There are quite a lot of rules that the royal family has to follow — particularly when it comes to how to dress. The women have more rules than the men, who can pretty much get away with wearing the same navy suit and tie to any occasion. But for royal ladies, there are fashion protocols that dictate everything from skirt length to hairstyle to nail polish shades.
These rules aren't as strict as they maybe once would have been, and we can probably thank Princess Diana for that. As she became a fashion and style icon, Diana started to break some of the age-old rules about what was and wasn't appropriate to wear as a princess. Modern royals, such as Meghan Markle, were constantly breaking protocol, and even Kate Middleton has strayed from the guidelines from time to time. At the end of the day, it's just a dress/shoe/hairstyle, right? Not the end of the world if the Queen doesn't approve.
In general, here are the fashion protocols the royals should be observing.
Royal Boys Wear Shorts
Both Prince George and Prince Louis have broken this rule a couple of times, but for the most part they're always seen in shorts for public events. That's because British aristocratic tradition dictates that young boys can't wear pants until they're about 7 or 8 years old.
All Black Ensembles Are for Funerals
Meghan Markle frequently broke this rule — as did Diana — but traditionally, royals are supposed to save all-black dresses and outfits for funerals or other somber affairs. For example, members of the monarchy always wear black for the annual Remembrance Day event that honors those who lost their lives in war, and whenever they're traveling, the royals must bring at least one black outfit should a tragedy occur. Queen Elizabeth instituted this rule after she was caught without a mourning gown following her father's sudden death.
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The Queen Wears Bright Colors
The Queen doesn't just avoid black; she usually goes the opposite and only wears bright colors. Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, once revealed that Her Royal Highness does this so her fans can say they've seen the Queen when she's out and about. She's usually surrounded by people or far away, but her clothing still ensures she stands out.
No Dark Nail Polish
Reportedly, the Queen prefers natural nails with little nail polish. But if it must be worn, pale, neutral shades are best. That's why it was such a big deal when Meghan wore dark polish to the 2018 Fashion Awards in London. The nails matched her dress, but they stood out to protocol watchers.
Heels, Not Wedges
Queen Elizabeth also reportedly dislikes the look of wedges, preferring royal women to wear stilettos or kitten heels. However, this rule has been broken a lot — even by Kate Middleton — so it must not be quite as much of a deal. Maybe just as long as they don't wear them while with the Queen, then it's fine.
Must Wear Pantyhose
Pantyhose have long been considered an essential part of looking professional, so it's no wonder that royal protocol dictates their use. The most frequent royal to flaunt this rule was Meghan Markle. Here she is pictured bare-legged at her engagement announcement. Meghan did wear pantyhose a couple of times during her royal tenure but not often.
Wearing Hats with the Queen
Royals expert Katie Nicholl told Glamour that she thinks this gaffe was one of the biggest for the royal family. On her first official outing with the Queen, Meghan didn't wear a hat like the monarch did, which could be considered extremely rude. "I do think that was a mistake," Nicholl said.
Keep That Coat On
Glamour also reported that royal protocol says women can't remove their coats in public, lest they seem "unladylike." Kate has taken off her jacket a couple of times at events, but suddenly, all of her coat dresses make so much more sense. No need to remove the coat if it's also the outfit.
No Messy Buns
Meghan Markle's signature messy buns provided hair inspiration for people everywhere, but they were also against protocol. One can argue that the perfect messy bun is an art in itself, but royals are supposed to look well-styled and mess-free while in public. Kate even sometimes wears a hairnet to prevent flyaways.
Deference to Local Customs on Royal Tours
On royal tours, fashion tells a story. Often, the royal women will wear local designers — or outfits in the colors of a country's flag. When Kate was in Canada, for instance, she wore a white and red outfit and a hat with the country's maple leaf on it.
They also obey local clothing customs, such as covering their head with a scarf, which Kate and Meghan both did when visiting a mosque while on tours in Pakistan and South Africa.
Skip Showing Shoulders
Trooping the Colour is a pretty formal affair, which makes Meghan's wardrobe choice in 2018 even more stark. She wore an off-the-shoulder dress, which is supposedly against protocol. However, Kate Middleton has worn off-the-shoulder dresses before too, so maybe it's not a big concern.
Tiaras Are Only for Married Women
A royal wedding day is a big deal for the bride, because it marks the first time she can wear a tiara. The impressive piece of jewelry is reserved only for married women — or brides on their big day. There are also rules about where the tiara has to sit, such as exactly an inch from the hairline.
The Queen Approves Wedding Dresses
Speaking of royal weddings, one major piece of protocol is that the Queen gets to approve the bride's dress. So for everyone who got upset about Meghan's shoulders showing in her gown, fear not: The Queen must have let that slide for the big day. It was a special occasion, after all.
No More Fur
In 2019, it was announced that the Queen would no longer wear real fur in her outfits, effectively outlawing it for all royals. If the Queen doesn't do it, no one else should. Instead, she will wear faux fur if necessary. It only took the monarchy centuries, but they got there.
Clutch Bags To Prevent Awkward Handshakes
Ever notice that Kate tends to hold her purse in front of her with both hands? Reportedly, she does this to avoid having to awkwardly shake people's hands while at events. Clutch bags also came in handy for Princess Diana to cover her chest when getting out of a car in front of the paparazzi.
No Ripped Jeans
The royals rarely ever wear jeans, except at particularly active outings. But ripped jeans are a big no outside of private relaxing at home. Meghan wore them during her first public occasion with Prince Harry, but notice that she hasn't worn them again since — although she can now that she's not royal.
Dresses Over Pants
Just as she prefers heels to wedges, Queen Elizabeth reportedly prefers that royal ladies wear dresses rather than pants. That's not a hard and fast rule, as both Kate and Meghan have broken it a few times, but Kate does generally try to wear dresses and skirts while in public.
Men Wear Military Uniforms for Formal Events
Formal events — such as the Trooping the Colour or weddings — are fancy occasions where, instead of wearing just a suit, the royal men can wear their official military uniforms. Prince William has sets in different colors like red, black, and blue, depending on the event.
Nothing Too Revealing or Low-Cut
Modesty is one of the tenets of the protocol dress code, which is why there are rules — like no shoulder-baring outfits. Wearing overly revealing looks are also discouraged, and Kate Middleton has had things altered to have sleeves added to cover the shoulder or panels added to make clothes less sheer.
Skirt Length Is Everything
As part of striving for modesty, short skirts are discouraged. In fact, shortly after Kate joined the royal family, the Queen told her that her hemlines needed to be longer. Now most of Kate's looks hit her knee (or lower), and she dresses much more conservatively than she did in her early days of marriage.
