13 Fashion Rules the Royals Always Follow

As it turns out, her love of rainbow shades isn't just a personal preference. According to her daughter-in-law Sophie, Countess of Wessex, the queen sports the bright hues to ensure that members of the public stand a chance of seeing her through the crowds. "She needs to stand out for people to be able to say 'I saw the queen'," Sophie explained in the documentary The Queen at 90. "Don't forget that when she turns up somewhere, the crowds are two, three, four, 10, 15 deep, and someone wants to be able to say they saw a bit of the queen's hat as she went past."

One of the best things about being a member of the Royal Family is the chance to wear fabulous hats all year-round. Up until the 1950s, showing your hair in public was a big no-no for ladies but, according to Diana Mather, a senior tutor for the English Manner etiquette consultancy, hats are now reserved for more formal events such as church services, weddings, or Royal Ascot.

Just like us, the royals all have their favorite designers. The Duchess of Cambridge seems to be particularly fond of Jenny Packham, which she generally turns to when she is in need of a ball gown. She also often wears brands such as Alexander McQueen, Michael Kors, Dolce & Gabbana, and Diane Von Furstenberg, which her future sister-in-law Meghan Markle also likes.

It isn't rare to spot Prince Harry or Prince William in their uniforms. The royal brothers, who have both served in the armed forces, often wear them to represent their regiments at events such as the Trooping the Colour. William even dressed in his military uniform on his wedding day, and it's thought that Harry will do the same when he marries Meghan Markle.

Hosiery seems to be an unspoken royal protocol. Queen Elizabeth II has basically been wearing it since day one, and the Duchess of Cambridge is known to sport flesh-toned tights on public appearances. However, Meghan Markle has already been ditching nylons, so the rule might be about to change.

Like most royals, the Duchess of Cambridge's accessory of choice is a clutch. Kate keeps different styles in rotation, from solid colors to prints, and she usually matches them to her dresses and skirt suits.

According to Myka Meier, founder of Beaumont Etiquette, the duchess carries a clutch so she can "hold her bag in front of her in both hands when shaking hands might be awkward." But she likely has a good fashion reason for only carrying clutches too: they simply look more polished. After all, we can't exactly imagine Kate lugging around a giant tote bag for her royal engagements.

It's tradition for young royals to be formally dressed whenever they are in public, which is why we've never seen Prince George wearing jeans and a t-shirt, or Princess Charlotte wearing anything else than a dress.

The Duchess of Cambridge's favorite styling trick is surprisingly simple: she routinely wears blue, her power color. Over the years, she has experimented with crisp cobalt coats, navy suit sets, and other shades like periwinkle or indigo. Whether she's walking the red carpet or stepping out for a public appearance, it's a hue that makes her glow with confidence, and it's made us want to experiment with our own favorite tones.

When they decide to dress down, members of the royal family still need to follow a specific dress code. Ladies can wear a smart day dress or trousers with a jacket, while men can wear chinos, a collared shirt, and a blazer.