King Charles Joins Stella McCartney at London Fashion Week Opening
King Charles made a surprise appearance on the front row at the opening show of London Fashion Week, joining designer Stella McCartney. Styled in a British-made suit, a jaunty tie, and a clashing pocket handkerchief, his look sent a clear message of business as usual, amid recent royal family troubles.
Pantone Diplomacy and Royal Messaging
At the Baftas, the Prince and Princess of Wales showed a united front in coordinated burgundy velvet, dubbed "Pantone diplomacy" by the New York Times. Catherine's blush Gucci gown, worn previously, highlighted sustainability and restraint, according to fashion expert Justine Picardie.
Picardie, author of Fashioning the Crown: A Story of Power, Conflict and Couture, notes that the royal family has long used fashion as a weapon during crises. She points to Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother's traditional English dresses by Norman Hartnell after the 1936 abdication crisis, countering the pro-Nazi chic of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.
Dress Diplomacy and Soft Power
Royal fashion often serves as a tool of soft power on tours and official occasions. Examples include:
- The Princess of Wales wearing a black Jenny Packham dress with silver fern leaves in New Zealand.
- Her head-to-toe Canadian red at a Commonwealth Day service.
- Princess Diana's dress with red circles in Japan and gold falcons in Saudi Arabia.
Queen Elizabeth II also mastered this art, from ostrich plume hats in South Africa to her wartime make-do-and-mend habits. In later years, her outfit choices, like a blue and yellow hat during Brexit debates, sparked speculation about covert political messages, though the palace denied intent.
Personal Insights and Political Dressing
Picardie recalls meeting Queen Elizabeth II at Balmoral, where she wore traditional Scottish clothes and shared a rare anecdote about designer Hardy Amies's spy background. Royal dressing can be overtly political, as seen in 1947 when Prime Minister Clement Attlee questioned the origin of silk for Princess Elizabeth's wedding dress.
Despite efforts to shift focus, royal fashion remains loaded with meaning. The Princess of Wales recently designed a tartan-like fabric with Johnstons of Elgin to support British textiles, while the Duchess of Sussex has spoken about the liberation from royal protocol, including wearing "nude pantyhose."
Future of Royal Fashion
As the royal family faces ongoing challenges, expect further coded messages through clothing. Picardie emphasizes that fashion remains a crucial tool for projecting power and stability in turbulent times.
