Camilla Parker Bowles Daring Fashion Statement Breaks Hundreds of Years of Royal Tradition
Camilla Parker Bowles has settled into her role as Queen Consort well enough to break hundreds of years of royal tradition. One of the strictest of these rules was for women not to wear pants. King Charles’ wife was photographed at Balmoral wearing clothing typically not worn by queens throughout the monarchy’s history.
Camilla Parker Bowles went for a casual look for the royal family’s holiday getaway
Camilla Parker Bowles wore jeans instead of more formal attire for the royal family’s summer getaway at Balmoral in Scotland.
Personal stylist and fashion editor Annabel Hodin told The Telegraph that Camilla is “doing a relaxed smart-casual look. You might think that everyone’s got a Uniqlo jacket, but she’s chosen a subtly chic shade that is soft and flatters her coloring. It’s not frumpy, heavy, or traditional. Her look is a nod to modernity whilst also being an intelligent choice in the Scottish weather.”
While this might not be a groundbreaking choice for the casual Briton, Camilla is the first queen to be photographed wearing jeans. The paper claims Camilla is sending an “unmistakable” message.
“The message was still unmistakable – that she may be married to the King, but that her attitude to fashion is as relaxed and practical as it has always been, reminding us that, at heart, she is probably happiest pulling on her denim for a day pottering in the garden or tending to her beloved horses,” the paper writes.
Camilla’s wearing jeans is a stark break from royal tradition. She is reportedly the first queen to wear jeans publicly, but she has worn them privately for years.
Was Queen Elizabeth ever photographed in jeans?
Queen Elizabeth was publicly photographed wearing jeans once in her over 70 years on the throne. According to The Telegraph, she wore denim while on a private safari holiday in Kenya. She also wore pants several times, including when she was photographed riding her beloved horses.
Elizabeth rarely wore pants in a formal setting. In 1970, Elizabeth wore pants to modernize her look. However, that was the last time she added pants to her public rotation of outfits.
The Telegraph did report that she wore tailored trousers over the years, but not jeans. Bethan Holt, author of The Queen: 70 Years Of Majestic Style, told PA Media. “While seeing her wear them in public might have caused a furor, they’re a central part of her private wardrobe,” Holt said.
Is wearing pants a royal no?
Prince William’s wife, Kate Middleton, has been photographed wearing pantsuits many times since marrying into the royal family in 2011. However, she will never wear it during a formal or state occasion.
An unwritten royal rule is that women should wear dresses, not trousers, when representing the royal family publicly. This was because Queen Elizabeth preferred dresses to pants.
Since Elizabeth’s death in September 2022, the royals may slightly have slightly relaxed the rules. It remains to be seen if Camilla’s photograph ushers in a new royal fashion era.
