As compliments go, “the pinnacle of contemporary glamour” is high praise indeed, a descriptor that can describe a stunning work of modern art or architecture as much as a person. And now it’s been applied to the human form: Princess Beatrice. Yes, the same Princess Beatrice who was ridiculed worldwide for the large “bagel” headdress she wore to the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2011. Some online have even gone so far as to liken her shape to a toilet seat.
Thirteen years later, Beatrice is no longer the victim of crude humor, TatlerIn ‘s annual Best Dressed list, she was among the winners of the society’s holy grail award, alongside Akshata Murty (2023) and the then Duchess of Cambridge (2022), beating Cruz Beckham (third) and Victoria Starmer (10th).
No longer wearing shockingly bad hats, the only thing adorning Beatrice’s head these days is a (metaphorical) crown. But the 35-year-old princess is currently Tatler‘s “undisputed queen of style”, there is power behind the throne – as there is with everyone who has topped the best-dressed list. Beatrice’s secret weapon? Step forward Olivia Buckingham, the 41-year-old stylist who is as well-connected as Beatrice herself.
Tall, slender and with striking white-blonde hair, Buckingham could be a runway model if she weren’t a stylist. A staunch follower of the body-hugging trend, Buckingham’s own style favours form-fitting garments such as jumpsuits, cropped tops, long lace evening gowns (Self-Portrait is a must-have brand), leopard-print camisoles and crystal-studded minidresses.
While she hasn’t dressed Beatrice in such bold clothing (yet), she has undoubtedly modernised the princess’s style. There’s a distinct difference in the “before and after” pictures she took of Buckingham: she now knows which silhouettes and fabrics photograph well – crucial for any public figure.
“I never want it to be about me, but I do like to push my clients’ boundaries and allow them to experiment and step outside their comfort zone a little bit,” Buckingham says. “However, I still think it’s incredibly important to be aware of their insecurities and nurture them in the process.”
Beatrice had always been interested in fashion, but fashion had not always been so kind to her. In her 20s and early 30s, she was often described as “crooked” because of her penchant for frocks that even her allies had to admit were a little old-fashioned. You had to admire her courage in wearing formidable designers such as Vivienne Westwood and Roksanda, but the details often let her down. If she wasn’t killing the look with opaque black tights – the enemy of high fashion – she was hurting it with hats straight out of Ascot’s worst-dressed list.
But in recent months, Beatrice’s style has evolved and grown in both confidence and poise. Attending Ladies’ Day at Ascot this year, Beatrice looked flawless in a green floral Emilia Wickstead dress, which she wore with nude heels and a matching hat. At Wimbledon, she opted for another floral dress, this time by Monique Lhuillier, which she wore with classic Chanel ballet flats. While florals are clearly a favourite, Beatrice 2.0 knows not to let her accessories compete with her patterns, instead keeping them simple and plain. Her hair is no different: instead of the ageing buns she once favoured, she now prefers to wear her hair in a more natural, loose style.
Buckingham says: “We were friends before, so when she asked me to style for high-profile events it felt very natural. Beatrice and I are very collaborative and we have a lot of fun together in the process. We work well in advance and present her with looks to try on – then it’s a process of selection.
“We love working with Emilia Wickstead, Self-Portrait and Monique Lhuillier; we have built close relationships with each of the designers. Aquazzura, Manolo Blahnik and Roger Vivier are our favourite designers for shoes and accessories.”
Arguably, the princess’s evening wear has undergone an even more significant transformation, with Buckingham styling hers in lovely fabrics that look good on camera—and dresses that are also fashionable enough not to overwhelm the wearer. For example: the Richard Quinn gown she wore to Vogue World last September, a high-fashion event where the cape detail was absolutely perfect. True, it was still floral, but there’s nothing wrong with having a style formula and sticking to it, especially if you adjust the details to suit the occasion. The dress’s somber black-and-yellow palette was ideal, and it photographed beautifully.
Buckingham and the princess have many friends in common, including socialite and tableware designer Alice Naylor-Leyland, London Fashion Week name Emilia Wickstead and fashion and lifestyle entrepreneur Alex Eagle. The tight-knit group also includes Buckingham’s friend from school, Poppy Delevingne – the two are so close that Buckingham was a bridesmaid at Delevingne’s wedding in Marrakesh in 2015. As with Beatrice, Buckingham seems to have moved from friend to stylist, with Delevingne regularly dressing her middle sister for events. Buckingham’s other clients include actress Carey Mulligan, socialite Nicky Hilton and singer Eve.
Offering an insight into how she works with her clients, Buckingham said: “I start with a consultation just to get an idea and see if we are a good fit. Ultimately, my job is to make each of my clients feel strong and confident. I want them to wear the clothes, not the other way around.”
Buckingham is a fourth-generation Hong Kong native of some distinction. His maternal great-grandfather, Noel Croucher, immigrated to the colony in the 1900s and founded the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. A year before his death in 1979, he founded The Croucher Foundation, a charitable initiative that provides scholarships for scientific and medical research. However, Buckingham was educated in England at Garden House and Heathfield. It was at this time that he met the Delevingne sisters, Chloe and Poppy, and they became lifelong friends.
While she went on to become Poppy’s stylist, the profession wasn’t on her radar at school. Nevertheless, she studied photography at The London School of Fine Arts before moving back to Hong Kong and joining the academy. Tatler as a fashion assistant. After six months of hard work in the fashion closet, she went freelance and quickly made her mark on the scene as a well-connected “blonde” (as she once described herself). She moved to London in 2019, where she set up a style consultancy with her friend Lady Emily Crompton. Tatler days. After parting ways amicably, Buckingham decided to go it alone.
While her Instagram feed may confirm that she’s rarely alone as an in-demand stylist, Buckingham frequently updates her 73,000 followers with details of her glamorous lifestyle, including photos of herself at a wellness retreat with Kate Moss, partying with A-list friends and relaxing in a hotel suite with her beloved dog Dolly. Dolly seems to be the more pampered of the two princesses in her life. Hong Kong’s loss is London’s gain – and she’s definitely Princess Beatrice’s.
But Buckingham is too modest to take all the credit for Princess Beatrice’s fashion award. “I’m so excited and she deserves to be at the top of the list,” Buckingham said. “I’m so proud. She carries the clothes so well and it’s such an honour to work with her. I’m so grateful for our friendship and the opportunity to create this fashion journey together.”