We generally only pay attention to what Prince Harry and Prince William’s wives wear. It’s just a fact of life: women’s fashion is always more interesting than men’s fashion. Even if a man is a true dandy – like Prince Charles seems to be – women’s clothes are still more interesting to discuss and debate. Do you think Harry and William are dandies like their father? I don’t. I don’t think Harry really gives a crap about clothes and fashion in general, but I also believe Meghan is helping out with his clothes now so he’s wearing what she likes. William, on the other hand, probably does care about clothes to a certain extent, but that hasn’t stopped him from being a serial abuser of too-tight trousers. I feel like I’ve seen Will’s mooseknuckle every month for years. Anyway, the current talking point isn’t about mooseknuckles or Meghan-styling-Harry. It’s about how both princes have been forgoing ties for daytime events?
Princes William and Harry have both recently taken to leaving their ties at home when they step out for daytime engagements. This is in contrast to their father Prince Charles who is almost always seen in full suit and tie no matter what the formality of the engagement.
Speaking to FEMAIL, etiquette expert William Hanson said the brothers could be hoping to strike a more ‘smart casual’ tone, particularly when meeting with well-wishers across the UK. He noted their grandmother the Queen, who is said to be fond of maintaining a certain standard of dress within the Royal Family, probably ‘does not mind’ their more relaxed dress as long as its suitable for the occasion.
William Hanson told the MailOnline: ‘The monarchy has a fine line to thread. On one hand the public want them to be regal, but on the other they want to be able to connect with them and feel they are just glossier versions of ourselves. Due to their younger ages, Princes William and Harry attend less formal or more active, sporty events and in these instances you can see why they chose to ‘dress down’ and attend in what would usually be called ‘smart casual’ clothes. To arrive in a suit and tie may not ingratiate them to those attending and those observing at home. It’s always important at any event, royal or not, for all guests to look like they are part of the same event.’
William has been seen more often without a tie during the day than his younger brother, although both have by no means given them up completely. They also both continue to wear ties to evening engagements, as well as to church services. Military uniform is worn at other formal daytime events including investitures. Hanson added: ‘Naturally, for formal occasions – including those where their grandmother The Queen is attending – the younger male royals do not sport an open neck and wear a tie.’ He added: ‘I suspect The Queen does not mind that her grandsons relax their dress, so long as it fits with the occasion.’
Can you even imagine if the Daily Mail had done their Daily Mail Thing and treated this story like it was a Meghan story? PALACE SHOCK: William and Harry Break Royal Protocol By Refusing To Wear Ties: Queen reportedly gasped when she saw a flash of skin on the royal clavicle! I guess I’ve never really thought about it, but sure, it makes sense that William and Harry don’t want to wear ties when they’re doing daytime events and they’re around normal people who are probably not in formal double-breasted suits and ties. Dress for the occasion, dress for the event. That’s just good sense AND good breeding. But also: William and Harry are “breaking royal protocol” just as much as Meghan. Which is to say, not at all.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red,WENN.
I like Harry’s look in the pic above with the sweater and the jacket (even if its more of an overcoat), and no tie. It’s a good balance.
For the men, in general, I think its easier. Nice pants and a blazer for semi-casual engagements, suit for more formal, then tux or uniform. Even if they may be slightly underdressed at times it gives them an “approachable” feel and no one talks about how they aren’t taking an event seriously.
And, I do think its a generational thing to a large extent. Charles would look kind of silly if he showed up to a sporting event in athletic gear, but Harry and William can do it and look fine.
ETA I know Charles was athletic for decades, particularly with sports like polo, but I feel like he always dressed nicely for royal engagements, so that’s just what we expect him to wear.
With all the talk about what Meghan/Kate spend on clothes, I’ve been really curious what Charles’ clothes budget has looked like. Here’s an interesting article about his 70’s fashion icon status, with details about the present day. Some great pictures.
https://www.esquire.com/uk/style/fashion/a16566/prince-charles-style/
Oh that’s interesting, thanks for linking it. And I feel like Charles’s clothing budget is probably INSANE.
mooseknuckles! Thank you and this day is done.
DM Meghan/missing tie story:
“Meghan Markle flat out refuses to wear tie in Windsor knot, shocking all in attendance! The Queens faints.”
Kate cries regally.
Ties are so rare in my office.
Which sucks since I love them on guys.
Is this an attempt by poor Jason to deflect from the ‘the brothers hate each other’ which has been taking off?
I’m trying to imagine how this story gets pitched. “I have an idea for a story about the royals and breaking protocol.”
“Meghan wears too much black??”
“No, not that.”
“Meghan wore colored nail polish?”
“No, that’s been done.”
“Kate was too tall next to the Queen?”
“No, no one will buy that was a protocol breach.”
“what then?”
“I want to write about how the brothers don’t wear ties that often.”
………
and lo and behold, we have this story.
William is like the perfect shape of a thumb. 👍
I dont know which one lost their looks faster…him or his uncle Edward. Those genes are strong. Hopefully meghans mamas genes can come through for baby Sussex 🙏
Harry looks easy-going and casual without a tie, but William just looks like a guy that forgot to put on his tie.
In these two pictures at least, I agree with you.
