Royal Coats of the Day: November 9

We are knee deep in Royal Coat Season, and it's time for another outerwear update.

Remembrance Sunday was covered in full at the Jewel Vault yesterday, but since it's Royal Coat Season, we have a partial report to add here. We're zeroing in on the balcony containing the Duchess of Cambridge, special guest Queen Máxima, and the Countess of Wessex. (With a special heeeey to Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, always dapper in uniform and steadfast in the face of inevitable photo cropping.)

BBC Screencap

First things first, obviously everyone is appropriately attired and suitably dignified. As long as you have those bases covered at this kind of event, I really don't think there's any way your sartorial stuff can be considered a failure. But you can still be interesting, and that's where we come in. For example: I'm very interested to see more of the Countess of Wessex's textured take on the black theme, but I think the hat's got enough texture on its own.

I also found it interesting that Queen Máxima still brought some of her signature flair (that big hat! Totally striking) (and those jewels! A little diamond bow brooch to fasten the poppies - a QEII-approved move - with large pearl and diamond earrings) without overpowering the occasion. In case you missed it, she was there because King Willem-Alexander was invited by the Queen to lay a wreath marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands.

View image | gettyimages.com

The Duchess of Cambridge attempted to add some interest to her black coat collection with a new Alexander McQueen patchwork velvet number. I'm afraid she lost me at the patchwork, but I will confess to being distracted by the masquerade mask butterfly thing on her hat.

Elsewhere in coat news, I feel the need to inform you that the Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, our friend Princess Stéphanie, has worn something I might covet a little bit. And it's possible that hasn't happened since...her wedding? Jewels and Elie Saab excepted, of course.

La Princesse Stéphanie visite "les frontières de l’Indépendance le Luxembourg de 1815 à1839" https://t.co/sCkgUDa2Au pic.twitter.com/R3TGn56dwX

— Cour Grand-Ducale (@CourGrandDucale) November 4, 2015

Luxarazzi identifies the coat as Paule Ka, and the French brand has certainly been gaining speed among the royal crowd. Stéphanie has another coat in this basic style, though I vastly prefer the black and white. Yes, this is divine black and white simplicity. Works for her, would work for just about anyone, and that makes one great coat.

Paule Ka coat from Harvey Nichols

And that concludes today's dispatch from Royal Coat Season. Carry on.