As compliments, “the height of contemporary splendor” is a high compliment indeed; a description that could just as easily describe a stunning piece of modern art or architecture as a person. And now it has been applied to the human form: Princess Beatrice. Yes, the same Princess Beatrice who was ridiculed around the world for the oversized “pretzel” fascinator she wore to the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales in 2011. Some online even went so far as to compare its shape to that of a toilet seat.
Thirteen years later, Beatrice is no longer the victim of unkind memes, but the victor of Tatler‘s annual Best Dressed list, joining Akshata Murty (2023) and the then Duchess of Cambridge (2022) as the winner of the Society Bible’s esteemed award, beating out rivals Cruz Beckham (third place) and Victoria Starmer (tenth).
No longer the wearer of shockingly bad hats, the only thing adorning Beatrice’s head these days is a (metaphorical) crown. But while the princess, 35, is currently being hailed as Tatler‘s “undisputed queen of sartorial savvy,” there’s a power behind the throne—as there is with anyone who tops a best-dressed list. Beatrice’s secret weapon? Enter Olivia Buckingham, the 41-year-old stylist who’s almost as well-connected as Beatrice herself.
Tall, slim, and with striking white-blonde hair, Buckingham could have been a runway model if she hadn’t become a stylist. A staunch follower of the bodycon trend, she favors form-fitting pieces like jumpsuits, midriff-baring tops, long lace evening gowns (Self-Portrait is a popular brand), leopard-print slips, and crystal-embellished minidresses.
Although she hasn’t dressed Beatrice in such racy clothes (yet), she has certainly modernized the princess’s style. There is a clear difference in her “before and after” photos of hiring Buckingham: she now knows which silhouettes and fabrics look good in photos – crucial for any figure in the public eye.
“I don’t ever want it to be about me, but I do enjoy pushing the boundaries for my clients, allowing them to experiment and get out of their comfort zone a little bit,” Buckingham says. “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 it hadn’t always been kind to her. In her twenties and early thirties, she was often described as “frumpy” thanks to a penchant for morning coats that, even her allies had to admit, were a little dated. While you had to admire her guts to wear provocative designers like Vivienne Westwood and Roksanda, the details often let her down. When she wasn’t killing the look with opaque black tights—the arch enemy of haute couture—she was hurting it with hats straight out of an Ascot worst-dressed list.
In recent months, however, Beatrice’s style has blossomed and grown, both in confidence and stature. When she attended Ladies’ Day at Ascot this year, she looked flawless in a green, floral-embellished Emilia Wickstead dress, worn with nude heels and a matching fascinator. At Wimbledon, she opted for another floral dress, this time by Monique Lhuillier, worn with classic Chanel flats. While florals are clearly a style favorite, Beatrice 2.0 knows not to let her accessories compete with her prints, and instead keeps them simple and understated. The same goes for her hair: instead of the outdated updos she once wore, she now wears it loose and more natural.
Buckingham added: “We’ve been friends before, so it felt really natural when she asked me to help style her for high-profile events. Beatrice and I work really well together and we have a really good time together. We work quite far in advance and call in looks for her to try – then it’s a process of elimination.
“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.”
You could argue that the princess’s eveningwear has undergone an even greater transformation, with Buckingham styling her in flattering fabrics that look good on camera—and dresses with just the right amount of fashion flair that doesn’t overwhelm the wearer. Case in point: the Richard Quinn gown she wore to Vogue World last September, a high-fashion event for which the dress’s cape detail was absolutely perfect. Granted, it was another floral, but there’s nothing wrong with having a style formula and sticking to it, especially if you tweak the details to suit the occasion. The dress’ moody black-and-yellow palette was ideal, and photographed beautifully.
Buckingham and the princess have many friends in common. They include socialite and tableware designer Alice Naylor-Leyland, London Fashion Week fixture Emilia Wickstead and fashion and lifestyle entrepreneur Alex Eagle. Also among the close group is Poppy Delevingne, a friend of Buckingham’s since school days. The two are so close that Buckingham was a bridesmaid at Delevingne’s 2015 wedding in Marrakech. Like Beatrice, Buckingham seems to have gone from friend to stylist and also regularly dresses the middle Delevingne sister for events. Buckingham’s other clients include actress Carey Mulligan, socialite Nicky Hilton and singer Eve.
Buckingham gave an insight into how she works with her clients, saying, “I start with a consultation to get a feel for things and determine if we’re a good fit. Ultimately, my job is to make sure all of my clients feel empowered and confident. I want them to wear the clothes, not the other way around.”
Buckingham is a fourth-generation Hong Konger of some distinction. Her maternal great-grandfather, Noel Croucher, emigrated to the colony in the 1900s and co-founded the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. A year before his death in 1979, he established The Croucher Foundation, a philanthropic enterprise that offers grants for scientific and medical research. But Buckingham was educated in Britain, at Garden House and Heathfield. It was at the former that she first met Delevingne sisters, Chloe and Poppy, and they became lifelong friends.
Although she would later become Poppy’s stylist, the profession wasn’t on her radar at school. Instead, she went on to study photography at The London School of Fine Arts, before moving back to Hong Kong to join Tatler as a fashion assistant. After six months of hard work in the fashion closet, she went freelance and quickly made a name for herself as the well-connected “token blonde” (as she once described herself) on the scene. In 2019, she moved to London and set up a styling consultancy with Lady Emily Crompton, a friend of hers Tatler days. After they parted amicably, Buckingham decided to go it alone.
Though her Instagram feed is testament to the fact that, as a sought-after stylist, she’s rarely alone. Buckingham regularly updates her 73,000 followers with details of her glamorous lifestyle, including snaps of her on a spa retreat with Kate Moss, partying with her A-list friends and relaxing in a hotel suite with her beloved dog, Dolly. Dolly is, by all accounts, the more pampered of the two princesses in her life. Hong Kong’s loss is London’s gain—and certainly Princess Beatrice’s.
Buckingham, however, is far too modest to take all the credit for Princess Beatrice’s fashion accolade. “I’m delighted and she deserves to be at the top of the list,” Buckingham said. “I feel a huge sense of pride. She wears the clothes perfectly and it’s a huge honour to work with her. I’m so grateful for our friendship and the opportunity to have created this fashion journey together.”