Kate Middleton is undoubtedly one of the most stylish women in the public space and widely recognized as a fashion icon of the 21st century.
Given the many duties she has to fulfill and the “royal fashion rules” to abide by as the Duchess of Cambridge (including never taking her coat off in public), it’s no surprise that despite her undoubtedly rich wardrobe, there are a few fashion items that she rarely wears. And yet at the coronation, which took place on May 6, she was one of the best looking royals.
Judging by royal protocol, female members of the royal family are expected to adhere to very strict codes of conduct during public engagements. While Meghan Markle is known for breaking convention, Kate Middleton plays by the rules.
And while being a member of the British royal family sounds like a complete dream for everyone, many aspects of royal life are not as glamorous as they seem. Along with the tiaras, ball gowns, and luxurious lifestyle, there are also some restrictions, such as:
Wearing orange
The reason why royals avoid this color is not exactly determined, but the main theory is that it does not come out well in photographs. However, Kate can stick to the peach color.
Photo: Getty Images
Blue jeans
While black and gray jeans often appear in her everyday outfit, traditional blue jeans are a rarity.
Photo: Getty Images
Low sandals
Although there is no “royal rule” against wearing sandals, Kate has only been seen a few times in heeled sandals, but has never been photographed in flat summer shoes.
Photo: Getty Images
Shorts
During the 2019 King’s Cup Sailing Championships, Kate surprised onlookers by stepping out in a pair of shorts (totally appropriate for the event).
In July 2022, on the same occasion, the Duchess was spotted again wearing a pair of fresh shorts by designer Holland Cooper. Apart from these two occasions, she was only seen wearing shorter clothes before her wedding to William.
Photo: Getty Images
Wearing a coat indoors
During lunch with Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and his wife Mette-Marit, Kate spent the meeting wearing a buttoned-up Dolce & Gabbana coat – and although she was probably grateful for the extra layer of warmth it provided to combat the freezing temperatures in Norway, the move was probably more a result of royal protocol than an attempt to warm up. It turns out that according to royal etiquette, the Duchess is not supposed to take her jacket off in public as it is considered “indecent”. The act of removing the top layer of clothing in public, regardless of the circumstances, is actually frowned upon. In case she still has to remove it, the royal person retreats to the side where there are no cameras.
Photo: Getty Images
It has always been customary for members of the royal family to dress modestly, but the women at Buckingham Palace have a particularly long list of restrictions on their clothing, hair and appearance. Some of these rules make sense for a family that’s constantly in the public eye, but some provisions seem a little over the top:
The Duchess should not wear dark nail polish
In addition to her wardrobe limitations, Kate Middleton also faces limitations when it comes to nail polish choices. According to Woman & Home, while there’s no written rule about what nail polish colors women in the royal family can and can’t wear, the Duchess of Cambridge only wears pale pink or flesh-toned nail polish to stay consistent and stylish.
He has no right to vote
A serious rule of the royal family. A royal person has no right to vote, otherwise it would be in violation of Article 49 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. They are bound to maintain strict neutrality in political matters.
However, author and historian Sarah Gristwood tells BBC News that the decision to keep the family out of the public vote is actually modern. Gristwood explained that the stay “completely aside” of politics is part of “the great rethinking of the monarchy after the end of the First World War and the establishment of the House of Windsor”. So while it may seem unfair for Parliament to stop the royal family from what appears to be a basic constitutional right, the decision by the Duchess of Cambridge and the rest of the family not to vote is voluntary.
He cannot travel without a black suit in his luggage
According to the Independent, the Duchess of Cambridge and other members of the royal family are required to always take black clothing when they travel, in case another family member dies during the trip. This rule doesn’t just apply to royalty. Even British news reporters are required to do the same when they travel, in case they have to report the death of a member of the royal family. According to Mental Floss, this policy arose from a real-life situation that arose during the late Elizabeth’s trip to Kenya in 1952. The then-princess had to return to England after her father, King George VI, died of lung cancer , and she couldn’t leave the plane until someone brought her a black suit to wear.
Photo: Getty Images
Strangers can’t touch the Duchess of Cambridge
We can assume that there are a huge number of protocols to ensure safety, so it makes sense that there are strict rules about touching the Duchess of Cambridge and other family members. Even if there is an appropriate moment to shake hands, it is appropriate to wait for the royal person to offer a hand first. Another reason why they cannot be touched by strangers actually comes from the old idea that royalty are deities and not just ordinary people. As historian Kate Williams of Royal Holloway University told BBC News: “Since the Middle Ages, monarchs have been seen as a sort of god, so they have demanded to be treated as such.”
Photo: Getty Images
The Duchess cannot sign autographs
Among the many measures put in place to ensure the safety of all Buckingham Palace residents, Kate Middleton, Prince William and the rest of the family are strictly prohibited from signing autographs.
According to “Express”, autographs are prohibited so that they cannot be forged and sold for profit. In fact, whenever King Charles III was asked for his autograph, he politely replied: “Sorry, I’m not allowed to do that”, whether he really wants to or not. There are some exceptions. Travel & Leisure notes that the family is allowed to “sign official documents”.
The rules during pregnancy
There are many rules for the children of the royal family and it all starts during pregnancy. According to Film Daily, one of the most important is that royal births must be announced 12 weeks after the start of the pregnancy. Although the royal family must remain relatively low-key during the three trimesters, Kate opened up during a podcast episode of Happy Mum, Happy Baby. The Duchess shared that she struggled with morning sickness and was actually diagnosed with hyperemesis gravidarum, which the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says is caused by “severe, persistent nausea and vomiting during pregnancy.” Fortunately, Kate managed to overcome complications during the pregnancy and gave birth to three beautiful children.
Photo: Getty Images
2023-05-14 06:02:37
#Kate #Middletons #dress #code #rules
