Good preparation is half the job!
When the British royals make their appearance, they always look the part. It also seems as if they are ready at all times for literally any eventuality. For example, they carry a black outfit in their suitcase on every trip. But, why is that?
The protocol
First of all, it’s simply protocol. British royals must wear a black outfit wherever they go. And you probably already guessed the reason for this: when someone dies suddenly, all members of the British royal family must wear black as a sign of respect.
Mistake by the late Queen Elizabeth
And while you might think this probably hardly happens, there are a number of exceptions. For example, King George VI, the father of Elizabeth III, died when the late queen was on a working visit to Kenya in 1952 with her husband, the late Prince Philip.
While the queen was normally always prepared for anything, this time she was not. For example, she forgot to take a mourning outfit with her to Kenya, which meant she was not allowed to be photographed. She was only allowed to appear in public when a black mourning outfit was brought to her, which happened after her return trip to London.
However, this was not the only time that one of the British royals died while someone else in the family was abroad. For example, Princess Diana was skiing with King Charles when her father, Lord Spencer, died. However, they had learned from Elizabeth’s mistake, so they immediately dressed in an all-black outfit.
Source: Royalty Online | Image: NL Image
