A fashion expert has shared her thoughts on what King Charles and Queen Camilla’s outfits could mean.
On their recent royal tour, the pair looked like the picture of unity with their coordinated outfits featuring carefully chosen pieces.
Lynne Hugill, fashion expert and senior lecturer for BA Fashion at Teesside University, said: “On the recent tour, Queen Camilla wore a more subtle colour palette than usual, but she opened the tour with a bright blue outfit which is one of the Commonwealth colours.
“The blue dress that she wore at the start of the recent tour was significant. Blue is a very calming colour anyway but it just signified the unity between the Commonwealth, Australia and Great Britain.
“That was probably done on purpose, because she doesn’t normally wear a lot of bright colours like that. Normally it’s a bit more pastel, and I noticed that sometimes throughout the recent tour, her and Charles co-ordinated outfits, which shows the unity of them together, because I suppose they’ve had quite a bumpy ride over the years.”
Ms Hugill said the King and Queen’s outfits were carefully thought out, she added: “There were times when they co-ordinated in colour on their tour – especially when they had the garlands, and they were wearing white, and it really showed their unity. They looked very happy and coordinated.
“Everything she wears looks elegant, but also her and Charles really champion sustainability, so I think they’re really promoting the fact that they’re recycling their outfits, and it’s just not just new outfits all the time.
Ms Hugill continues: “Queen Camilla is an elegant lady – she goes for timeless pieces that have an elegant look, so I think she does always look really good.
“She’s not into fashion as such, I would say, and these days she often wears shirt dresses. I thought some of the pieces that she wore on her tour with the shirt tops and trousers were quite interesting, they’re a bit more modern.”
Queen Camilla is known for championing British designers and with the help of her stylist, Ms Hugill says the Queen has adapted her style to fit in with royal messages.
“Her style is a way to help convey important messages that the King and Queen want to get across in terms of sustainability and against throwaway fashion.
Since becoming Queen, Camilla’s style has changed, says Ms Hugill: “She’s always had a very equestrian style, but now she’s going to a lot of more formal dinners and occasions, she has had to change her style slightly.
“I also noticed that she was using some historic piece of jewellery. She likes to tell a story with her outfits of where they may have come from, and being British, her jewellery often has historic references.”
The royal tour which took place last month marked King Charles’ first visit to Australia since becoming monarch.
