Royal Style: Charles and his wee boots, and please - plenty of (Preloved) bling!

[Maireas]

Hello! New thread....thanks for the title suggestions!
Fingers crossed for some good festive style!

They are going to have to change the way they work - with both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh both now gone that’s over 1,500 charities that they were associated with that have lost their royal patron/president/ambassador. Given that it’s clear that the current generation want to be more than just a figurehead in this way, the numbers will obviously come down significantly.

Mathilde looks gorgeous in that dress - I nearly didn’t notice her tiara! It’s the same dress she wore to the enthronement of the Japanese Emperor, I think. Cape dresses are certainly having a very royal moment.

Heaven forbid some terrible disaster take out the Cambridges. Even if H&M would want to step up I doubt many people would be happy about that.

They might not be happy but that's what happens with a monarchy. People don't get to pick and choose who they want as king or queen!

I suspect that by the time George ascends the throne the monarchy will work very differently to how it did during QEII's reign.

@Serenster
Despite being an Erdem disliker I must admit the middle dress is lovely and the one to the right - the check one is fabulous.
@paradyning - "..... the buttons matched her ring...." 😂

Good points, @KillingMeDeftly - especially about hereditary monarchy.
It's all in process. Slimming down and changing the way it operates. There's a small team called The Way Ahead lead by Charles and William, planning the future and changes. There will be no need to create extra working royals.

Then there will hardly be any point in having them, to be honest.

They need to be careful.

I don't think Charles is going to change much, he's too set in his ways and definitely enjoys the privilege. Still quite like him though, Camilla I think is wonderful though, a real asset.

If all he changed was more tiaras for Sophie I'd be content. Can we set up a petition?

@LadyEloise1 I laughed at that too! Kate is doing so much better than she used to...

Just to back track a little to Charles and his emerald shirt studs ...
I think that he very much enjoys all the small touches of luxury and personal indulgence he has available to him.
I noticed that when he was signing his accession documents on his first full day as King, he was already wearing a diamond tie pin with his cypher CR III, which he must have had ready and waiting for just that occasion.

So, it will be interesting to see how much he changes the role and display of the monarchy.

I noticed that when he was signing his accession documents on his first full day as King, he was already wearing a diamond tie pin with his cypher CR III, which he must have had ready and waiting for just that occasion

I know that several papers reported that, but actually he was wearing a diamond tiepin that had belonged to his grandfather, George VI, with George’s royal cypher. Here’s the tip in (not a great photo, sorry!) and George VI’s cypher.

That's a nice tribute to his grandfather.

Yes it was an antique piece, with history and heritage to it. I really love all those little details harking back to the past.

Someone asked on another thread in the RF topic about what colour we think Charles will pick for his Family Order. I’m thinking either a dark blue or green/both (in the vein of the tartans he wears), or maybe a regal purple?

Or do you think they specifically tend to pick paler colours so they will look less blocky on a range of dress? Wonder if it’s trend-driven or just personal taste...

Well my old must have let me down Serenster, though my point is still valid, that Charles likes all the luxury and privilege of his position, (such as wearing historic tie pins!) so I will watch with interest how much he changes the role of the monarchy.

my old eyes

I agree @AdaColeman. Of course he enjoys the trappings of being Royal - who wouldn’t! - also his whole life has been about someday being the Monarch and having grown up with that role since the beginning he will have many privileges that are built into who he is.

I’m more interested in it from the perspective of the more you mess with the institution the more it ceases to be feasible/relevant, so he does need to walk a careful line anyway IMO.

Charles definitely likes his touches of luxury. Aren't all his shoes bespoke and about £3000 a pair? We always hear how much Kate or Meghan spends on clothes but I suspect he spends just as much! Perhaps he has 20 identical Savile Row suits but how would we know??

He was very close to the Queen Mother and I’m sure some of her famously luxurious approach to life rubbed off on him.

The QM was my least favourite Royal. I think she had a policy of keeping as close as possible the QE and those in the line of succession, even if it harmed their other relationships.

Plus, to keep on the theme of the thread she also wore some hideously ugly clothes.

I’ve no strong feelings on her. But I do very much like her sense of loyalty to King and Crown. The quote about why the Princesses were not being evacuated abroad during the war says a lot about Elizabeth, and about the King.

Oh, I completely agree that Prince Charles must like the luxury that he is clearly able to afford as part and parcel of his position - his bespoke Savile Row clothes and handmade shoes will cost a huge amount. And I shudder to think how much it would have cost to convert his Aston Martin to run on sustainable fuel.

On the other hand, he clearly subscribes to the idea that you buy once and buy well. Here’s an article about how his overcoats are both around 40 years old now (he must look at Kate and raise his eyebrows!).

www.townandcountrymag.com/society/tradition/g30877567/prince-charles-two-coats/

Tbh their spending/luxury doesn’t bother me at all (I know I may be in the minority on this, though). If I were Queen, or going to be, I certainly would enjoy the best aspects of that life along with the worst of it. I don’t see the point in pretending that they’re not incredibly wealthy. If they can be more sustainable/circumspect with it then that’s great.

Well yes, he’s quite posh like that isn’t he - two coats, but spent millions on a refurb of Clarence House. Again, doesn’t bother me at all.

I thought that. Our eye royalty aren't cutting back that much

Not fashion, but style (of sorts):

‘Deck the Halls’ at Windsor Castle

(Daily Mail link, just to warn you!)

Felt strange to see the Queen pictured - it will be so different this year with the King’s Speech instead.

Also the problem with rotating charities for a short period of time or specific campaign is they risk ending up being rent a royals just like any other celeb. And they would be denied the opportunity to develop a longstanding relationship and deep knowledge of particular charities that they may feel they really want to support for the long term. Princess Anne said she felt she needed about ten years with Save the children before she felt she had any useful insights to offer when speaking up in their behalf. Look at her long association and work with them or with Riding for the Disabled etc. Catherine doesn't like horses (I think she has an allergy) and couldn't usefully do the Riding for Disabled gig.

Diana used to enjoy what must have been some choice patronage's like The Royal Ballet as well as her more socially important ones.
They definitely need to keep some long term associations and patronages surely for their own sanity and satisfaction as well as for the benefits they can bring to a particular organisation.

Sorry for going off topic. I love the fashion and bling discussions.