There are so many reasons the Princess of Wales might have chosen blue for the German State Visit and this is my favourite

The Princess of Wales knows the power her clothes can have and while her latest appearance has seen her backing some of the best known British designers around, one big question remains over Kate’s latest pick. The Princess chose a bright blue for the first part of the State Visit by the President of Germany with plenty of reasons already being suggested for her decision. However, one is an absolute favourite.

Kate was the first royal to be seen on this State Visit as she walked across the tarmac at Heathrow Airport with Prince William. The couple had the job of welcoming the President of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and his wife, Elke Budenbender, to the UK ahead of the ceremonies that mark the formal start of the State Visit. As the Princess made her appearance, her pick of blue surprised some with one royal watcher remarking ”she’s out of burgundy for the first time in weeks’.

However, a change being as good as a rest isn’t top of the reasons for Kate’s choice. As the Prince and Princess of Wales arrived at Windsor for the official welcome ceremony, it became clear that the royals had all colour co-ordinated as Queen Camilla was also in head to toe blue. What’s more, King Charles and Prince William were both sporting blue ties so blue was clearly the colour but matchy matchy can’t be the only reason.

In fact, at the French State Visit in July, Kate and The Queen went for total contrasts with the Princess of Wales in pale pink and Her Majesty in emerald green for the official welcomes. For the US State Visit, Kate chose burgundy (the start of that run of form that everyone noticed) and The Queen was in bright blue. This is the first time the two have chimed at a State Visit start all year. And that put even more focus on the blue holding an extra significance.

The Daily Telegraph suggested it was because the shade, especially that worn by Kate, is known as Prussian blue. The colour was invented in the early 18th century in Berlin by Johann Jacob Diesbach. It’s been seen as a nod to German culture for the shade was quickly adopted by painters to replace the then expensive ways of creating blue for art.

What’s perhaps just as likely, if not more so, is the fondness for using the national colours of red, white and blue at major occasions in the reign of King Charles. Queen Camilla seems particularly fond of this combination and has even made good use of a dress that has a pattern in those three colours that bears a striking resemblance to her Coronation emblem.

At the US State Visit, the colours used by the Royal Family at the opening events echoed red, white and blue while the French State Visit in July was even more noticeable. At the State Banquet for that event, the Princess of Wales wore red with the creamy white pearls of the Queen Mary Lover’s Knot Tiara while Queen Camilla wore a white dress with sapphire jewels, including a set of gems given to Queen Elizabeth II by her father, King George VI.

There’s one reason for Kate’s latest pick, though, that has quickly become a favourite of mine and it all links back to a special mention shared by the German embassy ahead of the start of the State Visit. When Queen Elizabeth II welcomed the then President of Germany, Roman Herzog, in 1998, she wore bright blue for the start of that State Visit. That seems like a lovely nod from both the Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla on such an important occasion.

There’s another rather nice link between the outfits chosen by The Queen and the Princess of Wales today. For Kate was in a coat by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, the designer responsible for her wedding dress. And Queen Camilla also turned to the fashion house that made her marriage outfit. The Queen was in a coat by Anna Valentine, who created both the outfits she wore for her wedding to King Charles in 2005. Just to make the marital connection complete, Queen Camilla chose a hat by Philip Treacy who was her milliner on her wedding day as well.

Now, all style attention turns to the State Banquet this evening which is likely to be the final public tiara event for the Royal Family this year. Will blue still be the colour?