Throughout King Charles and Queen Camilla’s state visit to Washington, DC, first lady Melania Trump’s outfits subtly coordinated with her royal counterpart. The matching looks were no accident.
Charles and Camilla’s White House events on Monday and Tuesday marked the beginning of the first British state visit to the US since Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s trip in 2007. Held in honor of America’s 250th anniversary, the royal couple joined the president and first lady for afternoon tea, a ceremonial military review, and a lavish state dinner before heading north to New York City. Charles also addressed a joint session of Congress on Tuesday — the first British monarch to do so since 1991.
It’s standard procedure for royal staffers to discuss outfit choices with the Office of the First Lady ahead of state visits to ensure that their looks complement each other. Anita McBride, who served as first lady Laura Bush’s chief of staff from 2005 to 2009, previously told Business Insider that she had “a couple of follow-up conversations” with Queen Elizabeth II’s dressmaker about color choices ahead of the royals’ 2007 state visit.
At the first appearance of the royals’ White House visit on Monday, Melania Trump and Camilla both wore seasonal spring looks. Camilla wore a white coatdress with silver floral detailing, while the first lady stood beside her in a butter-yellow skirt suit by Adam Lippes.
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Their outfits didn’t match, but they shared a similar tone, making them look cohesive. Likewise, Trump’s ensemble was reminiscent of the outfits Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, often wears to royal events.
The following day, Camilla and Trump both wore similar pale shades for an event at the White House tennis pavilion. Camilla arrived in a mint-green coatdress by Fiona Clare, a London-based couture designer. She accessorized with white heels, a large hat, and the Cullinan V diamond brooch, which belonged to Queen Elizabeth.
While Camilla celebrated UK fashion with her look, Trump embraced American designers. She wore a Ralph Lauren pencil skirt and blazer, paired with an Eric Javits hat. Javits notably made her hat for the 2025 inauguration.
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‘Visual diplomacy’
Lauren Rothman, a style strategist and image coach who works with business leaders and politicians, told Business Insider that Camilla and Trump’s matching looks exemplified “visual diplomacy,” with the two women sharing “the same visual language” through their fashion choices.
“Unlike celebrities on the red carpet, the question isn’t, ‘Did they look good?’ To me, the question is, ‘Did the visual match the responsibility?'” Rothman said. “I think the answer is yes, Melania’s visual matched the responsibility. She was elegant, yet not outshining. That’s visual diplomacy at work.”
This style strategy was most evident at the White House state dinner on Tuesday evening, where both Camilla and Trump wore pink.
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Camilla arrived at the dinner in a hot-pink Fiona Clare gown. The floor-length dress had long sleeves and sparkly embroidery on the bodice. She notably didn’t wear a tiara, though she did wear a diamond necklace and coordinating earrings.
Trump chose a lighter blush dress for the event. She greeted the king and queen in a strapless, floor-length Christian Dior gown with architectural detailing on the bodice and ruching at the waistline.
The two women standing together in different shades of the same color projected cooperation and respect, Rothman said.
“In situations like this, where everyone’s dressing up, it’s clearly an important cultural moment,” she added. “It’s a state dinner. It’s all of those dressy things. And yet there is a diplomacy involved in what you wear. There’s a strategy in place.”