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The royal family
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Royal females . High heels.

289 replies

beccahamlet · 17/04/2021 20:07

I am not a royalist, but I thought today was really special. One thing that struck me though was the high heels. They could barely walk in them, especially on the cobbles. Isn't it a shame that women have to torture themselves like this.

OP posts:
Changechangychange · 18/04/2021 00:43

@DareIask

It's just standard etiquette.

They all wore them apart from B & E. Have you never noticed this is usual?

Things have obviously changed since my day then - barely black tights were slutty, and "nice" girls wore tan/nearly nude tights.

I am younger than the queen, and older than B&E. Choice of tight colour is not "standard etiquette".

saraclara · 18/04/2021 00:45

I went bare-legged at my husband's funeral. I don't believe that a single person there would have given a damn.

Allthefilmsarecrap · 18/04/2021 00:46

Eww to this thread

Asposhasitgets · 18/04/2021 01:18

@felulageller

I feel sorry for Eugenie and Zara that they had to go so soon after giving birth. Neither exclusively breastfeeding it seems.
ODFOD - I had to go to a funeral when my DS was 7 days old, and was absolutely exclusively breast feeding. A dear friend who died suddenly. I fed beforehand and my DH kept him while I was in the church and at the burial so about an hour or just over. It was a visceral experience made more so by the need my baby had for me which I had to balance with my own crisis. Your comment makes me so angry and my DS is now 12...
nettie434 · 18/04/2021 01:51

@OutwiththeOutCrowd

I can imagine historians in the future poring over old footage of the funeral and being much struck by the startling combination of black face masks, vertiginous heels, emptiness and ethereal music.

So that is what it was like in those 21st century plague years ...

This post sums up exactly why I think it is unfair to say that comments about tights and heels are 'bitchy'. Where we like it or not, tights ARE important in the Royal Family, given the 'who made who cry' Kate/Meghan contretemps over the bridesmaids at the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding.

Ever since the first portraits of reigning monarchs were painted, royalty has sought to control its image. I have no idea what the Queen thinks about stilettos but I am sure she has a view so why can't posters here? It seems naive to imagine the Queen did not care what people wore. Everything, down to her brooch and Kate's pearls were carefully choreographed for their symbolism.

As for the men, the only reason why they wore morning dress and not the usual military uniform was because Andrew was threatening to wear an Admiral's dress and Harry can no longer wear military dress - an irony as he actually fought in Afghanistan.

I personally loved seeing Anne walking among the men with her medals.

BasiliskStare · 18/04/2021 03:31

I think they were all allowed to wear whatever they wanted, Of course they were

I do recall reading something where Jackie Kennedy / Onassis did say that a lower heel was more elegant and had her shoes made with a smaller heel.

But , each to their own

Marchitectmummy · 18/04/2021 04:08

Really why do women decide thst women do not like wearing high heels and only do it because men tell them to? This generalisation is infuriating.

Anyone noticed how men have started to wear very high heals? If women are forced by mens expectations to wear them who is forcing the men who wear 5 inch heals to wear them then, men also?

MissTrip82 · 18/04/2021 04:23

I don’t think anyone does say that, do they marchitectmummy?

Would be rather odd if they did.

Equally odd to imagine that any of us makes choices about gendered things like clothing in an absolute vacuum without any influence from the society in which we live and by which we were surrounded in our formative years.

I wear makeup almost every day and would be rather stupid indeed if I thought that choice could not possibly have been influenced by society in any way.

SaturdayRocks · 18/04/2021 04:33

@felulageller

I feel sorry for Eugenie and Zara that they had to go so soon after giving birth. Neither exclusively breastfeeding it seems.
You’re not attached to the baby 24/7 when EBF. Grin
BasiliskStare · 18/04/2021 04:44

Well - just my opinion but I don't think v high heels are elegant but see post above - nor did Jackie Kennedy - but if the female royals wish to wear them - entirely their choice, I suspect they will not have been told to by anyone - each and all to their own Flowers

LittleRa · 18/04/2021 04:53

@KillingMeDeftly

Here's a photo of the Queen and Queen Mother at George VI's funeral. No black tights! images.app.goo.gl/oAp4hScRnh9ZnUWg7
Interesting to see them wearing veils. Imagine the mourners wearing veils today, that certainly would’ve been commented on. Though with the face masks that’s almost the same thing.

I didn’t notice tights, but I did notice heels, particularly Kate’s but as pp mentioned she always wears them and is adept.

