10 Times The Ladies Of The Royal Family Nailed Maternity Style

Part of the royal job brief is always maintaining a sense of style, regardless of what's going on in your life. Even during pregnancy, a time when many women understandably stop prioritizing aesthetics for the sake of comfort and practicality, royals continue churning out high-fashion moments. The good news, for those who are looking for maternity styling guidance, is that the princesses and duchesses of the world often provide endless inspo with their pregnancy rotations. It might not be what causes that pregnancy glow, but feeling confident while you're expecting always makes the experience more fun.

Sure, some of the maternity looks worn by members of the royal family don't translate when you don't have blue blood. Meghan Markle's sequined and high-end gowns, for example, might not be overly accessible to the average expectant mother. But it's the detail in these looks that can inspire the best fashion moves. Kate Middleton is a master when it comes to pretty pregnancy looks with an edge of sophistication, while Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie demonstrate that having a baby bump doesn't mean you have to cover up — even mere weeks from your due date. And even if Meghan's go-to maternity styles are ultra-glamorous, she's the perfect example of balancing statement dresses with understated beauty and accessories. 

You might not be able to replicate them all exactly at home, but the following maternity style moments of the royal family are worth paying attention to, perhaps even as much as Hailey Bieber's most stunning pregnancy style moments. If nothing else, these women are living proof that your pregnancy wardrobe can be as loud or as quiet as you want. Whether you prefer traditional feminine vibes, something edgier and more androgynous, or even something that all but conceals your bump completely, these royals have it figured out. 

In April 2013, Kate Middleton was pregnant with her first child, Prince George of Wales. She visited the Leavesden Studios for the Warner Bros. Studio Tour, opting for classic polka dots on her flowy maternity dress. Paired with the cropped black blazer, the dress was equal parts cute and sophisticated for a maternity look, and the Princess of Wales nailed it. She also seemed to abide by royal protocols by wearing sheer nude pantyhose rather than baring her legs in the mini.

Maternity style doesn't have to mean trading in all your glamorous pieces for a wardrobe that has no shape or personality. In May 2023, Princess Eugenie, heavily pregnant with her second child Ernest George Ronnie Brooksbank who arrived later that month, visited Chalfont St. Giles with her sister, Princess Beatrice. Rather than shying away in baggy and muted maternity wear, she put her gorgeous bump on display in an elegant black-and-white dress with puff sleeves and a flattering V-neck. 

Meghan Markle fell pregnant with her son Prince Archie of Sussex in late 2018, so the following February's royal visit to Morocco lent itself to plenty of stylish maternity looks. The champagne-toned draped dress she wore to an event stood out for its regal aesthetic. This is easily one of Meghan Markle's standout looks from her time living in the U.K. By Dior, this gown was simple yet elegant, featuring kaftan-style draped sleeves and a high neckline.

There's no need to shy away from a statement dress during pregnancy, but it's also okay to go for a more understated look if that's your vibe. Kate Middleton has done both, and in March 2015, when she was pregnant with Princess Charlotte of Wales, she opted for a simple coat dress that kept her tummy concealed while visiting the XLP Mobile Recording Studio in London, England. The "less is more" look was perfect for the crisp fall weather, and Kate kept it fun with a standout hot pink color. 

Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, might not live down her inappropriate outfit for a royal wedding, but she nailed her maternity wardrobe. Back in 2007, she was pregnant with her second child, James, Earl of Wessex. While visiting Surrey, England that September, Sophie wore a summery white floral dress with a sweetheart neckline. She kept the look a little more formal and royal-duty-appropriate with a navy coat and sheer stockings, which might have dampened things in any other context. But for a duchess, this was a beautiful maternity look, pleasing both the style gods and the Firm.

Meghan Markle made waves with her maternity fashion for the first half of 2019, particularly that January when she arrived at London's Royal Albert Hall for a Cirque du Soleil event dressed to the nines in a navy sequined gown by Roland Mouret. She mastered the balance here by going for a simple black bun, and since the sequins stole the show, the lines of the dress were appropriately conservative. Meghan finished off this stunning maternity style moment with shoes by Stuart Weitzman, a Givenchy clutch, and a bracelet from the late Princess Diana's exclusive collection. 

The last thing that you might feel like doing in the third trimester is getting dolled up, but for the Princess of Wales, red carpets are unavoidable. While pregnant with Prince Louis of Wales in February 2018, she attended the BAFTA Awards in London, England in a forest-green gown with cap sleeves by her go-to designer Jenny Packham. Kate Middleton is known for her particularly regal looks, and this one isn't far off. From the black band around the dress' empire waist to the V-neck that showed off her emerald necklace, this look was flawless. 

Is it just us, or are polka dots and maternity wear a match made in heaven? In a royal rite of passage, Princess Beatrice attended the Wimbledon Championships in July 2021, when she was pregnant with daughter Sienna Elizabeth Mapelli Mozzi. The princess looked adorable in a belted polka-dot dress with vintage melon sleeves. Belts might not be the first accessory you reach for when planning your maternity wardrobe, but Beatrice nailed the styling here by wearing hers just above her waist, so it accentuated her changing shape.  

For those who missed the 1980s, Princess Diana's maternity style can raise eyebrows. The princess leaned into the over-the-top trends of the decade, opting for smocks, frills and ruffles, and girly color palettes, so it was a welcome change in March 1984 when she appeared in London, England in a sophisticated toned-down style. Diana, who was preparing to welcome Prince Harry that September, went with an androgynous gray coat, a white shirt, and sheer black stockings. The muted, practical look felt significantly cooler than her standard oversized dresses, especially to a modern audience.

In December 2018, Meghan Markle visited a nursing home in Twickenham, England, as part of her royal schedule. She braved the British cold in a summery Brock Collection dress with a square neckline and romantic gathered sleeves. One of her more simple maternity moments, Meghan's form-fitting dress was cute and stylish without being over the top. She topped it with a gray Soia & Kyo coat for the few minutes she was outside during this outing, but we're glad she eventually ditched the outerwear and let the dress shine.