Royals can wear black, but it's traditionally reserved for mourning, funerals, or sometimes formal evening events, as it signifies grief, stemming from Queen Victoria's extended mourning for Prince Albert, and members must pack black when traveling for unexpected bereavement. Wearing black at happy occasions like weddings is generally avoided because it clashes with the celebratory mood, though rule-breakers like Princess Diana have made iconic fashion statements with black dresses, notes Reader's Digest and People.com.
But black is considered “the funeral color,” as Fitzwilliams puts it—and it's also the reason royals avoid wearing it at any other occasion, especially weddings: “It wouldn't be appropriate, due to its connotation.” That being said, not all members of the household always followed this rule.
However there are differences: the meeting will not take place in the Pope's official receiving rooms and nor will the Queen wear black, according to the Vatican tradition. Traditionally, British royal women do not wear black unless the court is officially in mourning.
Here are 10 rules of the royal dress code.
This one is slightly more obvious. Instead of using “toilet,” royals use the word “loo” when they need to use the facilities. “'Toilet' is French by origin, so it is apparently avoided,” The Mirror writes.
As Prince William is now the new Prince of Wales, it is possible that his title code word for his possible demise is Operation Menai Bridge. However, it is also entirely possible that they have kept the King's code word the same, to avoid confusion.
No, King Charles and Queen Camilla generally sleep in separate bedrooms, a common practice among the British upper class and royals, including the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, as it helps maintain their relationship and allows for personal space, with both having their own rooms at residences like Clarence House and private country homes.
Pope Francis says homosexuality is a sin but not a crime. VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis criticized laws that criminalize homosexuality as "unjust," saying God loves all his children just as they are and called on Catholic bishops who support the laws to welcome LGBTQ people into the church.
It's traditional for a Queen to wear black and a veil for an audience with the Pope at the Vatican as a sign of respect, modesty and humility.
In case a relative passes away while family members are traveling, every person must pack a single, all-black outfit, Marie Claire reports. This guarantees that they'll be dressed respectfully when seen in public after the announcement.
Power and confidence: Black is often linked to authority, seriousness, and control. Think of a powerful black suit or a sporty black car. It can project the essence of success and accomplishment.
Alexander the Great (when giving imperial audiences as the basileus of the Macedonian Empire), the basileus of the Seleucid Empire, and the kings of Ptolemaic Egypt all wore Tyrian purple.
Kate Middleton debuted a surprising new manicure during Germany's recent state visit. The Princess of Wales painted her nails a subtle shade of beige. Tradition dictates that members of the royal family wear little to no nail polish in order to maintain an understated and refined public image.
The idea behind the third piece rule is that for an outfit to go from good to great, it needs three key elements. Your top and bottom (pants or skirt) are your first and second elements. The third piece is that extra something that finishes off the whole look.
According to Sir William Heseltine, one of Queen's private secretaries, when staying with Her Majesty, members of the royal family should wait until the Queen retires to bed before they also hit the hay.
Ancient Rome's social elite, mostly influenced by Greek models, also kept a pretty relaxed attitude towards same-sex encounters, which were almost the norm among the upper class, emperors included. The stars went to Nero, who allegedly married two of his freedmen, and Trajan, famous for his fondness for boys.
According to Catholic doctrine, solely having same-sex attractions itself is not considered inherently sinful; it is the act of engaging in sexual activity with someone of the same sex that is regarded as a grave sin against chastity.
Pius IX's liberal policies initially made him very popular throughout Italy. He appointed an able and enlightened minister, Pellegrino Rossi, to administer the Papal States. He also showed himself hostile to Austrian influences, delighting Italian patriots, who hailed him as the coming redeemer of Italy.
Prince William and Kate Middleton sleep in separate beds primarily due to the constraints of the Royal Train (which has only single beds) and as part of a long-standing aristocratic tradition of separate sleeping arrangements for better rest or privacy, though they likely share a bed at home, with their dog sometimes joining them for extra comfort, aligning with modern trends for "sleep divorce".
In his book, Yes Ma'am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants (via The Daily Mail) royal author Tom Quinn claimed that Harry and William called Queen Camilla "Lady Macbeth," "Cruella de Vil" and the "Witch of the West" as teenagers.
Queen Camilla was diagnosed with a form of pneumonia following a chest infection in late 2024, which caused fatigue and led to her missing some public engagements, though she continued with indoor duties and worked towards recovery, managing lingering post-viral tiredness with rest. Her illness was initially described as a "nasty bug," but she later confirmed the pneumonia diagnosis herself, requiring a modified schedule for a period.
Royal protocol advises that George will no longer be allowed to fly with his father, Prince William. Heirs are required to fly separately to preserve the line of succession should an accident occur while they are traveling. William, 43, is heir to the throne.
According to Daily Express, King Charles III called Meghan Markle "tungsten." Tungsten is a hard metal, which refers to the Duchess of Sussex's strength.
For anyone keeping track, here are the known secret codes for the rest of the royal family: King George VI's death was coded "Hyde Park Corner." Prince Philip's is "Operation Forth Bridge" (a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Edinburgh) and the Queen Mother's was "Operation Tay Bridge" (located in Dundee, Scotland).