As for the men, I did wonder whether they were all wearing the same suit, like at a wedding when the groom party all have the same tails and waistcoats. Like the picture of the queen veiled at her father’s funeral, I’m guessing in that era the men would’ve worn hats? Top hats? Not sure.

Agree with pp who said it felt more voyeuristic with it just being a small gathering of close family.

I can not agree with the breastfeeding comment. First of all you can’t possibly know whether they’re EBF based on what you saw today (the length of time was plenty to feed before and after, or they could use breast pumps to express) and secondly if they aren’t ebf then so what, I presume the babies aren’t starved and do get fed.

CoolShoeshine · 18/04/2021 05:08

I didn’t notice the tights but thought all the ladies looked wonderfully stylish. I particularly loved the queen’s diamond broach.

CutieBear · 18/04/2021 06:32

@DareIask I thought it a shame Beatrice and Eugenie didn't follow the queens example and wear black tights. It's what she believes is appropriate and I would have respected that and worn them, irrespective of my own tastes

It’s not like they’re wearing neon mini skirts! They wore black for the funeral and that’s fine. It was quite warm yesterday so I would be uncomfortable in tights too.

@beccahamlet I prefer heels. I can’t wear flats (apart from trainers) as they hurt my feet.

CutieBear · 18/04/2021 06:40

@KillingMeDeftly

I never saw a single article about tights protocol or nail polish etc until Meghan came on the scene. It's almost as if the media invented it as a stick with which to beat her!
I remember reading about the nail polish thing when Kate was getting married to William. The article says women in the Royal household need to wear nude/light pink nail polish, not bright colours.
Doghead · 18/04/2021 06:59

@IsThePopeCatholic

I think high heels are dreadful examples of women being subjected to men’s fetishisation. I’ve never worn them, not even when I got married. Why hobble when you can run?
What utter rubbish! I wear high heels because I like them and I feel good in them. Always have done. Not because I'm subject to men's fetishisation.

Oh, and I don't 'hobble' .

BlueLobelia · 18/04/2021 07:00

@Queenofbeebers

Dear god that is a snippy comment regarding the breastfeeding? Would you prefer Zara and Eugenie to whip out one of their boobs mid hymn to prove the world wrong.

A lot of sniping going on about high heels, less sniping going on about a man who had a well publicised friendship with a prolific paedophile and human trafficker had the gall to walk around sweating, which we all know he can’t do due to the falklands or some such shit.

Oh good point re the sweating!
beela · 18/04/2021 07:08

Omfg.

DinkyDaisy · 18/04/2021 07:08

Rightly or wrongly, I noticed the heels. I tried high heels in the 80s. Not for me!
I was diverted by the heels and wondering how the Hell people manage in spindly heels as I can't.
Sophie the Countess of Wessex also wearing them [my sort of age], She looked good in them.
I would be in Princess Anne sensible shoes!

rwalker · 18/04/2021 07:08

I fail to see how this is of anyones interest except them.

lljkk · 18/04/2021 07:11

If high heels like stilettos are so empowering and confidence boosting, why don't blokes frequently wear them?

Or dresses, make up. veils, long hair...

picklemewalnuts · 18/04/2021 07:22

I thought about veils when is saw the combined effect of a facemask and a hat. I think I'd bring the veil back, if I were a famous person forced to mourn in public.

A few posters here have jumped on individual comments to declare the whole thread distasteful. One or two comments were critical. The rest were simply wondering/observing.

'Gosh those heels look uncomfortable' really isn't a personal attack on someone.
Even the comment on breastfeeding, if you are EBF a small baby and feeling very restricted in your movements that will be the thought that floats through your mind- especially if you've been watching the coverage for several hours, and fed your baby several times.

JSL52 · 18/04/2021 07:23

@felulageller

I feel sorry for Eugenie and Zara that they had to go so soon after giving birth. Neither exclusively breastfeeding it seems.
Biscuit Judgiest post of the day.
JSL52 · 18/04/2021 07:26

@IsThePopeCatholic

I think high heels are dreadful examples of women being subjected to men’s fetishisation. I’ve never worn them, not even when I got married. Why hobble when you can run?
It's a choice , some people like wearing them.
sunnyblackwidow · 18/04/2021 07:30

Are we really judging the height if these women's heels, colour of their tights and wether they are exclusively breast feeding.....they were burying their grandad, under the scrutiny of the world, how awful.

Doghead · 18/04/2021 07:59

@lljkk

If high heels like stilettos are so empowering and confidence boosting, why don't blokes frequently wear them?

Or dresses, make up. veils, long hair...

You're kidding right?
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