For centuries, the women of the Royal Family have used their clothes to send a message.

This year, they will put that soft diplomacy front and centre to cement Britain’s relationship with the Commonwealth, as the Duchess of Cambridge and Countess of Wessex team up on behalf of the Queen to host a fashion extravaganza.

The two women, regularly hailed as the most stylish members of the Royal Family, will host a Commonwealth Fashion Exchange Reception at Buckingham Palace in February, as part of the lead-up to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.