My husband recently started a new job and was informed by the salesperson at the store where he bought a new suit that no one really wears ties anymore. Just a suit, sans tie. He was thrilled because he’s always hated them. I was no more stunned than when my daughter informed me that “no one wears hosiery” anymore, even to homecoming.
William has turned into such an unattractive person (inside and out) so I don’t really think a tie would help him one way or another.
I’m trying to understand the evolution of Will’s looks. Most attractive young men usually age into even more attractive adults. It’s not just the hair loss affecting his looks. His whole face just went downhill.
Kate actually looks better than she did when they met so it must be a bummer that her former heartthrob is looking like a dapper penis.
I think it’s weight- related. Not to say that he is fat, because he isn’t. But his little paunch indicates that he is carrying a bit extra weight. His young face was lean so his jawline was cut and his cheekbones defined. I think if he were leaner he would be better looking. I think their genetics leans towards jowliness. I think they get that from the Queen Mother, because Bertie was not as jowlie. Look at Andrew. Prince Phillip kept his looks until late middle age because of his lean face. As for Edward, I don’t know why he lost his looks. I think he wasn’t necessarily that good looking and the loss of youth and hair did him in.
Prince Michael was still very good looking into his later years. The hottest one was George V who looked like Tsar Nicholas’ twin.
I like Edward, and don’t think he’s lost his looks. I think his look has always been softer. He has lovely laugh lines, and a great smile. And he’s kept his figure. Andrew has always leaned to portly, seems to me. William though….well, handsome is as handsome does. I think whereas Edward’s character seems to shine and makes him more handsome, Wm’s character seems to have eaten away his good looks from the inside and made the outside match. I know he’s dealt with a lot in his life, but folks, that was then, this is now, and he’s hasn’t really impressed me with ANYTHING because NOTHING seems to be of his own initiative. Please, prove me wrong.
None of the queen’s sons have aged well. Andrew was gorgeous when he was younger but has become very pompous-looking. I have never thought that William and Harry were particularly good-looking even when they were younger but the Windsor genes seem to be catching up with them.
Regarding the original story about wearing ties, I think they usually get it right as to when to wear one and when not.
Ditto @cerys – I don’t think any of them aged well. I actually think Charles did for a while – I thought he looked pretty good in the 70s, not so good in the 80s (maybe bc Diana was so attractive as a comparison?) and then better in the 90s and as he aged. Like, not sexy, but distinguished. Now he’s lost that but he seems happy so whatever, ha.
Andrew just looks worse; sometimes he reminds of wormtail from Harry Potter. I see pictures of him from his youth and I’m really shocked at how attractive he was. I think Edward is actually aging pretty well – maybe it helps that he was never gorgeous to begin with? He seems like the nicest of the Windsor “children”.
Anne has aged pretty well, she follows her mother in that she hasn’t changed her style in 30 years, but you do you Anne.
I think Harry is following in Charles’s pattern, where he was cute, then super goofy looking for a while, now he’s deep into the “really attractive” phase, let’s see how long it lasts.
William peaked too early is all. Haha. But much like Andrew, even though I had a crush on William at the time, when I look back at pictures of him from his teenage years I am shocked at how good looking he was.
William is looking rather handsome in the first picture.
I love how different we all are; I see a semi-sneer in that first picture, not a handsome, full grown man ….. I wonder who/what Wm might have been if he’d not been born royal. Would he have been a construction worker? A school teacher? Happier? Hard to know…..
William hasn’t been handsome since he was 20. Dude aged poorly.
And he lost that hotness faster than anyone I’ve ever seen. I’m a good decade or more older than William, so I remember when he was growing up just how handsome he was. Like WHEW, where’s my fan, it’s hot in here.
Then suddenly: WHAM, he lost his looks seemingly overNIGHT, y’all. I bet you’re right–around 20. Such a shame. Good thing he has money.
Maybe they’re going for the “Sherlock” look. Maybe Harry can make it work, but William just looks like he forgot his tie.
Oh my…. this talk about protocol is so annoying. Why is it so hard to understand that there’s a difference between “protocol” and “etiquette”? Not wearing a tie isn’t breaking any protocol, it’s just bending the rules of etiquette.
Breaking the protocol is something like a so called president walking ahead of the Queen of England, which could’ve caused a diplomatic incident.
Not wearing a tie is unusual but it doesn’t hurt anybody. If they feel more comfortable without a tie so what.
Sadly, so far William and Harry have failed to take an interest in clothing, unlike their father whose style and elegance is wonderful. Both brothers dress almost identically in the most boring style, the men in my family dress better. The only time they look good is when they are wearing uniform.
Both of them seem to love the same pair of blue suede-looking loafers. Wait, they’re laced, so I think they aren’t called loafers. Whatever, they have no clothing imagination. I feel like all Will ever wears are shades of blue. YAWN.
But God forbid the the Royal women go without hosiery… Such a ridiculous double standard in operation here.
Each is entitled to their opinion. For me I see that prince William is a very handsome man even with no hair and I like the way he dresses. And I really don’t find prince Harry as handsome and see that with the loss of his heir it is getting worse for me at least but I also like the way he dresse
I wish suits weren’t so unpopular. Let’s keep working toward equality, justice and diversity but let’s not throw the baby – attractive clothing and a kempt appearance – out with the bathwater.