Queen Elizabeth's Love Of Bright Colors Had A Practical Purpose (& Kate Middleton Does It Too)

Queen Elizabeth II was an object of fascination and admiration during her lifetime, carrying out her duties with tireless grace. But it seems the late queen was more than aware of the power fashion has, especially when intermingled with royalty. And unlike these truly inappropriate outfits royal women were caught wearing, the British monarch knew how to dress with class while drawing everyone's eyes to her. Simply put, it's to wear bright, vibrant colors.

"At the beginning of the queen's reign, she could often be the only woman in the room, so standing out from darkly tailored suits was important," Caroline de Guitaut, curator for the "Queen Elizabeth II: Her Life in Style" exhibition, explained (per People). And it appears the Princess of Wales has been taking notes from the late queen, as evident by Kate Middleton's most sophisticated monochrome outfits. Middleton is an expert at ensuring that her outfit and accessories match, and as fashion designer Amanda Wakeley told The Sun (via InStyle), with 15 years as a royal under her belt, it comes as no surprise that she has "mastered the art of dressing high/low."

Although Queen Elizabeth II saw the wisdom of wearing vibrant colors that make you stand out, she didn't personally love them. In fact, the beloved royal favored colors that were softer and more neutral. "She didn't massively like purple, because she thought it was a mourning colour," Daily Mail royal editor Rebecca English detailed to the publication. "She preferred lilac ... but blue was absolutely a favorite." It was only when the late queen had time to herself that she could indulge in wearing her favorite colors, namely beige. 

"[Beige] made up just one per cent of the queen's wardrobe in 2012," Jo Elvin revealed during a segment of the "Palace Confidential" podcast, per Daily Mail. However, even the much-missed queen was aware that wearing beige would make her fade into the background, stating once that "no one would know who I was" otherwise. Queen Elizabeth II was known to prioritize her duties over her personal wants, and it's admirable that she did so even down to the most minute details in her wardrobe choices.