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?

Weren't there lots of articles saying that Charles wasn't going to make Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, though? 😄

Like you, I liked what she used to wear, it was young and fresh. I think those flouncy dresses she moved into were depressing. Sorry, but I do. It looks like she's trying modernise a bit more now. She did have a couple of mishaps in those shorter dresses so I do think she decided or her mum suggested or the queen raised an eyebrow which caused her to change her style. Could be any of them but I agree with you, I could see the queen having a hand in it.

There were lots of articles saying that about Edward. Charles seemed to be vacillating.

The Queen sent her personal dresser to work for Kate and advise her about clothes. I agree what Kate wore at the beginning was young and fresh. And when the Queen intervened it made Kate look so so frumpy. Some of the dresses she wore were fine of you were 80 years old, but not on a young woman.
I too have noticed that Kate is now trying to dress a but younger and more modern. I think that is good and what she wears should reflect her tastes.

@Morestrangethings
"I am a bit bemused about who walks behind whom, where the royals sit, and whom they sit next to. The hierarchy looks a bit weird to me in this day and age."

If you went to a wedding or funeral of a distant friend, would you expect to sit in front of family members. The protocol may be 'unwritten', but it still applies. Just as there is a dress code for weddings and funerals. The Bride and Groom may amend the dress code, but otherwise it still applies. The same with funerals; normally one wears black or dark colours, unless an alternative dress code is suggested.

I suspect emails will have gone out first, because the total number of invitees is said to be a lot less than for the late Queen's coronation... hence not ALL the aristocrats in the UK will be invited. The email 'save the date' type of thing, at least gives you a heads up, on who is expected to be there.

I'm a Republican and would abolish the lot of them this afternoon if I could. But while we've got them, I want them to provide me with some entertainment. So the more pomp, circumstance, jewels, gold coaches, bonkers rituals and protocol the better.