Princess Anne's '80s Trooping the Colour outfit was so modern - she rewore it 35 years later

Princess Anne's fashion ethos is greatly admired by many. The ever-sustainable royal has always championed the art of outfit rewearing, often donning items she has worn decades before.

A fine example of this is a coat dress that the sister of King Charles debuted at Trooping the Colour in 1980. The only daughter of Queen Elizabeth II donned this glorious mustard yellow coat and matching hat for one of the most iconic events in the royal calendar.

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The resplendent ensemble was cut close to the body and featured a single-breasted cut. It boasted chic gold statement buttons and included a gold, built-in belt at the waist. The slim-fitting style has a classic cut and illustrates perfectly that investing in timeless pieces is always a winner, as they can be worn again and again, rarely looking out of style or dated.

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This coat dress was clearly a huge favourite of the mother of two, so much so that she appeared to have expertly stored the item, and most notably brought it back in 2015, 35 years later, at Royal Ascot.

At the famed horse racing event, Anne wore the sumptuous coat dress over a gorgeous, boldly-patterned silk print dress with a high neck. The royal used the coat as an incredible layering piece. She accessorised with a hat that featured a pattern on the underside that coordinated beautifully with her dress, a black shoulder bag, and a pair of dark brown suede heels to round off the look.

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Given how long it's been, it's unclear whether she repurchased or replaced it over the years, but the pieces certainly look identical.

Anne brought out the same coat dress on three other racing occasions: once to the Epsom Derby in 1983, and then twice at Royal Ascot, once in 1991 and once in 2011.

Princess Anne, the mother of the groom

We last saw Anne at All Saints' Church in Kemble last week, for the wedding of her son, Peter Phillips, and Harriet Sperling.

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The mother of the groom radiated warmth despite the rain as she championed her signature blend of vibrant colour and sustainable fashion in a sunny yellow jacket beautifully layered over a red floral-print dress.

Adding a touch of sweet family nostalgia, she topped the ensemble with a vintage yellow silk hat featuring a distinct brimmed bow - a beloved heirloom famously worn to her daughter Zara Tindall's christening back in 1981.