next day, the pair continued the vibe by co-writing an opinion essay for CNN, where they discussed their shared passion for early childhood education.
Though the queen didn’t meet with the Bidens until Sunday afternoon for tea at Windsor Castle, she used a series of events on Saturday to show off a few seasonally-appropriate looks. On Saturday morning, she attended a scaled-down version of Trooping the Colour in a powder-blue skirt suit and an aquamarine brooch that once belonged to her mother. During a Saturday luncheon where she got a few laughs for her sword-handling skills, she wore a white dress with a pink and green pattern along with a sorghum-shaped brooch she received as a present in 2007.
Then, for Sunday’s tea, the queen wore a pastel pink gown with a matching hat, along with a starburst brooch. The first lady wore her own blue suit and her Valentino slingbacks, and added her own diamond brooch, perhaps in homage to her host. The meeting ultimately lasted 40 minutes, according to the BBC, and ran about 10 minutes long.
Afterward Biden paid the queen’s look a somewhat unusual compliment. “We had a long talk,” he said. “She was very generous. I don’t think she’d be insulted but she reminded me of my mother. In terms of the look of her and just the generosity. She was very gracious.”
After a few years when Donald Trump kept the royals waiting for tea, the successful afternoon might just be a sign that after years of tense meetings, the “special relationship” is back on track.
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