CAN YOU CRACK THE DIPLOMATIC STYLE CODE USED BY THE ROYALS?
Royals often deploy subtle style choices to honour their host, from supporting local designers and adopting local styles to dressing in the national colour or the colour of the flag.
Some have gone Route One - remember Sarah Ferguson’s hat with LA emblazoned on the back in big letters when on tour in Los Angeles.
On foreign visits, a royal wardrobe must strike a delicate balance, paying homage to the host country while also acknowledging their identity as a representative of the United Kingdom.
As one of the most well-travelled monarchies in the world, with Queen Elizabeth II visiting over 100 countries as head of state, our Royal Family have shown that the colour of a dress, the origin of a fabric, or the nationality of a designer can serve many functions.
An outfit can silently convey respect for a host country on a royal tour through a national flower or incorporated symbol without the wearer ever needing to make a public remark.
From the late Queen who was a pioneer in using clothes to project a message, to the Princess of Wales whose co-ordinating dress and coat ensembles mirroring the hue of a national flag or emblem together with championing designers from the local region, there is always symbolic and political power in an outfit.
Notably the Princess of Wales chose an Alexander McQueen sweater in the perfect shade of Ukrainian blue for her visit to The Ukrainian Cultural Centre weeks after Putin’s invasion, and for the Earthshot Prize Awards a rented dress signalled her commitment to sustainability.
When she is on an overseas tour, Kate will champion British designers but cleverly make a nod to her hosts, from Montreal-born designer Erdem Moralioğlu in Canada, to Diane von Furstenberg in the United States, and Prabal Gurung in Singapore.
The royals hold a soft power, unable to take political sides they act as the figureheads of a nation, serving to represent its ideals and values. Their actions need to speak louder than words, and they use their wardrobe to display this.
Kate, Canada 2011
Canada Day called for an outfit that celebrated the country and Kate pulled it off with her usual aplomb.
Donning a cream Reiss dress, it was the patriotic red Sylvia Fletcher fascinator topped with maple leaves that made a real statement. The outfit was completed with a diamond maple leaf brooch which was on loan from the Queen's personal collection and was first worn by the then Princess Elizabeth on her first trip to Canada in 1951.
Kate, New Zealand 2014
Kate's flawless fashion was apparent during a tour of New Zealand wearing a Jenny Packham frock for a state banquet in Wellington.
The bespoke black crepe cocktail number was embroidered across the shoulder with silver beading in the shape of New Zealand’s national emblem, a silver fern.
Kate, Bhutan 2016
Kate dazzled for dinner with King Jigme and Queen Jetsun at Lingkana Palace in a Tory Burch mesh number that featured two side slits, flashing her strappy Gianvito Rossi pumps.
To add even more colour to an already vibrant ensemble, a pashmina in the same zingy orange as Bhutan’s flag was draped over the intricately stitched gown.
Kate, Ireland 2020
Stepping out for an evening event in Ireland, the Princess of Wales kept with an emerald colour palette dressing in a sparkly green dress by The Vampire’s Wife.
This followed an all-green outfit of Alessandra Rich dress and Catherine Walker coat on her arrival in the Emerald Isle.
Sarah Ferguson, Los Angeles 1988
Sarah Ferguson went on tour to Los Angeles in 1988 and to pay tribute to her hosts she wore a hat with LA on the back in big letters.
This fun accessory choice made a statement in LaLa Land, together with flamboyant flag hair accessories on another day of the same tour.
Diana, Japan 1986
Diana was an expert at diplomatic dressing, wearing outfits that honoured local dress codes and paid homage to the host nation.
On a tour of Japan in 1986 she wore a dress featuring large red polka dots, overtly referencing the red circle central to the flag of Japan.
Diana, Hong Kong 1986
When attending a special reception and concert in Hong Kong, Diana wore an ensemble that was destined to become an instant classic.
It was a white silk strapless column gown by Catherine Walker with a matching bolero jacket that was named the Elvis Dress. Embroidered with thousands of hand-sewn sequins and oyster pearls, the pearls paid homage to Southeast Asia’s fishing culture.
Diana, India 1992
For a 1992 state dinner hosted by the President of India, Catherine Walker designed this stand-out dress for Diana to wear.
The designer was inspired by traditional Indian crafts and design techniques and the final product incorporated these themes as well as featuring intricate floral motifs, reminiscent of the stonework found in the Taj Mahal and other religious sites in the country.
Camilla, Paris 2023
Attending a glittering state banquet at the Palace of Versailles, Camilla opted for a French brand for the occasion as is customary for state visits.
Choosing a striking midnight blue caped gown by French legend Dior she accessorised the red-carpet ensemble with the King George VI sapphire necklace.
Queen Elizabeth, Ireland 2011
It was the first visit by a British monarch in over a century, and the Queen paid fashion homage to Ireland.
She disembarked from her plane in an emerald green coat and hat, a nod to the country’s name of the Emerald Isle.
For a state banquet at Dublin Castle, the late monarch wore a dress crafted with more than 2,091 individually hand-stitched fabric shamrocks.
She had commissioned Swarovski crystal brooch of an Irish harp, and the Girls of Great Britain and Ireland Tiara which previously belonged to her grandmother, Queen Mary.
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