Coronation dress code is a massive change to royal protocol

Traditionally, a royal coronation features the entire royal family donning historical robes, however, King Charles’ coronation will break from royal protocol.

While Charles and Queen Consort Camilla will be wearing historical robes and headpieces, other royal family members will not.

According to Charles’ former butler Grant Harrold, the coronation’s dress code will be much more relaxed in comparison to previous coronations.

“The event is going to be so completely different to Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation when it comes to dress codes,” he said. “Aristocracy traditionally would wear the coronation robes.

“If you look at the Queen’s coronation, you would see the dukes, duchesses, countesses all had these special robes that were created for the coronation.

“Historically, these robes were worn by the aristocracy, but now this will not be the case.”

Breaking from tradition

Instead, members of the royal family will be in “day attire”.

“For this coronation, most royals will wear suits, not their special robes,” Harrold continued. “This is a massive change to royal protocol.

“The senior members of the royal family decide the royal etiquette and dress code – they are always changing etiquette as they’re the ones who decide all the changes which will then be accepted as another part of the royal protocol.”

It’s also been a tradition for female members of the royal family to wear jeweled headpieces, but the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, will not be donning a tiara.

“Tiaras were worn by nearly every royal lady at the Queen’s coronation in 1953, as well lots of aristocratic women but times have certainly changed in 70 years,” said Lauren Kiehna, author of ‘The Court Jeweller’.

Harrold also suggested that neither Princess Kate nor Sophie, the duchess of Edinburgh, will be wearing tiaras.

“I really don’t think we’ll see that in the dress code because I think the focus will be more on day wear, showing how relaxed the dress code is for the event,” Harrold said. “I believe the ladies will wear dresses.

“For the evening event they might wear ball gowns, but during the day they will obviously wear something very smart.”