Evolution of royal maternity style in pictures

Women in the royal family have perhaps not been able to evolve as freely as the rest of the world has when it comes to their choice of wardrobe during pregnancy.

While maternity style has made significant strides over decades to allow women to express themselves more freely, with bump bearing becoming a particular favourite in recent history, life as part of royalty is always about keeping up appearances and pregnant women are no exception.

Choosing extremely modest cuts which conceal the shape of a pregnant belly as much as possible, royal women were initially rarely seen, nor were their likeness captured, whenever they were expecting, preferring or maybe obligated to remain within palace walls.

However, in the modern age – starting with Queen Elizabeth herself – other female members of the family were seen out and about, tending to their duties as working royals as well as other engagements.

Here’s a look at the various silhouettes of the royal family’s maternity style over different periods of time:

Queen Henrietta Maria (1636)

This portrait of Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I of England, was painted by Anthony van Dyck and provides valuable insight into ancient royal maternity style.

The French native queen, who went on to birth nine children, was depicted wearing an oversized yellow hued gown, likely over a corset, while carefully covering her pregnant belly with crossed hands.

Queen Mother (1925)

Skipping a few centuries ahead, it is perhaps astonishing to witness that maternity style in the royal family had regressed even farther back, as captured in this snap of Queen Elizabeth’s mother.

Photographed alongside her husband, King George VI, Queen Elizabeth was a few months pregnant with the future queen and her namesake elder daughter, though her pregnancy is so well concealed under the ample garment of her fur coat that it is hardly visible at all.

Queen Elizabeth (1964)

Though Queen Elizabeth was photographed a few times during all of her three earlier pregnancies, it was her fourth and final one with Prince Edward which saw a more confident side of the former monarch as she took on her work comfortably throughout the process.

Pictured here, Elizabeth was in the eighth month of her pregnancy and though the bump was still well hidden, the mint green colour of her matching coat, headwear, and purse made for a stylish maternity style moment.

Princess Margaret (1961)

Ever the trendsetter, Princess Margaret ditched the usual hat and coat combo of the maternity style during her time when she attended a horse show during her first pregnancy.

Pregnant with her son, David Armstrong-Jones, Queen Elizabeth’s younger sister looked every bit the royal rebel she was known to be in her elegant pleated floral dress with a fur coat on her arm.

Princess Anne (1977)

Ushering in a new era, it was the Queen’s only daughter Princess Anne, who was seen in a remarkably altered silhouette when she got pregnant with her first child, Peter Phillips.

Photographed in a trendy ‘70s look, the bell bottom denim paired with a chic printed jumper and yellow bandana helped the Princess Royal turn a new leaf in the evolution of royal maternity style.

Princess Diana (1982)

While Princess Diana came to be known for her rebellious streak of style later in life, both of her pregnancies saw the late royal choose rather modest but beautiful pieces to showcase her burgeoning bump.

Photographed during an evening event, Diana was captured in a red taffeta gown which accentuated her pregnant belly through a cinched waist, while she was expecting Prince William.

Kate Middleton (2018)

We arrive to the contemporary era in royal maternity fashion with this exquisite look of Kate Middleton’s from the 2018 BAFTAs ceremony.

While pregnant with her third and youngest child, Prince Louis, the future queen was a picture of unguarded bliss as her modern pregnancy style moment was highlighted by a risky low cut and off-the-shoulder neckline.

Meghan Markle (2019)

Meghan Markle’s pregnancy was characterised by perhaps the boldest silhouettes till date.

The Duchess of Sussex showed off her first pregnancy in this light hued moment when she was out and about in London, which featured a turtle neck dress that was stretched tightly over her bump, greatly underlining it and announcing the royal maternity style’s arrival on the global stage.