If you, like me, struggle to find a matching pair of socks most mornings, you might find pictures of the royal family make you feel slightly guilty, especially the ones from Easter Sunday. Because forget socks, the entire family is colour co-ordinated. And for the church service at St George's Chapel, the theme was duck egg blue.
Kate Middleton wore a pastel coat dress from Emilia Wickstead, accessorising with similarly pale accessories (powdery blue suede pumps by Emmy London, and a pleated headband in a marginally darker shade from Jane Taylor). Her daughter, Princess Charlotte, followed suit in a sweet collared dress flecked with blue and yellow flowers - and, the pièce de résistance, a pair of ribbed blue tights in the exact shade as mum's coat. Aww. While Prince William opted for a white shirt and red tie, Prince George played along with a sky blue shirt and navy tie.
This all makes for a very harmonious picture, naturally, but is there any meaning behind it? Kate Middleton, after all, is the queen of diplomatic dressing, often choosing to wear colours that have particular significance to the place or country she's visiting. The Queen also gravitates towards bright colours so that her subjects can easily spot her in a crowd. But when it comes to this particular display of family unity - when the colour doesn't necessarily have a meaning for the occasion - is it just a coincidence or is it planned?
On Easter Sunday in 2019, Kate Middleton also wore duck egg blue, this time matching with the Queen, who wore a similarly pearlescent shade. And for 2018's Trooping the Colour - when the royal family gathers at Buckingham Palace - Kate Middleton co-ordinated with her mother-in-law, the Duchess of Cornwall. Arriving side-by-side in the same carriage, both women wore a seafoam shade of green that stood out beautifully on the palace balcony.
These two instances look like a coincidence (no other family members are wearing matchy-matchy shades as far as we can tell). The Cambridges, however, are definitely strategic about colour-matching, often choosing blue. And while we don't know the exact reason, we imagine it's something to do with the fact that it's the best shade for wearing en famille. Pink, yellow or green in a similar pastel shade might make too much of statement - and, as a royal, it's important never to stand out for the wrong reasons - but blue, especially an innocuous shade such as duck egg - is harmonious without being scene-stealing. If you can't muster the energy for your next family event, however, perhaps just concentrate on the socks.
SEE: All The Times Kate Middleton Practised Literal Dressing
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This Catherine Walker coat, complete with a bow at the neck, couldn't have been more festive for last year's carol concert at Westminster Abbey.
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For last year's visit to Scotland, Kate packed some modern tartan in the form of this trench from Holland & Cooper.
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The emerald green jacket (a double-breasted number from Zara) was an easy spot for St Patrick's Day, but how many eagle-eyed followers noticed that she was also wearing a necklace with a teeny shamrock pendant from Daniella Draper?
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To celebrate Burns Night, and bring a traditional feast of haggis, neeps and tatties to workers at NHS Tayside, Kate Middleton appeared via video wearing a tartan dress from Emilia Wickstead.
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In honour of what would've been the start of finals weekend at Wimbledon, Kate surprised a group of young tennis players with a video call with Andy Murray. For the call, Kate wore the HVN's Tennis Long Maria Dress{
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Earlier this year, the Cambridges and their three young children joined the rest of the nation in the weekly Clap For Our Carers outside their home in Norfolk. Kate, William, George, Charlotte and Louis all wore outfits in tones of blue in honour of the NHS.
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For her very first in-person event following lockdown, Kate Middleton visited the Fakenham Garden Centre, arriving in a simple outfit that looked perfect for a day of weeding and planting.
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In December 2019, Kate joined families and children who are supported by the charity Family Action at Peterley Manor Farm in a very festive red puffer jacket and green jumper combo.
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Kate loves a floral print and won't let a visit to a garden centre or flower show go unmarked, from the 'Back to Nature' festival at RHS Garden Wisley (left) to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show (middle) to the White Garden at Kensington Palace (right).
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While on a royal tour of Ireland with Prince William in 2019, Kate made sure to pay tribute to the colour most associated with the country: green. Our favourite? The stunning Vampire's Wife dress she wore in Dublin.
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Speaking of green...Kate almost always attends a St Patrick's Day parade each year and she always, always wears green to celebrate.
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While on a royal tour of Poland in 2017, Kate paid homage to the country with her wardrobe twice. First, she wore a white dress with red accessories to honour the Polish flag. Then, she wore a dress by Polish designer Gosia Baczynska.
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Over the years, while attending events involving sailing or boating, Kate has capitalised on the nautical theme wearing white-and-navy stripes with golden accessories.
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The royals love Wimbledon and Kate is no exception. Having attended many, many times over the years, you can bet Kate will show off her tennis whites at the tournament at least once every year.
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In 2017, the Cambridges and their children arrived on the royal tour of Germany wearing different shades of cornflower blue, the colour of the country's national flower.
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Kate and William went on a royal tour to Pakistan in late 2019 and this is where Kate's passion for diplomatic dressing shone the brightest. Wearing outfits designed by Pakistani designers and wearing traditional Pakistani-style dresses, Kate certainly made a mark on this tour.
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Kate also showed her love for diplomatic dressing while on a royal tour of India and Bhutan, wearing dresses by local designers that featured traditional motifs.
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While in Canada with Prince William, Kate went to the rodeo, where she dressed for the occasion with a white cowboy hat. Later in the trip, she wore a red hat featuring maple leaves that look very similar to the Canadian flag.