When Queen Elizabeth II died last Thursday, Britain immediately entered an official period of mourning, which will last a week from the monarch’s funeral on Monday, September 19.

This is one of many traditions unique to Britain, and while it may seem excessive or strange to the casual American, it is deeply rooted in a long and respected history. Another handful of these traditions concern the proper mourning dress worn by the rest of the royal family. These strict protocols must be adhered to so that the Queen’s descendants are not accused of disrespecting the dead.

As with many opaque edicts, the rules for funeral dress are not necessarily written down anywhere. No introduction to the Royal Conduct Handbook. Rather, these traditions have been established, reinforced, and passed down over hundreds of years. There is a notable episode that breaks the status quo: In 1938, the Queen’s mother wore a sparkling white dress to her mother’s funeral to counteract the mood around her of impending war.

During the mourning period for Queen Elizabeth II, multiple public events are held in her honor, so with a few exceptions, all working royals are required to wear military uniforms on these occasions. Princess Anne, who died with her, looked conspicuous and radiant in her military uniform (in this case, the ceremonial uniform of the Royal Navy) and multiple decorations.

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The Queen’s disgraced second son, Prince Andrew, will not wear military uniform at all pre-funeral events, except for a vigil at Westminster Hall. I’m going to do this to show

Andrew was stripped of all military titles after Jeffrey Epstein’s accuser, Virginia Giuffre, claimed the prince molested her when she was 17. A suit worn by a woman is also a symbol of shame.

Another royal family member stripped of all military titles is Prince Harry, who was forced to part ways with them when he chose to step down from his role as an active member of the royal family in 2020.

Unlike Andrew, Harry is not allowed to wear military uniform at the Queen Elizabeth II memorial service. Harper’s Bazaar report. Prominent British royal commentators have already jumped in to criticize the palace’s decision.

“It’s a deplorable double standard here,” said Shola Mos-Shogbamimu Newsweek on monday. “This is my argument that the royal family is completely deaf, not reading the room, and not sending the wrong message. Did he learn something about backlash?”

Prince Harry seems to be trying to brush off the drama. “Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex will wear a morning suit during an event honoring his grandmother,” his spokesperson said Tuesday. Uniforms don’t define us, and we respectfully ask that you continue to focus on Her Majesty’s life and legacy.”

Royal women wear black hats with their faces hidden by lace, net or tulle veils for Monday’s funeral, in keeping with a long-enhanced tradition, according to a new report.The Duke of Sussex Little is known about which designer Meghan Markle and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge will use for their funeral dresses.

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When it comes to TV journalists working on the Queen’s death, American TV anchors echo those of the BBC and other British news outlets. CBS’s Norah O’Donnell NBC’s Savannah Guthrie is also wearing all black, and The Daily Beast reached out to NBC and CBS for comment.

On Sunday, William, Catherine, Harry and Meghan greeted those in mourning outside Windsor Castle. William and Harry both opted for dark navy blue suits, while Meghan and Catherine both opted for black below-the-knee shift dresses with black stockings and black heels. It’s up to the creed. No skimpy ensembles are permitted and bare knees are strictly prohibited.

Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were also spotted outside Balmoral in knee-length black ensembles.

Another rule that seems to have been abandoned is that royal women were instructed not to wear black outside of funerals and periods of mourning. This rule may have been unofficially lapsed, as she has been photographed countless times in a black evening dress on .

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The royal family’s strict adherence to proper funeral attire may have a lot to do with Queen Victoria, who wore black for the rest of her life for 40 years after the death of her husband, Prince Albert, in 1861. there is.

As a globally visible arbiter of proper conduct and civility, it has also long been mandated that members of the royal family must bring a black ensemble with them wherever they travel in the event of someone’s unexpected death. It has been taken.

The late Queen’s handmaiden, Lady Pamela Hicks, recently revealed on a podcast that when Elizabeth’s father died suddenly while traveling to Kenya in 1952, the future monarch neglected to bring black clothes. As a result, Elizabeth II had to wait on the plane after landing in Britain to have her dressed in black, Hicks said. , a black dress was immediately smuggled,” Hicks explained. “So she had to change immediately.”