Does protocol matter?

[AmandaJonah]

I am wondering if you think Royal protocol matters? For example the Palace have emailed inviting Harry and Meghan to the Coronation instead of sending them a formal printed invite. So do things like this really matter?
Does it matter what clothes they wear for example or should protocol be adhered to with that?
Can protocol be changed? Charles is changing tradition with what he wears for the Coronation. Kate has worn a dress that is off one shoulder. So do the changes matter?

I am wondering if you think Royal protocol matters?
Yes it does - it means that people know what is expected and how things will run. It is however a continuously evolving thing, and it's wrong to consider it set it stone

For example the Palace have emailed inviting Harry and Meghan to the Coronation instead of sending them a formal printed invite. So do things like this really matter?
There have always been informal exchanges about diary matters and invitations, by letter, then by telephone and now by email. It's not supplanted the actual engraved stiffie of the formal Invitation. It's simply how the co-ordination is done

Does it matter what clothes they wear for example or should protocol be adhered to with that?
Yes, because they need to dress for the part. What that means in practice depends on what they're up to. But it could be suit or uniform, day dress or ballgown, no hat, hat or tiara. Bright colours so they can be seen by crowds. See-thru umbrellas for the same reason.

Can protocol be changed?
Yes, always has always will.

Charles is changing tradition with what he wears for the Coronation
Each monarch decides for themselves and twas ever thus.

Kate has worn a dress that is off one shoulder
As did ER II and Diana Princess of Wales before her - indeed they have both worn strapless

So do the changes matter?
Not really, because it's always been changeable

Thats especially important if Charles is trying to change protocol and is wanting other Monarchs to attend instead of Crown Princes and the likes

Do we know he is? And are the potentially-invited royals either members of a British Order (like The Garter) or close-ish (European royal) relatives or godchildren? Existing protocol is already variable depending on connections like that. And there's no reason not to have further changes, to reflect the actual people concerned.

We don’t yet.

It’s all just speculation, but it’s not just here it’s been speculated so it’ll be interesting.

He wants to do away with the superstition of no other monarchs by all accounts so it’ll be interesting to see who comes.

Certainly that was followed at the Dutch Inauguration and it’s said to be something that the Swedish, Norwegian and Dane Crown Prince/ss trio have talked about - that they are all so close yet they’ll only ever all be at one coronation/inauguration.

Are these actual protocols, though? Or just crap made up by the press. Diana wore quite a few dress revealing bare shoulders. Her very first public engagement after becoming engaged in 1981 was wearing a strapless black dress. I also saw Diana without tights. I've also read that the Queen didn't want the royal women to wear trousers but both Kate and Sphie had worn trousers before Meghan came along.
So who says these are protocols?

QE2 didn’t have rules about bare shoulders! And Diana wore coloured nail polish as well as strapless dresses. Here are QE2 and Margaret, rocking their bare shoulders.

"'Ive also read that the Queen didn't want the royal women to wear trousers"

😂😂😂
'Royal' protocol ! It never fails to raise a laugh

@DuchessOfPort Meghan was criticised heavily for bare shoulders and multiple posters swore it was against Royal protocol and the Queen would have been furious.
But they have to find things to bash Meghan with.

@MarshaMelrose Yes Kate wears trousers. So is everyone going to bask Kate for going against royal protocol?
Of course not. But then she is white.

I don't remember seeing those posts, but if I had I would have challenged them. Because it's utter bollocks - lots of royal women wear strapless or one shoulder dresses (though shoulders are normally covered whilst sitting down to eat because of the potential view of serving staff!) but that covering can be as little as a ceremonial sash.

But for balls, parties, premiers it's fine. As are bardot and boat necklines

Fucking hate protocol and what’s expected. The whole coat dress thing and not allowed to wear trousers/tights/bear legs etc. I liked Megan for wearing her own thing. The not allowed to hold hands thing is bollocks. But then I’m done with the royal family

Isn't the bare shoulders issue at certain events only, where a dress code may be different. Bare shoulders with an evening dress acceptable, bare shoulders at a funeral not.

Protocol/dress codes are not just Royal things

Agree that a strapless dress at a funeral would be dodgy. Or in a mosque! Dress codes are usually quite useful - everyone feels more comfortable knowing the rules and not sticking out like a sore thumb. I didn’t see anyone have a go at Meghan for that sort of thing as it’s so easily corrected.

Not all bare-shouldered styles are strapless. Meghan has been unfairly criticized on MN for sleeveless dresses and slightly off-the-shoulder dresses.

This is the kind of dress Meghan wears.

And all the talk about funerals is irrelevant. Meghan did not wear a dress that was bare shouldered to a funeral.

Meghan was criticised for wearing an off the shoulder dress to Trooping the Colour.

Yes Meghan wore this dress.

Dress Kate wore to Trooping the Colour. Apparently this is the kind of thing Meghan should have worn.
Its all bloody ridiculous if you ask me.

I’ve just had a look at the Trooping the Colour outfit - she looked very good in it.

No idea what the official dress code for royals in the Trooping of the Colour is but if they wouldn’t let you into the Royal Enclosure at Ascot in what you’re wearing it’s probably not quite right.

She won’t have cared either way, so not a problem!

Yes, Meghan's dress was perfectly fine, but some Mumsetters were scandalized to see a bit of shoulder.

Are you making this about Meghan? In the first instance I'd say these protocol issues have arisen because the press didn't like her. I think it's reasonable to say that that might be because she's biracial. I don't believe that everyone who dislikes her, though, dislikes her because she's biracial. But she never deserved criticism for wearing trousers, etc. She always looked fine.

Interestingly, I remember Diana being criticised for breaking protocol, too. (Trust me, she got a much harder time in the press than either Kate or Meghan did.) But because of no social media, claims like that never really got any traction.
I've also seen Kate criticised for wearing wedged sandals because they're against protocol and the queen didn't like them.

I mean, I dunno. It's all bonkers to me. If the Queen was unhappy, none of them would have done it a second time.

The Queen reportedly was not happy with what Kate was wearing and sent her a Royal Aide she trusted to advise her. Almost over night Kate was dressed like an 80 year old woman, so I believe that one. And I think it was ridiculous.

Oh give over. Kate always looks stylish, stunning and appropriate. As does Meghan.

Yes, they both looked perfectly fine 🙄

@Coxspurplepippin I liked how Kate looked. But there was a lot of articles criticising her and articles that the Queen was unhappy.