The mid-priced fashion brand all the royals love
The Royal Shopper puts the spotlight on a royal loved fashion brand...
Queen Mary of Denmark and the Princess of Wales not only get along famously – their wardrobes are just as in sync as their royal roles. Both women favour timeless silhouettes, elegant tailoring, and classic prints, and they even have a shared love of the same brands – one of which is ME+EM.
In fact, this brand has been a talking point as Queen Mary of Denmark has worn it not once but twice this past week. The 55-year-old was pictured looking stunning in a floor-length polka dot gown by ME+EM, worn for a glamorous reception aboard the Royal Yacht Dannebrog.
She’s currently sailing on a four-day summer cruise with King Frederik, visiting several Danish municipalities along the coast. She rewore one of her much loved ME+EM dresses to board the yacht, as pictured below.
ME+EM, as it turns out, is a go-to brand for the royals. As well as Queen Mary and Princess Catherine, you’ve also got Princess Beatrice, Duchess Sophie and even Queen Camilla who count themselves as fans. And so today I’ve decided to do a deep dive into the British brand (that’s available to shop across the pond too) and establish why the royals love it so much.
What’s so special about ME+EM? Well, its ethos is “intelligent style for intelligent women,” championed by its founder Clare Hornby. The brand is all about celebrating women, focusing in on functional details (say hello to pockets and drawstrings), and a “wear-forever” ethos that blends seamlessly with royal sensibilities.
It was the first luxury brand in the UK that disrupted the market – and the royals have been on board from its inception in 2009. Catherine has a pink dress from ME+EM that she’s worn on more than one occasion – and even her mother borrowed the dress to attend Royal Ascot in 2022.
The ME+EM colour-block silk shirt dress isn’t The Princess of Wales’ only item, Kate also owns several Breton striped tops from the brand – simple, chic and endlessly wearable.
The Duchess of Edinburgh is arguably one of the brand’s biggest fans and has worn ME+EM on plenty of occasions. My fave has to be the blue floral midi dress which she wore during a visit to Belfast ahead of the Platinum Jubilee back in 2022.
Princess Beatrice recently wore ME+EM while on a trip to London – and the best news is that her dress is currently on sale.
For the royal-loving shopper, ME+EM is a backstage pass to understated elegance. Perfect for pieces that flatter and function, with a quiet nod to conscientious style. From Chelsea Flower Show to Caribbean sunlit walks, these pieces travel well through royally public lives. Here are some of the new-in pieces I predict will get the royal seal of approval in autumn/winter 2025…
My top Me+Em picks for the royals
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Coat of dreams
The Princess of Wales is a fan of an iconic trench coat, and I could imagine her wearing this pale camel coat from the new Autumn collection. The button tab fastening at the cuffs allows you to roll and fold back the sleeves – perfect for hand shaking during royal engagements.
The dress of dreams
A fit-and-flare dress is very royal indeed – I could picture the Duchess of Edinburgh wearing this midi which is made from a fluid crepe fabric in a monochrome palette. Contrasting raised black seams highlight the naturally flattering fit and flare silhouette, and the long sleeves fall to fitted cuffs to create a more voluminous shape.
The belt of dreams
Sorry but how genius is this reversible belt? Gently pull the buckle outwards and twist until it locks into place to achieve a new look. That’s two for the price of one in my book.
The jacket of dreams
I’m a sucker for a glam jacket, one that can instantly elevate jeans and a T-shirt. I could imagine Catherine wearing this gold jacket, possibly with a pair of toffee-coloured smart wide-leg trousers.
The blouse of dreams
Taking the staple white shirt to new sartorial heights, this piece is intelligently designed with a floral embroidered motif down the sleeves for a feminine lift. It has Catherine’s name on it, don’t you think?
The bag of dreams
This ME+EM bag screams royal style to me. It is almost reminiscent of Catherine’s much-loved DeMellier bag. This bag is ‘quiet luxury’ and it can be worn as a crossbody or shoulder bag thanks to the adjustable strap.
The co-ord of dreams
Catherine is a big fan of the two-piece suit but I predict we’re going to see a lot more variation in the type of suits she wears. This one has a double-zip fastening which allows for a customisable amount of coverage.
So there you have it, I hope you enjoyed this article. Feel free to follow me on Instagram @leannebayley or TikTok @dailybayley9to5 and let me know if there’s any kind of posts you’d like to see from me.
Further reading
Why the royals love Aspinal of London