As Jill Biden meets Queen Elizabeth, what did first ladies Melania Trump, Michelle Obama, Peng Liyuan and Jackie Kennedy wear when meeting the British royals?

Jun 11 , 2021

China’s First Lady Peng Liyuan, Melania Trump and Michelle Obama show off the looks they wore to meet Queen Elizabeth at official engagements. Photo: AFP

As seen in Netflix’s The Crown, in 1961 John F. Kennedy and wife Jackie visited Buckingham Palace – what did she wear to meet Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip?

Melania Trump chose Christian Dior and Dolce & Gabbana, while Michelle Obama went for Tom Ford and Ralph Lauren, and Peng Liyuan opted for custom-made Chinese designs

Joe Biden will make his first presidential trip overseas this summer. The US president will visit the UK to attend the 47th G7 summit, as well as engaging in conversations with European Union leaders in Brussels and a highly anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The trip will also include a visit, accompanied by his wife Dr Jill Biden, said to be friendly with Prince Harry – to the British royal family, meeting the queen on June 13.

Over Queen Elizabeth’s almost seven-decade reign, the British monarch has greeted the most important world leaders and politicians as well as their partners – including in recent years former US President Donald Trump and wife Melania, Chinese President Xi Jinping and wife Peng Liyuan, the 44th US commander-in-chief Barack Obama and wife Michelle Obama. But paying respects to the queen is a tradition that dates back generations – with memorable headline meets including the 1961 visit from the 35th US president John F. Kennedy and his wife Jackie Kennedy.

When you are expecting to meet the queen, the first thing to consider is, what should I wear? Melania sought French luxury from Christian Dior and Italian label Dolce & Gabbana, while Michelle enlisted home-grown talent like Tom Ford and Ralph Lauren, and Peng opted for custom-made Chinese-inspired design. So here are the first ladies’ sartorial choices for their royal visit.

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth stands with then-US president Donald Trump and wife Melania during a welcome ceremony at Buckingham Palace in central London in June 2019, on the first day of their state visit to the UK. Photo: AFP

In 2019, the Trumps embarked on a trip to the UK – including a few formal visits to the British royal family – where Melania showed her know-how in diplomatic fashion as well as some covetable Hermès handbags. For the formal first meeting with the queen at Buckingham Palace, she went for one of her favourite designers – Dolce & Gabbana – donning a crisp minimalist white coat-style dress, accessorised with a navy blue collar and belt. The white-brimmed hat was crafted by designer and her long-term stylist Hervé Pierre.

Donald and Melania Trump with Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall. Photo: AP

For the state banquet hosted by Queen Elizabeth, Melania Trump opted for a white silk crepe gown by Christian Dior Haute Couture, coupled with Manolo Blahnik shoes.