Inappropriate Outfits Royal Women Were Caught Wearing
The British royal family have a lot of traditions to uphold and expectations to live up to. It's been that way for centuries, and a lot of that weight falls on how they present themselves to the public. With that said, while they may try their best, at the end of the day they're human and they're just as prone to making questionable fashion choices that may even be deemed inappropriate to some—maybe even deliberately.
Even their smallest wardrobe choices and mishaps can draw some seriously intense scrutiny and their photos plastered all over tabloids. A dress that's even slightly shorter than what some might consider proper for a royal, a color that people deem too bold against tradition, or a problematic accessory can all stir the pot for royal women. Clothes is never just fashion, it's a symbol of tradition, status, and at times, some personal flair. And that touch of personal flair might be what pushes against protocol and makes an outfit inappropriate.
Over the years, royal women have stepped into the spotlight in ways that caught everyone's attention and had them turning their heads, not always for the right reason. From Princess Diana, the princess who never followed royal fashion rules, and her gym fits to a princess wearing a widely controversial brooch, royal women have proven that even centuries of tradition can't always keep their outfits in check, and the results are often memorably inappropriate.
Gym fits that were chic, but were far from regal
Perhaps one of her most legendary Dianacore looks that still inspires so many women today is Princess Diana's gym fits. Long before the athleisure look trended, Princess Di was stepping out in oversized sweatshirts, biker shorts, and dad sneakers. While the look was perfect for a casual day out running errands, it wasn't exactly appropriate as an active royal. However, not only were these the ensembles that showed Diana wasn't afraid to prioritize being herself over living up to palace protocol 24/7, she wore the same outfits on repeat to outsmart the paparazzi who just wouldn't leave her alone ever.
Princess Michael of Kent wore a problematic accessory
Who would have ever thought a single accessory could offend millions? Surely, Princess Michael of Kent didn't, or did she?...The princess arrived at Buckingham Palace for Christmas dinner—likely the first family dinner for Meghan Markle as Prince Harry's fiancé — in 2017 wearing none other than a blackamoor brooch. No matter how old-fashioned she may be, you can't convince us that the princess was clueless about the controversy behind Venetian jeweler, Nardi's brooch and how it had long been scrutinized for racial stereotyping. Art or not, the accessory of choice was insensitive, and many couldn't help but see it as a pointed micro-aggression toward the soon-to-be-duchess.
Trying to blend in? Meghan's off-the-shoulder look says otherwise
In the third episode of the Netflix documentary, "Harry & Meghan," Meghan Markle made it clear that she "wore a lot of muted tones" when she was an active royal as she wanted to "blend in" and not draw too much attention to herself. Yet at many events, including the Trooping the Colour in 2018, the photos tell a different story. Among the royal women covered in traditional silhouettes, Meghan is the only one in a blush pink off-the-shoulder ensemble by Carolina Herrera. While the look was stunningly polished, she definitely wasn't blending in with the crowd with the pastel hue. It showed her specialty of making her presence unmistakably felt wherever she is.
The royal family's fur hats were seen as controversial
Fur farming was banned in all of the U.K. by the early 2000s, what's more impressive is that they were one of the first countries in the European Union to ban it. As conscious as the people are, you can only imagine the controversy stirred when the late Queen Elizabeth II and Camilla were spotted wearing fur accessories in 2010. For a royal family whose goal should be to mirror the value of its common people, they really should've thought their accessories through. Although they continued to wear fur items for some time, eventually both the late Queen and Camilla vowed to stop buying fur.
Should Princess Anne be wearing military uniform even if she hasn't served?
While most members in the British armed forces spend years earning their ranks, several British royals have received honorary military titles handed to them as if they were birthday gifts and party favors. And Princess Anne really likes to run with this idea and shows up to almost every formal royal event wearing military uniform, which seems to stir the pot often. After all, Camilla and Kate have them too, yet you don't see them running around every chance they get marching into state dinners in full uniform. For her 70th birthday, she practically got a promotion set gifted to her. And honestly? It's giving privileged and hardcore cosplay vibes.
Princess Eugenie's hemlines bended the rules
Princess Eugenie, who has been caught wearing some outdated trends, is also known to be one of the more daring princesses when it comes to fashion, but her white mini dress with black polka dots at the 2011 Epsom Derby Meeting may have raised some royal eyebrows. The length of the skirt was likely considered to be a bit too flirty based on known royal protocol, in which it is preferred that the skirts or dresses of royal women sit at the knee, at a minimum. Princess Beatrice, standing next to her, obviously played it safe and her dress was fully in line with palace expectations.
Left or wrong, who cares?
Princess Beatrice seems to have a subtle rebellion going on and it starts with the hand she holds her bags and clutches with. It's said that royal women are expected to carry their purse or clutch on the left. This is so that the right hand is available for social interactions, such as shaking hands with people and even waving at the public. But Beatrice? She likes to flip the script and is often spotted with her bags and clutches on the "wrong" hand. It's proof that despite years and years of seeing proper etiquette in action within the palace walls, royals can break rules, whether on purpose or not.
The Gen Alpha princess doesn't just do dresses
Princess Charlotte is known for her royal-approved dresses she wears all year long. But did you know she doesn't just wear dresses because she likes them? According to royal family experts, it's actually expected of her. As Laura Windsor, founder of Laura Windsor Etiquette academy explained to RD, royal girls are traditionally supposed to stick to knee-length dresses all four seasons. So when she showed up at a 2023 volunteer event with her whole family in Slough, the princess seemed to have ditched the usual dresses and opted for a pair of denim shorts with a frayed hemline and paired the shorts with a cute dark pink sweater layered over a light pink collared shirt. It was quite a rare yet delightful rule-breaking moment from the adorable young princess.