Prince William hosted a garden party at Buckingham Palace on behalf of his father, King Charles, 2 Princesses Stole the Show at the Buckingham Palace Garden

Both styles beautifully complimented each other—and with cousin Zara Tindall, who also dressed in shades of white and pink, by their side—it made the entire occasion feel cheery and spring-like, a massive feat given the gloominess of the day.

We also need to give credit where credit is due: Yes, Prince William looked extra dapper (and tall!) in a top hat, but it’s the ladies who brought color and interest to this royal event. As a royal expert, I noted a vibe shift simply by including Eugenie, Beatrice and Zara—and one that I’m sure the 8,000 guests huddled under umbrellas at Buckingham Palace appreciated.

Back to the dresses: Like I said, they’re still available to purchase and quite perfect for spring and summer occasions. I especially love the softness of Eugenie’s cream-colored style; but also the structure and stand-out color of Beatrice’s crimson-hued choice.

Prince William was supported by his cousins at a Buckingham Palace garden party, echoing Queen Elizabeth’s past practice of including family members in official duties.

Peter Phillips, Zara and Mike Tindall, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie all turned out to support Prince William at this week’s rain-spattered Buckingham Palace garden party, which William was hosting on behalf of King Charles and without wife Kate Middleton.

The Telegraph reported that this was not the vision of the “slimmed-d0wn monarchy” oft-imputed to Charles, but rather William echoing what grandmother Queen Elizabeth had occasionally done, using cousins of her own generation as support at such occasions.

Palace sources told the paper the appearances were not symbolic of a formal shift—the younger royals would not be imminently returning to official royal duties, the “no half in, half out” rule still applied—but that William “would be keen to extend similar invitations again, in the spirit of including the wider family, as his grandmother once did.”

“They’re very willing to step up and do more at this current time, to help,” one royal source told the Telegraph, of the younger generation. “They’re very fond of their cousin and their uncle, and they want to do everything they can to support them. And they believe in the institution they grew up in.”

“The cousins are all very close and always have been,” one source said. “I think people liked seeing them being there together and supporting each other.”