Although we are witnessing royal mourning dress code every year during Remembrance Day and other occasions, funeral dress code deserves a special attention.
The dress code that royal family members follow for funerals and mourning, plays a big role in the ceremonies, as it is full of symbols and touching tributes. The elegance and coordination of the outfits of the royals during the times of grief emphasizes the values that monarchy, and Her Majesty The Queen herself has been representing during the long years of her reign.
Male members of the royal family are expected to wear black or dark navy suits with black ties, or tuxedos, their military medals or military uniforms, depending on the type of ceremony that they are attending.
The female members of the family are expected to wear black dresses below the knee, heels, black tights and fascinators or hats for official engagements. Jewellery is very much encouraged as it is a way of paying tributes to the subject of the mourning ceremonies.
The royal ladies are usually also wearing at least minimum amount of makeup and have their hair styled for all the public appearances. We have seen the Queen herself living by these rules, following the dress code for her husband’s funeral that was also during Covid times, when masks and public distance have been mandatory.
Appearing in such coordinated and put together looks, royals support the ideals that monarchy represents, which are devotion to the public service, keeping up the hard work in any circumstances, respect to the century’s old traditions and legacy of the United Kingdom.
When seeing all royals wearing total black as sign of mourning it becomes clear why royal protocols don’t recommend wearing black colour for official engagements. Seeing all the members of the family dressed in total black really stands out and looks very dignified, as a result of the contrast from brighter colours that they usually wear.
Last 10 days from the passing of Her Majesty, have been packed with engagements where royals have been accepting the condolences from general public, Commonwealth representatives as well as internal government officials.
Jewelry has been the most important part of the funeral dress code, Female royals have been wearing jewelry pieces which were mainly personal gifts from the Queen, but also symbolic of grief: pearls have been associated with mourning since at least the reign of Victoria
Camilla, The Queen Consort
Camilla, the Queen Consort and the most senior female royal on duty has paid touching tributes to Queen Elizabeth with her jewelry.
As the former Duchess of Cornwall, Camilla was royal patron to more than 90 charities, according to the Prince of Wales website, and was one of the busiest working senior royals. She was also following royal dress code religiously in all her engagements, honoring the late Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mother’s best traditions.
- As part of their visit to Cardiff, King Charles III and the Queen Consort were attending a Service of Prayer and Reflection for the Life of the Queen at Llandaff Cathedral. For the service, Camilla was seen wearing Welsh Guards Leek Brooch attached to her coat that belonged to her late mother – in – law Her Majesty.
- For a Service of Thanksgiving in St Giles. Cathedral, Edinburgh, Camilla wore a diamond thistle brooch , Scotland’s national flower, which also honored her Majesty’s love to the country that she was known to have felt most at home in and chose to spend her last days at.
- Camilla has been seen wearing pearl chocker and pearl necklace numerous times during last week honoring the royal traditions of wearing pearls when mourning.
Kate, Princess of Wales
The new Princess of Wales has attended many engagements in past 10 days and has shown us traditional yet relevant and modern touch in her royal mourning outfits.
*** Prince William and Kate have been outside Windsor Castle greeting the crowds gathered to honor the Queen and took in the flowers and tributes, joined by Prince Harry and Meghan.
Former Duchess or Cambridge and new Princess of Wales was wearing a black midi dress with black silk ribbon on the waistline by Jenny Packham paired with Gianvito Rossi pumps. Since this was an informal appearance, jewelry of Kate was at minimum and she wasn’t wearing a fascinator or a hat or carrying a bag. She has also had her hair down in loose curls and almost no makeup. Duchess of Sussex, Meghan was following the same pattern as Princess of Wales.
Despite very minimalistic look, Kate’s look wasn’t without tributes to the Queen. She was wearing diamond and pearl earrings gifted by the Queen.
Princess of Wales has been seen in a similar structured outfit when appearing in Sandrigham to receive the flowers and tributes and meet the crowds to express gratitude. She has re worn the same diamond and pearl earrings that belonged to the late Monarch.
*** The largest ceremony held so far, before the funerals was the gathering in Westminster Abbey for the memorial service for Her Majesty the Queen, as she completed her final journey from the Buckingham Palace.
Kate Middleton is known for choosing jewelry that carries a special meaning, just like Queen Camilla, wearing Her Majesty’s Diamond and Pearl Leaf Brooch for the service on Wednesday.
The Princess of Wales paid tribute to the late monarch by wearing Her Majesty’s Diamond and Pearl Leaf Brooch, which features three large pearls at the centre of a diamond pavé leaf.
Catherine’s earrings, meanwhile, honoured Diana, Princess of Wales – whose title she received following the announcement during the first speech of the Charles III. Originally gifted to Diana by Collingwood Jewellers before her wedding to Prince Charles in 1981, the pearl drop style was one of the favorite pieces of jewelry of Princess Diana. She loved to pair them with Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara. Second most worn Tiara by the late Princess Diana after her Spencer Tiara.
Princess of Wales, has chosen an elegant coat by Catherine Walker for the service paired with a chic fascinator with veil.
We can see Catherine wearing a hat and fascinator for this occasion, as well as a more upgraded hairstyle and make up and standout jewelry, compared to her previous appearances to greet the crowds.
*** Prince and Princes of Wales visited Commonwealth troops arrived to UK to participate in Queen’s state funeral. Kate Middleton has chosen another Catherine Walker coat for this engagement. The Duchess of Cornwall and Princess of Wales often choses military style coats by her favorite designed for such meetings. Catherine also wore a Lock & Co. Abney hat with a very chic braided hairstyle and carrying an envelope Mulberry bag. We can spot the same pearl earrings that belonged to the Queen from the previous engagements.
This look of Princess Kate has had many signature items that make her style so recognizable : military style coat by her go to designer Catherine Walker, envelope bag , one sided hairstyle and disk shaped fascinator hat.
William who served for more than seven years as a search and rescue pilot, wore some of his military medals for the visit.
*** The former Duchess of Cambridge was also pictured wearing the Queen’s Four Row Japanese Pearl Choker, which belonged to Princess Diana, and was worn by Kate at Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021. She had worn the same piece when attending the Queen and Prince Philip’s 70th anniversary party back in 2017 on the way to Buckingham palace and on a reception. The choker has become a symbol of Catherine’s tribute to Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth.
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