Royals such as the British royal family are known for following certain dress codes and etiquette when making public appearances. While they often wear formal attire, rules around what the royals can and cannot wear have relaxed over time. One question that often comes up is whether members of royal families are allowed to wear casual clothes like jeans.
Quick answers
– Yes, royals can wear jeans, but they tend to do so in casual, private settings rather than at official engagements.
– Royal protocol dictates that members of royal families dress formally for most public appearances and events.
– However, the dress code has loosened up over the years, especially for younger royals. It’s now common to see royals like Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle wearing jeans while off-duty.
– Queen Elizabeth II reportedly owns several pairs of jeans and has been spotted wearing them at her Balmoral estate in Scotland. Other royals like Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson have also been photographed in jeans over the years.
– While jeans remain casual wear for royals, they can be worn while relaxing, traveling, playing sports or doing charity work in informal settings. But ripped or distressed jeans are still considered too casual.
Traditional royal dress codes
Royal family members are expected to dress elegantly and formally when carrying out public duties or representing the monarch at official events. For women, traditional royal attire often includes dresses, skirts, blouses, hats and fascinators. For men, suits, trousers, collared shirts and ties are standard. There are also protocols for attire at events like weddings, Trooping the Colour, garden parties, etc. Jeans are not considered appropriate for royals at formal public functions.
Some traditional rules around royal dressing include:
– No jeans, pants, shorts or casual tops at public engagements
– Dresses and skirts must be knee-length or longer
– Shoulders should be covered
– Cleavage should not be shown
– Hats or fascinators must be worn for formal daytime events
– Tiaras and ballgowns are required for very formal evening affairs
– Men must wear suits, ties and formal shoes
These long-standing dress codes are meant to convey dignity and decorum from members of the royal family when they are conducting official business. The Queen is particularly known for almost always adhering to traditional formal attire during public appearances.
Relaxed rules over time
Royal fashion and grooming rules have relaxed somewhat over the past few decades. While the Queen remains formal, younger generations of royals are not expected to follow tradition quite as strictly.
Princess Diana was one of the first to push boundaries in the 1980s and 90s by wearing trousers, sleeveless dresses and lower hemlines than was typical. Since then, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and other younger royals have had more flexibility with their fashion choices.
The Duchess of Cambridge has worn jeans on several occasions, including for casual events or charitable activities where formal wear would be out of place. Meghan Markle wore ripped jeans at the 2017 Invictus Games before becoming a royal. But since joining the family, she opts for dark skinny jeans on informal occasions rather than distressed styles.
While rarely seen in jeans, even the Queen has been known to wear them while off duty on her Balmoral estate in Scotland. She reportedly owns several pairs for relaxing outdoors.
So the old rule of no pants or jeans for female royals has been discarded in recent years as attitudes have changed. Jeans are now acceptable for more casual events, travel days, sporting activities or engagements where dressing down is appropriate.
When and where royals can wear jeans
Here are some examples of situations where you might spot royals wearing jeans:
– Vacation or Travel – Royals will often wear jeans and casual attire when traveling, especially on long flights.
– Off-Duty Activities – Jeans are standard wear for royals having picnics, hiking, walking dogs or relaxing at home.
– Sporting Events – Many royals will wear jeans and casual tops when playing sports, watching sports or doing athletic activities.
– Farm/Ranch Visits – If royals are visiting farms, ranches or other outdoor locales, jeans help them blend in.
– Charity Events – For visits to schools, children’s hospitals or charity projects, members of the royal family typically opt for jeans and casual attire.
– Disaster Relief – To visit areas affected by natural disasters, royals tend to wear jeans and disaster-relief gear instead of formal clothes.
While jeans are still not considered appropriate attire for royals at formal events, they do provide functional, comfortable clothing for royal family members in their daily lives. Jeans allow them to blend in better and move freely during low-key events.
Younger royals in jeans
Younger royals especially have more opportunities to wear denim. Here are a few examples:
– Kate Middleton – The Duchess of Cambridge has worn jeans for events like farm visits, sporting activities and outdoor excursions. This allows her to blend in and move more freely.
– Meghan Markle – Meghan has donned dark skinny jeans on outings before and after becoming a royal. She has also opted for jeans at events supporting accessible fashion.
– Princess Eugenie – Prince Andrew’s daughter is often spotted in jeans, jackets and booties around London. She also wore jeans for her wedding after-party.
