Royals

Royal Family Members Always Pack This Particular Outfit When Travelling

Here’s where the protocol originated, too.

by Kali Borovic and Shahed Ezaydi
Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and his wife Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge step off the plane up...
RICARDO MAKYN/AFP/Getty Images

From the adorable items that the children wear to the stunning style of Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, it's always exciting to see what the royal family wear when they’re out and about. And with all eyes are on the royal family at all times, this means that they always have to be ready for any situation. But it may come as a surprise that, according to The Express, the royal family must have a black outfit in their suitcase when travelling outside the country, with the reason being quite the morbid one but a reason that makes a lot of sense.

It turns out that there's always one outfit that you can expect from a member of the royal family: an all-black ensemble. According to The Express, each member of the royal family needs to have an outfit ready for mourning when they leave the country, just in case one of the royal family members passes away. And with the recent passing of Queen Elizabeth II (Sept. 8), this has never seemed more apt, with recent images of royal family members, including Prince Harry, arriving at Balmoral dressed in all-black attire.

In the case of a death, the royal family must arrive back in England in black to reflect the somber mood of the country. Having an all-black look available at all times makes it easy to slip on if need be. As Refinery29 mentions, you might recall the episode of The Crown when the Queen has to wait on the plane for an outfit after arriving in England after her father's death. This black-outfit protocol actually originated from this very situation in order to save time and allows the royal family to be ready at all times. Even the children have to dress in the sombre colour, according to The Sun.

A mourning outfit isn't just about the clothing, either. According to TheRoyalArticles.com, the ensemble includes gloves, a hat, and shoes in the colours of black or grey. The website says that the men are to wear striped grey trousers with a black jacket, as well as a top hat.