Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, is renowned for her impeccable style during public appearances, adhering strictly to Royal fashion protocol.
The Princess of Wales is celebrated for her elegant dresses, sleek trouser suits and stunning gowns, always ensuring she’s dressed to the nines. However, her sartorial choices are largely governed by age-old rules dictating what Royal women should and shouldn’t wear.
In her book HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style, fashion journalist Elizabeth Holmes suggests that this protocol is shaped by a “broader cultural insistence on sophisticated modesty, an expectation that they be composed and presentable at all times”.
“Members of the Royal fashion have teams of people that would never let them be photographed in something that intentionally breaks a written fashion rule,” she penned.
“These women are very famous but they are not celebrities with free agencies. They cannot do or say what they please. They are working on behalf of the family and the Crown.”
Interestingly, there’s one key rule that Kate consistently abides by, which Meghan Markle seemingly wasn’t fond of – and that’s the wearing of tights. Like all Royal women, Catherine is expected to don nude or black tights during official engagements if she’s wearing a dress or skirt, reports the Mirror.
This unwritten rule, made common practice by Queen Elizabeth II, applies to all working members of the family. The seemingly archaic tradition of donning hosiery, even amidst sweltering temperatures, is believed to be a nod to Royal propriety.
The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate, is habitually seen at events dressed in tights, alternating between nude and various shades of black. Meghan Markle, subsequent to her engagement to Prince Harry, also embraced the custom during her initial outing by selecting ‘nude’ pantyhose.
Elizabeth highlighted the contrast between Meghan and Kate‘s dedication to this aspect of Royal etiquette. She said, “Meghan did not wear a lot of nude stockings – but then when she and the Queen appeared together she did. Kate leans into this stuff much more than Meghan did.”
Mirroring the sartorial choices of the late Queen Elizabeth II, the fashion-savvy Kate favours subtle or translucent nail colours and frequently modifies her ensembles to align with Royal expectations modifications include sewing in additional panels to obscure transparent sections or exposed back details, as well as attaching sleeves to sleeveless dresses for a more demure presentation.
Even the youngest members of the Royal family adhere to traditional dress codes for official engagements, with boys often seen in shorts. “Trousers are for older boys and men, whereas shorts on young boys is one of those silent class markers that we have in England,” etiquette expert William Hanson explained to Harper’s Bazaar.
“Although times are (slowly) changing, a pair of trousers on a young boy is considered quite middle class quite suburban. And no self-respecting aristo or Royal would want to be considered suburban.”