Most affordable royal fashion moments

By Bryanne Salazar 7:10am PDT, Sep 19, 2018

Just because they're royals doesn't mean they always spend a royal fortune on their wardrobes. (But if they wanted to, they could: The activities budget, which also covers clothing, for Prince Charles' clan including Prince William, Duchess Kate, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan is a whopping $6.5 million annually.) These modern royals are also fans of inexpensive fashion staples, meaning we actually have a shot at imitating their regal style. Join Wonderwall.com as we take a look at some of the most affordable looks our favorite royals have worn in recent years… starting with Kate's blue-and-white striped off-the-shoulder sundress from Zara. The breezy summer look she wore to a polo match in June 2018 usually retails for $69.99 but as of September was on sale for an unbelievable $12.99, making it a look nearly everyone can afford. Keep reading for more inexpensive royal fashion moments…

What about that adorable dress Princess Charlotte wore on the same day? It's a $40 pink Amelia floral-print cotton dress from The Little White Company that officially sold out shortly after these carefree photos of the princess were published. No word on where her cute pink shades are from, but our guess is they're equally affordable.

Duchess Meghan was making fashion waves long before her engagement to Prince Harry was announced in November 2017. Seen here at her first Invictus Games that September, Meghan, who's fond of high-end fashion, opted for a more affordable Beaune pleated wrap dress from Aritzia that retails for $188. Not necessarily cheap, but considering her official engagement photos dress cost a reported $75,000, we're calling this look a steal.

The royal women aren't the only ones rocking affordable fashion finds. Prince Harry took a note from his then-fiancée's stylebook in January 2018 when he wore a blue Everlane cashmere crew neck sweater that retails for $100. The prince, who most often is seen in tailored suits and designer sport coats, was decidedly more casual in Wales while tasting cakes during an official visit.

Nearly a year after the birth of Prince George, Duchess Kate stepped out in style to support Prince William during a polo match in June 2014. Wearing a blue-and-white striped Breton top from ME+EM that retails for around $31, she looked casual and comfortable while on mom duty.

Even the littlest royals have been known to wear thrifty threads. In this June 2017 picture, Zara Tindall's daughter Mia, whose great-grandmother is Queen Elizabeth II, is wearing a cute blue H&M hoodie dress that retailed for just $12.99. The adorably dressed tot was having fun that day running from her second cousin, Prince William, whom she calls "Uncle."

The navy blue Carolina Herrera dress that Duchess Meghan wore at the ISPS Handa Polo Cup in July 2018 can't be considered affordable (it reportedly retails for more than $1,500) but nearly everyone can find room in their budget for her J.Crew fan rattan clutch. The neutral purse retailed for just $59.99 and became so popular after Meghan was seen carrying it that it sold out in stores and online.

The month after Prince George was born, Duchess Kate posed alongside Prince William, their son and their dog for a family pic in August 2013. She wore a lovely fuchsia knot-front maternity dress from one of her favorite labels, Seraphine. At the time, the dress retailed for only $68, but due to high demand, it now sells for $89, which is still a bargain for a royal fashion moment.

It's a stretch to call Duchess Meghan's distressed Mother jeans, which retail for $228, affordable, but her Everlane tote? A bit more budget-friendly. The brown leather bag she wore to the Invictus Games in September 2017 retails for $175 and initially sold out after this picture was published. Thankfully, Everlane restocked their supply, meaning we have a chance to look as effortlessly cool as the duchess.

A dapper Prince George greeted President Barack Obama in April 2016 wearing this plush My 1st Years gingham-trimmed robe. He looked like the little man of the manor but the robe only cost around $45.

Princess Eugenie of York knows a thing or two about having fun with fashion. At the August 2018 wedding of Prince Harry's childhood friend Charlie Van Straubenzee, Eugenie donned these chic black-and-white Jordaan shades from Mr. Boho that retail for only $85.

