Meet Natasha Archer, The Woman Behind Kate Middleton’s Regal Style Makeover

The Duchess of Cambridge is certainly a fashion icon when it comes to royal style. But in recent years, there has been a change. On previous tours of New Zealand, Australia and India, she has exhibited some more fashion-forward looks that we had not yet seen from the Duchess. She has well and truly settled into her role of future Queen - and its all with thanks to the influence and support of Natasha Archer, her much-loved stylist.

In 2014, there were rumours that the Queen had requested that the Duchess look more 'regal' on her tour of Australia and New Zealand. Indeed, there was a dramatic and noticeable difference in her choices from the word go: hemlines were longer, the cuts more grown-up and the style far more formal than on previous tours.

This was, in part, thanks to the help of Natasha Archer. Natasha, or ‘Tash’ as she is known, was part of Kate’s entourage on tour. She started working for Kate in 2007, as a Kensington Palace PA. But in the lead-up to the tour, she was also tasked with dresser duties.

Natasha - who is married to royal photographer Chris Jackson - was pictured leaving the plane in Wellington, holding luggage and wearing a black spotty dress, alongside Kate’s hairdresser, Amanda Cook Tucker. According to sources she had been advising Kate on her wardrobe since the previous summer. ‘Natasha’s main role is as a PA, but over the last few months she has assisted Kate as a style adviser,’ said a source at the time. ‘Natasha and Kate get on very well. She has always supported and advised Kate – and the duchess loves Natasha’s style, so it seemed like an obvious appointment. Natasha has been helping Kate pick outfits for the tour.’

Additionally, Archer was pictured arriving at the Lindo Wing with a dress bag and baby car seat the day after Prince George was born in 2013, and she has been a firm fixture ever since. She accompanied Kate on a six-hour trek in Bhutan in 2016.

We can’t deny our pride that the Duchess has become a bastion of British style; British designers including McQueen, LK Bennett, Mulberry, Emilia Wickstead, Jenny Packham and Temperley are among her favourites. Kate has also been known to wear high street brands such as Zara, Topshop and Hobbs. She is also the unofficial ambassador of high street brand Reiss, as the dresses she wears often sell out within a day of photos emerging.

Acher's support was rewarded in 2019, when she was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order by William in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace. Not too shabby...

SEE: Kate Middleton's Greatest Outfits