When it comes to being a member of the royal family, we already know that there are a lot of rules involved. They have to follow very strict guidelines around the way they talk, what they eat, where they go, and yes, even how they dress. But fortunately, that doesn't mean they have to shy away from wearing colors. In fact, on many occasions, the royal ladies have chosen to spice up their wardrobes with a bright, bold color that turns heads (as if they weren't getting enough attention just by being royal).
It's hard to top the bright colors that once hung in the late Queen Elizabeth's closet — and the fact that most of those signature outfits came with hats and handbags that were perfect color matches. And even though Meghan Markle is known for her classic, neutral looks, even she has whipped out a vibrant red from her closet every now and then to make a statement.
Keep reading for some of the royals' boldest, most colorful looks. They are the only ones who could possibly pull off some of these outfits and loud colors.
Garden Party Ready
Of course a garden party calls for bright colors, and Kate Middleton wouldn't miss an opportunity for that! In May 2022, she attended one thrown by the Earl of Wessex in honor of the Queen at Buckingham Palace wearing the most cheerful coral ensemble.
Coordinating on the Color Wheel
Pairing red and purple is one of the most bold choices you can make, and it's one that Princess Diana made more than once during her career as a royal. We can't blame her — she looks fantastic in this color combo, though it's not something just anyone would be comfortable pulling off.
Coming in Hot (Pink)
During her life, Queen Elizabeth was known for the bold hues she loved to wear so much — the majority of her outfits were brightly colored and cheerful, like this one. That would be the responsibility of Angela Kelly, the Queen's longtime personal dresser, who curated and even designed most of the monarch's wardrobe.
Pure Sunshine
Bright yellow is the perfect color to wear to watch a Wimbledon match on a hot day, as the Princess of Wales did here in July 2018. Her Dolce & Gabbana dress was a cute look for taking in the men's finals alongside Prince William, and she certainly stood out in the stands.
Pretty in Purple
For most of her time as a working royal, Meghan Markle stuck to neutrals, which she later revealed was so that she could blend in without stepping on any toes. But once in a while, she broke a color out of her closet, like she did (more than once, we might add) with this adorable bright purple Aritzia dress in 2019.
Check out our Meghan Markle page for all the latest news about Meghan, Prince Harry, and their growing family.
A Bright Pattern
Princess Eugenie managed to incorporate multiple bright colors in the outfit she wore to a party at the Serpentine Gallery in London in 2017. She looked good doing it, too — this pattern is just perfect on her, especially since she's always loved going a bit edgier with her style than her royal relatives.
Pink & Sparkly
She might not wear it all that often, but pink is definitely Kate's color. This sparkly, hot pink dress from the Vampire's Wife is one of our favorite ultra-glam looks that Kate has ever worn. She donned the dress during her and William's Caribbean tour in 2022 during their stop in Belize.
Bright Yet Proper
It's hard not to love a lady who can so flawlessly pull off wearing a lime green dress with a matching hat. The blue polka dots (which are echoed on the ribbon on her hat) really add an element of fun to this outfit that the Queen wore in 2002.
A Bold Evening Look
In our opinion, this might just be one of our favorite looks that Meghan has ever worn. She totally rocked this red Carolina Herrera gown when she and Prince Harry attended the Salute to Freedom gala in November 2021. So stunning!
Bright (for Camilla, Anyway)
During her time as a member of the royal family after marrying Charles in 2005, Camilla has generally worn muted colors and neutral tones. But every so often, she'll wear something a bit bold, like this outfit — and yes, this is bold for her. Not quite the same as the late Queen's approach to style!
A Pink Daydream
Princess Diana dressed brightly from the beginning. In this photo from her and Charles' famed 1983 tour of Australia, just two years after they got married, she's wearing the prettiest bright pink dress and matching hat. Kate would look great in something like this!
Easy Being Green
The look that Kate wore to the 2022 Earthshot Prize Awards in Boston stirred up a lot of mixed feelings, but regardless of whether you love or hate the dress she rented for the occasion, you have to admit it was a bold choice. We love to see Kate stepping outside of her comfort zone!
Full-On Floral
Once again, Diana managed to stand out in this brightly colored floral dress from Bellville Sassoon. She wore it during a visit to Lagos, Nigeria, in 1990. Not only was this characteristic of the popular style at the time (Diana was always on trend, after all), but the colors looked great on her, too.
Wedding Ready
Talk about a memorable wedding guest look. Here, Princess Beatrice is the star of her family in her hot pink dress when she, Eugenie, and mom Sarah Ferguson all attended a wedding together in May 2016. We don't hate those colors that Fergie's wearing, either!
Peachy Keen
For this one, we're going to throw it back to April 2013, when Kate was bumpin' along with Prince George, her first baby — just a few months before his arrival that summer, in fact. His mom looks adorable in this peachy outfit, which couldn't have been more perfect for spring.
Having an Orange Moment
It would be hard to say which was the Queen's brightest and boldest look ever, but we have a feeling this one would be at the top of that list. In this photo taken in 2021, the Queen is at the Commonwealth Games, and we doubt anyone could miss her in the crowd.
Bright on a Rainy Day
When Meghan and Harry returned to the UK in March 2020 to finish out their duties before leaving royal life behind, she did not come to play. Every outfit she stepped out in was a hit, especially this gorgeous turquoise dress designed by Victoria Beckham. She looks beautiful!
'Tis the Season
Kate's always been known to dress with holidays (and even the local culture of the places she's visiting) in mind, and Christmas is no exception. When she hosted the Together at Christmas TV special in 2021, she looked just like a present in this bright red dress topped with a bow at the neckline.
Diana in Turquoise
Decades before Meghan wore her turquoise dress, Diana donned one of her own. She rocked this lacy number, which was designed by Bruce Oldfield, to a dinner in New Brunswick in 1983, accessorizing with the famous Spencer Tiara.
Truly Standing Out
It's probably partially because of the fact that Harry and Meghan are wearing black and white in this photo, but this magenta look on Zara Tindall proved that she really does know how to make a statement. And her purple hat took it over the top!