In this April 2014 photo, Duchess Kate sampled some vino at the Otago Wines Amisfield winery in Queenstown, New Zealand, while wearing a smart double-breasted navy blazer from Zara that retailed for $99.90 and a checkered boyfriend shirt from the Gap (one of Kate's favorite retailers) that only cost $49.95. She paired the combo with a pair of skinny jeans, which nearly every gal has in her closet, making this sophisticated royal look realistic for most budgets.

For Duchess Meghan's first official royal outing after announcing her engagement to Prince Harry in 2017, she wore a considerably pricey look that's easy to remake with more affordable pieces. From her Wolford black turtleneck bodysuit that retails for $250 to her Joseph flared wool skirt that was priced around $405, any smart shopper could find similar pieces at far more affordable prices. The one piece they won't have to cut corners on is Meghan's Babaton dress belt from Aritzia, which only costs $65 and perfectly pulled her look together.

During Duchess Kate's first pregnancy with Prince George, she was often seen wearing highly affordable maternity fashion. In this April 2013 pic, she's wearing an adorable black-and-white polka-dot dress from Topshop that retailed for $56 (and sadly is no longer available).

At just a year old, Prince George was already starting major fashion trends. In this November 2014 pic, the future king wore a charming knit tank sweater from Cath Kidston featuring toy soldiers. The sweater, which retailed for just $36, sold out shortly after this photo was taken.

In this January 2018 picture taken just days after announcing her engagement to Jack Brooksbank, Princess Eugenie is seen leaving a London nightclub wearing a Belize-print silk Dobby dress from Whistles that's surprisingly affordable for the high-fashion-loving royal. Retailing for $161, the dress certainly wasn't cheap, but it was one of the most inexpensive looks Eugenie's worn in a long time.

Duchess Kate could have gone for major-label glam at the official unveiling of her royal portrait in January 2013. Instead, she opted for this figure-flattering red chiffon dress from Whistles that was only $133 off the rack.

Another Princess Eugenie style moment from 2018 is this impressive tweed jacket look from Zara. While out for a cool morning stroll in London's Chelsea neighborhood in April, Eugenie paired this $119 plaid coat with simple black pants and a flowing sage green blouse, making her look effortlessly glam on a budget.

While pregnant with baby No. 2, Duchess Kate continued her trend of wearing affordable maternity fashion. This black-and-white polka-dot wrap skater dress from ASOS only cost $32.

Making our list again is Prince Harry, who rocked an outdoorsy look in this October 2017 pic. The prince wore a Columbia South Canyon jacket during his visit to the Brockholes Nature Reserve. The waterproof jacket with lots of pockets was perfect for the cool autumn weather and only costs $59.98.

On a trip to India in 2016, Duchess Kate donned a heavily embroidered floral-print dress from Topshop that was reasonably priced. Retailing for $111, the dress wasn't as thrifty as many of her previous looks, but was still considerably more affordable than most things the royal family wears.

On the way to meet her new baby brother, Prince Louis, in April 2018, Princess Charlotte wore a pretty periwinkle dress from Little Alice London that's priced at $58 paired with a navy blue cardigan.

Does the duchess love prints or what? Seen here in August 2013 shortly after the birth of Prince George, Duchess Kate wore a white-and-blue patterned Zara blouse that only cost $59. Paired with a gray blazer and black skinny jeans, the royal mom looked business-casual and super-cute at one of her first post-maternity outings.

Another affordable look Duchess Meghan wore to her first Invictus Games in 2017 was this $122 nude Babaton Maximo trench coat from one of her favorite brands, Aritzia. Paired with an Invictus polo and black jeans, Meghan looked casual and comfy alongside her mom, Doria Ragland, who was rocking a gorgeous lacy blouse with bell sleeves.

Rounding out our list is Duchess Kate, who has mastered the art of mixing affordable fashion with higher-end pieces. Case in point: Kate's $485 khaki parka from Troy London paired with basic black skinny jeans and her favorite pair of inexpensive Superga 2750 COTU sneakers that only cost $65 (and have been known to go on sale for as low as $45!).