– Zara Tindall – The Queen’s eldest granddaughter is an equestrian who wears jeans regularly for comfort. She’s even worn jeans while accepting sports awards.
– Prince Harry – In his youth, the Duke of Sussex was known for wearing jeans with polo shirts to weddings and nightclubs. He still wears jeans for charitable events and travel days.
– Princess Beatrice – Beatrice paired jeans with a blazer when visiting schoolchildren in Cambodia. She’ll also wear denim for sports events.
The younger generation of royals are clearly much more at ease in jeans than their predecessors. While they’ll still dress up for formal occasions, jeans provide a comfortable option for their casual engagements. Denim allows them to show their relatable, down-to-earth side.
When jeans are off limits
While fashion rules have relaxed for royals, there are still certain events and occasions where jeans would be considered inappropriate attire:
– State dinners, banquets, receptions with dignitaries
– Royal weddings and funerals
– Any occasion attended by the Queen or King
– Trooping the Colour and other military ceremonies
– Garden parties, investitures and presentations at court
– Christenings and religious services
– Visits abroad as representatives of UK
– Television interviews or speeches
At these formal events, members of the royal family are expected to follow tradition and wear smart suits, formal dresses, etc. Jeans would be deemed too casual and not aligned with the dignity of the occasion.
There are also certain styles of denim that remain taboo for royals:
– Ripped, faded or distressed jeans
– Extreme skinny jeans
– Low-rise or hipster jeans
– Jeggings or jean leggings
– Short shorts
While royals can certainly relax and wear everyday styles in private, they aim for polished denim when making public appearances. This means dark washes without rips, tears or embellishments. Classic denim that errs on the side of smart is always best for maintaining royal decorum.
Do other European royals wear jeans?
The British royal family is not alone in occasionally wearing jeans. Their counterparts on the continent can also be spotted in denim when the situation allows it.
For example, Denmark’s Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary will wear jeans when participating in sporting activities or visiting a school or charity. Queen Letizia of Spain has worn dark skinny jeans paired with blazers for events. Princess Victoria of Sweden has donned jeans for more casual royal gatherings and engagements over the years as well.
In the Netherlands, King Willem-Alexander and his family will also wear jeans and even shorts for off-duty bike rides and similar activities. The Norwegian royals including Crown Prince Haakon are also known to wear jeans when relaxing and during outdoor pursuits.
Much like the British royals, continental European royal families reserve formal wear for official state events. But the younger generations also mix in designer jeans to connect with the public at relaxed engagements and show their modern, approachable side. Denim has undeniably infiltrated all the royal houses to some degree.
Public reaction to royals wearing jeans
For the most part, public reaction to royals wearing jeans has been positive. People appreciate seeing the more casual side of their favorite family members. Jeans make royals seem relatable, human and in touch with regular people.
Surveys have shown approval ratings go up when Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle are photographed wearing jeans instead of formal attire. Younger people especially like seeing the Duchesses in dressed-down jeans and casual tops.
At the same time, a small portion of people react negatively to royals in denim. Some view jeans as inappropriate or not aligned with the dignity and heritage of the monarchy. Occasional disapproval comes from the older generation. But overall, attitudes have changed, and most people don’t mind some modernization of royal fashion rules.
Denim allows royals to straddle both worlds. They can follow tradition and protocol at formal events but also show their down-to-earth side in jeans. Ultimately, seeing royals in denim makes them seem more in touch and connected to the average person on the street.
Key takeaways
– Royal fashion rules have become more relaxed, especially for younger royals
– Jeans are now acceptable for informal public appearances and private time
– But royals still dress formally for official state events and ceremonies
– Princess Diana paved the way for royals wearing trousers and modern styles
– Kate, Meghan, and other young royals frequently wear jeans to relate to the public
– Ripped, embellished and very tight jeans remain too casual for royals
– European royals are also adopting a more casual denim-friendly approach
– The public reacts positively to seeing royals dressed down in jeans
Conclusion
While jeans were once considered taboo attire for royalty, views have gradually changed over the past few decades. Today, it’s become common to see British royals and their European counterparts wearing jeans for low-key events, travel days, sporting activities and private time. This allows them to appear more contemporary, approachable and in touch with regular people. At the same time, formal protocols regarding attire for official state functions still stand. Royals continue to dress elegantly when carrying out duties on behalf of the monarch. So jeans provide a nice balance, giving royal family members versatility across both casual and formal occasions. Overall, the increased visibility of royals in denim has been a welcome change that humanizes these historic institutions.
