# British monarchy’s fashion mantle passes to younger generation Author: Pal Sinha, Barnali Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali Published: 2022-09-20 Category: NEWS Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news Meta Title: The Future of Royal Fashion Post-Queen Elizabeth Meta Description: Explore how the death of Queen Elizabeth II has shifted the royal family's relationship with fashion, and how younger members like Kate Middleton are URL: https://financedigest.com/british-monarchys-fashion-mantle-passes-to-younger-generationhtml ![undefined](https://prod.superblogcdn.com/site_cuid_cm5qst7v3003gwirgwqtxn8i8/images/2022-09-20t102832z2lynxmpei8j0f4rtroptp4britain-royals-queen-style-1736815192235-compressed.jpg) By Mimosa Spencer and Richa Naidu PARIS/LONDON (Reuters) – The death of Queen Elizabeth II marks a shift in the relationship between fashion and the British monarchy, with younger members of the royal family, notably Catherine, Princess of Wales, likely taking on a greater public role. The late queen had a precise fashion formula – elegant coats, trim hats and square-heeled shoes shaped her familiar silhouette, as well as her handbag, which became a symbol of stability. The Queen was aware of how useful a tool style was to help convey her image as monarch,” said Alicia Healey, who worked in the Queen’s household for four [years and has since written a book called “Wardrobe Wisdom from a Royal](https://www.financedigest.com/another-momentous-year-beckons-for-britains-royal-family.html "Another momentous year beckons for Britain’s royal family") Lady’s Maid: how to dress and take care of your clothes. “I think, to a certain extent, her clothes were a uniform for her.” While the fashion choices of the new monarch, [King Charles III and his wife Queen](https://www.financedigest.com/in-loving-and-devoted-memory-king-charles-handwritten-note-to-late-queen.html "‘In loving and devoted memory’: King Charles handwritten note to late queen") Consort Camilla, will inevitably attract attention, they are both in their seventies, meaning camera lenses will be focused more on Charles’ children, William and Harry – and their wives. That could see a shift in the royals’ association with fashion from formal structures to more relatable – if restrained – styles. With [Harry and wife Meghan](https://www.financedigest.com/uks-prince-harry-and-wife-meghan-will-attend-celebrations-for-queen-elizabeth.html "UK’s Prince Harry and wife Meghan will attend celebrations for Queen Elizabeth") now based in California, William’s wife Catherine, popularly known as Kate, is set to hold the public’s sartorial gaze, recalling the era of William’s late mother Diana when she was Princess of Wales. “I think, really, people are interested in the younger members of the family and what they are wearing because they relate much more to us, to what we wear to parties or to work,” said fashion critic and historian Suzy Menkes. TRICKY FOR KATE Styles worn by Kate, 40, have been known to spark buying frenzies. The polka dotted dress by Jenny Packham she wore in 2013 after the birth of eldest child Prince George subsequently sold out. It was seen as an homage to Diana, also photographed in polka dots when returning home with baby [Prince William](https://www.financedigest.com/britains-prince-william-unveils-finalists-for-earthshot-environmental-prize.html "Britain’s Prince William unveils finalists for Earthshot environmental prize"). Kate’s style is usually understated but when she dresses up it generates excitement, fashion experts say. Whenever the [future queen](https://www.financedigest.com/does-the-commonwealth-have-a-future-after-queen-elizabeth.html "Does the Commonwealth have a future after Queen Elizabeth?") wears something that is a little bit sexy and glamorous, people get very excited about it because Kate isn’t really someone who dresses like that,” said Menkes, who describes her style as casual but smart. It’s interesting to [see how that’s going to change](https://www.financedigest.com/the-corneal-pachymetry-market-to-see-through-the-probable-sea-change-through-digitization.html "The Corneal Pachymetry Market to see through the probable sea change through digitization") and whether she is going to go up a notch and look slightly more glamorous,” she said. But doing so could be at odds with [King Charles’](https://www.financedigest.com/biden-tells-britains-king-charles-the-first-lady-will-attend-coronation.html "Biden tells Britain’s King Charles the first lady will attend coronation") sustainability messaging. Charles’ sustainability push calls for a little bit more conscientious fashion,” said Jennifer Castro, a West Palm, Florida-based [digital marketer](https://www.financedigest.com/how-the-latest-ios-update-impacts-your-digital-marketing-campaign.html "How the latest iOS update impacts your digital marketing campaign"), whose fashion blog RoyalStyleWatch has more than 67,000 Instagram followers. Charles is someone that has had the same camel coat for 25 [years – he’s very much about purchasing quality items that will last,”](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-new-car-sales-rise-in-january-full-year-sales-to-top-last-year-smmt.html "UK new car sales rise in January, full-year sales to top last year – SMMT") Castro said. NEVER MISSED THE MARK Gerald Bodmer has lost count of the glossy Launer handbags [Queen Elizabeth](https://www.financedigest.com/34315plane-carrying-coffin-of-queen-elizabeth-lands-in-london.html "Plane carrying coffin of Queen Elizabeth lands in London") II bought from his company through her seven-decade reign, but the classic, hand-stitched accessories have been part of her wardrobe since the 1950s and 60s. He [estimates she ordered around a dozen over the past 40 years](https://www.financedigest.com/the-liquid-chromatographymass-spectroscopy-market-is-estimated-to-witness-stupendous-growth-in-the-years-to-come.html "The Liquid Chromatographymass Spectroscopy Market is estimated to witness stupendous growth in the years to come"), sticking to only a handful of models, such as the top-handled Traviata, in a subtle trapezoid shape, which sells for around 2,090 pounds ($2,390). In her last public photo, with Britain’s new Prime Minister Liz Truss, she carried a pre-1980s Launer bag, while the creamy vanilla-coloured bespoke Lisa hybrid model she sported at [William and Kate’s](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-royals-in-u-s-spotlight-as-william-and-kate-visit.html "UK royals in U.S. spotlight as William and Kate visit") wedding in 2011 sparked such a flurry of interest the company’s website crashed, according to the label. For many, the accessory will be forever linked to the Queen. “I never noticed any handbags except those worn by Her Majesty,” said Menkes. “Other people, of course, must have handbags, but they haven’t quite entered my soul.” The [Queen set a high bar when it came to striking the right tone](https://www.financedigest.com/seeking-right-tone-new-uk-pm-truss-had-to-quickly-change-gear-for-queen.html "Seeking right tone, new UK PM Truss had to quickly change gear for queen"), said Elizabeth Holmes, author of ‘HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style. It’s incredibly savvy of her to have recognised the [power of clothes and harness that to promote sort of the monarchy and support](https://www.financedigest.com/belgium-supports-energy-price-caps-suspending-trading-in-eu-power-crunch.html "Belgium supports energy price caps, suspending trading in EU power crunch") her royal duties,” Holmes said. There was never a moment where the [Queen missed the mark](https://www.financedigest.com/new-zealand-marks-queen-elizabeths-passing-on-national-day-of-mourning.html "New Zealand marks Queen Elizabeth’s passing on national day of mourning") – where she was dressed inappropriately, where her wardrobe failed in some way. And for 70 years to be that consistent? I think we take it for granted.” ($1 = 0.8745 pounds) (Reporting by Mimosa Spencer and Richa Naidu; Editing by Vanessa O’Connell, Matt Scuffham and Mark Potter) --- This blog is powered by Superblog. Visit https://superblog.ai to know more. ---