Prince William not in black at Pope's funeral

[Yellowdresses]

I think William made a big mistake in not wearing a black suit to the Pope's funeral.
I think it was a sign of disrespect, particularly as he's going to head of the Church of England.

I know the invite said dark suits for men, but everyone else - except Trump of course! - knew that black was expected, and it's not as if he doesn't have a black suit.

@smilesyI thought we’d moved on from that-sorry!

Probably, but as so many posters can’t seem to get their heads around the fact that no dress code was broken, I’m losing the plot 😆

“At a state funeral, the dress code for members of the Royal Family and other attendees is traditionally all-black, with a formal, respectful style. Women typically wear black knee-length dresses or coats, black hats, and may opt for face-covering veils. Men often wear military attire or black morning coats with medals”

This from Debrett.

I doubt anyone including the royals are faithfully following the guidance of Debrett ( founded in 1769) in 2025 !!! 🤣🤣
anymore than we still follow Mrs beetons guidelines to household management!

Agreed. Things move on. And it bears repeating that it’s unlikely that anyone n the British RF would be unaware of protocol

Let’s face it , this is a complete non argument for whatever reason.
polite protocol has always been that the host specifies the dress code and the guests normally adhere to it .
william and almost all of the guests adhered to the dress code provided for them , the end , no argument, no point to discuss further.

That refers to a state funeral 🙄

Surely Debretts is an instruction manual for the hoi polloi relaying what the aristocracy does - it doesn't tell the aristocracy what to do. So if the top of the aristocracy wants to mix things up, then they can do so and everyone else follows this as the "latest" acceptable etiquette. .

I can't believe people are still going on about this imagined insult 🙄

Yes. It was just in answer to a poster claiming that the British men never wear black suits. Nothing about the Pope’s obsequies.

Interesting. I wonder how up to date the above is? My impression of etiquette, and to some extent protocol, is that it tends to lag way behind what society is actually doing.

They aren’t. The discussion has widened.

And people, including me, are playing “I’m posher than you” Top Trumps!🤣

I’ve just looked at Diana’s funeral to check I’m not going mad - Princes Philip and William are in dark grey, Charles and Harry are in dark blue and I am on the fence with Earl Spencer. The black tie being the darkest bit is the indication that the suit is not that black but it does look like it could be.

I always think that it's a bit tasteless to criticise what people wear to funerals. I get that the Pope's is of more than personal or family significance, but OP and those agreeing with her micro-quibble are being desperate and ridiculous.

Now, there was a thread recently about those 'skirts' 😂which reveal the entirety of the wearer's backside, right up the anus (no actual knickers underneath - just a thong - ooh ouch...). If someone had turned up in one of those, I could get with the offence-taking, but really.

Performative offence-taking (on behalf of someone else, too) and pursed lips about a perfectly-judged blue suit.

Some people really need a life!

I'm amazed that any could care about this. He was asked to wear a dark suit, he wore a dark suit - if they were desperate for black then they'd have said black. Honestly, the blokes dead, who gives a shit what colour suits people wear and who gets to decide what's respectful?

Aye right...

Fair enough. In the picture I saw they looked black, but happy to be proved wrong.

In some pics it does absolutely look like they’re black, especially from further away but the ones in full sun are a little clearer.

A thoroughly depressing day for the lot of them anyway.

World leaders and country representatives aren’t there because they truely mourn the popes death (though some may). The respect is not respect towards Francis on a personal level, it is towards his role as head of a church with over a billion followers. As such they are being respectful towards the institution of the church. A dark blue suit accorded with dress code so was fine.