It's Royal Ascot week [1], and various members of the royal family [2] will turn out in their finest and fanciest attire, but what are the clothing dos and don'ts when it comes to the highlight of the social calendar? And how about the rest of the jam-packed royal year — Polo: hat or no hat? A diplomatic reception: white tie or black tie? And since when were fascinators a no-no? From sporting events to church services and celebrations to commemorations, dressing for the royal year could be a potential minefield. Here's a breakdown of suitable attire for each event.
Royal Ascot — June
There is a VERY extensive list of rules [3], but basically it's:
- Women: Formal daywear, which means dresses and skirts of "modest length" (just above the knee or longer), and straps on dresses should be at least an inch wide. Fascinators are no longer allowed as headpieces need to have a base of four inches or more. No off-the-shoulder or halter tops, and ladies are advised to wear wedges over stilettos so they do not sink heel-first into the ground.
- Men: Black or gray morning dress, which means a tailcoat and waistcoat with matching trousers, along with a dress shirt and tie. No cravats. Black or gray top hat and black shoes.
Garter Day — June
- The Queen/Knights and Ladies of the Garter [4]: Dark blue velvet cloaks pinned with the Garter Star and velvet hats decorated with ostrich and heron feathers.
- Women: Daytime formal plus hat.
- Men: Morning dress — tails and waistcoat — but no top hat.
Polo (Royal Box) — Summer
- Women: Dresses, skirts, or tailored trousers. No flip-flops.
- Men: Collared shirts, trousers, and jackets. No shorts no matter how hot it is.
Polo (Behind the Scenes) — Summer
- Women: Just because there are horses involved, there's no posh dress code behind the scenes. It's your basic "running errands" attire — jeans, tees, and flats.
- Men: Although Prince Charles maintains an element of formality, the younger men stick with jeans or shorts with a t-shirt or polo shirt. As long as nothing is torn or stained, the more casual the better.
Weddings — Mainly Summer
- Women: The rules are slightly more relaxed on the "daytime formal" [5] dress code. Fascinators are OK, as are shorter hemlines.
- Men: It's still very formal for the fellas, though, with a morning suit dress code.
Wimbledon — July
- Women: There's no formal dress code for general ticket-holders, but a smart-casual dress is usually the way to go. The general rules are "not too short and not too tight." Lots of ladies favor white or cream [6].
- Men: No formal dress code for general ticket-holders, but torn jeans, running vests, dirty trainers, and sports shorts are not allowed. In the members area, the dress code is more defined, with men required to wear a lounge suit or tailored jacket, shirt, tie, trousers, and dress shoes.
Braemar Gathering — September
- Women: Smart warm coats and hats. Often with an abundance of tartan.
- Men: Full highland dress, which means kilts, sporrans, and woolen dress socks.
The Royal Variety Performance — November
- Women: The black-tie dress code calls for a floor-length gown.
- Men: Black tie means bow tie, dress shirt, and tuxedo.
Remembrance Concert — November
- Women: A smart dress with a poppy pin.
- Men: Suit and tie with a poppy pin.
Remembrance Service — November
- Women: All in black. Smart coat and hat. Always pinned with a poppy.
- Men: Military uniforms pinned with a poppy. William wears his RAF flight lieutenant's uniform and Harry his captain's uniform of the Blues and Royals.
Buckingham Palace Christmas Diplomatic Reception — December
- Women: The "white tie" dress code is the fanciest one can get. For women, it means a floor-length gown and tiara. If they have any honors, they will wear them.
- Men: White tie, dress shirt, and tailcoat. Particular to the Knights of the Garter — including Prince Philip, Prince Charles, and Prince William — is the additional regalia that goes with it: the Garter Riband, Garter Star, and Garter itself.
Royal Family Christmas Lunch — December
- Women: A smart dress. One year Princess Eugenie rocked a reindeer manicure.
- Men: Suit and tie.
Christmas Day Church Service #1 — December
- Women: It's not like they're throwing a coat over their PJs like they're popping out for a pint of milk, but the first church service of the day — when the queen takes communion — is as low-key as it gets. Unadorned heads, a smart dress, and a warm coat.
- Men: Smart, warm coats and a suit.
Christmas Day Church Service #2 — December
- Women: For the public service later in the morning, the finery comes out, which means colorful coats and smart hats [7].
- Men: Same as earlier in the day — smart coats with a suit and tie.
Commonwealth Day Service — March
- Women: It's daytime formal with a hat for the ladies. Cold weather usually means a coat.
- Men: Suit and tie.
Cheltenham Festival — March
- Women: There is no designated dress code, but women tend to go for daytime formal with a hat.
- Men: Suit and tie.
St. Patrick's Day — March
- Kate: Daytime formal with a hat. In a nod to the occasion, Kate usually wears green, but she did once wear brown.
- William: His colonel of the Irish Guards uniform.
Easter Sunday Church Service — March/April
- Women: Similar to the Commonwealth Service attire — daytime formal with a hat. Although the Spring celebration often calls for a splash of color.
- Men: Suit and tie.
Buckingham Palace Garden Parties — Spring
- Women: Daytime formal with a hat.
- Men: Morning suits with a top hat.
State Opening of Parliament — May/June
- The Queen: The Imperial State Crown [8]. A floor-length gown worn with her Garter Collar.
- Prince Philip: His naval uniform.
Epsom Derby — June
- Women: Formal daywear with a hat. Fascinators are OK, but they have to be "substantial."
- Men: Morning suit with top hat.
Trooping the Colour — June
- Women: Formal daywear with a hat.
- Men: Military attire. For the first time this year, Prince Philip wore a suit due to his age and the heat. (Military uniforms are notoriously heavy and hot.)