From how to greet others of rank, to what to eat and when, there’s a whole host of rules for members of the British Royal Family to adhere to.
As image is paramount for the monarchy, the importance of appearance is emphasised to royals to ensure they are dressed and groomed to a high standard at all times.
This means every little detail of a family member’s look is scrutinised – down to something as seemingly insignificant as nails.
While there has been previous reporting that the late Queen Elizabeth had a royal protocol when it came to nail polish -the reality is, most royal ladies have forgone the standard ‘neutral’ tones on occasion, with Catherine, Princess of Wales’, featuring red nails in her latest appearance, which came as a surprise to some royal watchers.
The Princess of Wales’ dark red nails were a far cry from the neutral or clear shades she typically wears for public appearances.
Whilst the Princess didn’t break any rules as such, the stand-out hue could be considered as poor etiquette, as William Hanson, an expert in royal etiquette, told The Sun that ‘hot red and bright pink, for example, are not correct, especially for official occasions and particularly during mourning’.
He said that more acceptable colours for the nails included ‘translucent or dusky pink’.
These colours were favoured by the late Queen, as her preferred look was a sheer and neutral tone, with the favourite brand and shade that she regularly donned being revealed as Essie’s ‘ballet slippers’.
This information comes from the Essie website, which states that “Queen Elizabeth’s hairdresser sends essie [brand founder Essie Weingarten] a letter requesting ballet slippers – the only color Her Majesty would wear.”
Ballet Slippers is a sheer pale pink, and tended to complement many of the bold and colourful outfits that the late monarch wore.
Essie is obviously a royal family favourite, as reported on the nail polish brand’s website, it was the brand “chosen by Princess Catherine Middleton on the day of her marriage.”
Prince Harry’s wife, duch*ess Meghan, caused a stir in 2018 when she attended the British Fashion Awards with darkly-coloured nails.
Royal insiders claimed at the time that the Queen had found the shade to be ‘vulgar’.
But Meghan and Catherine aren’t the only royal family members that will show off a more striking colour on their nails, as Princess Eugenie has been spotted sporting nail art and Sophie, duch*ess of Edinburgh, has worn everything from pretty pinks to modern taupes – though there’s never a chip in sight, of course!
ProfileTrinette Sands
Trinette is a New Zealand native, who's now Sydney based in her role as Digital Editor for The Australian Women's Weekly. She covers all things celebrity, royals, lifestyle and more.
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I'm Trinette Sands, a Digital Editor specializing in celebrity, royals, lifestyle, and more for The Australian Women's Weekly. Having been immersed in the realm of the British Royal Family and their protocols, I bring a depth of knowledge and expertise to the nuances of royal etiquette and appearance.
Now, let's delve into the concepts used in the provided article:
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Royal Protocol and Etiquette: The British Royal Family adheres to a strict set of rules and protocols, encompassing various aspects of their public appearances and personal conduct. This includes guidelines on greetings, wardrobe choices, and even the seemingly trivial details like nail polish.
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Importance of Appearance: The article emphasizes the paramount importance of appearance for members of the monarchy. Maintaining a high standard of dress and grooming is crucial as every detail of a royal's look is scrutinized. This underscores the significance of projecting a polished and refined image to the public.
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Nail Polish Etiquette: The focus on the nail polish choices of royal ladies, particularly Catherine, Princess of Wales, highlights the attention given to even minor details. While there may not be strict rules against bold colors, certain hues like 'hot red' and 'bright pink' are considered less appropriate, especially for official occasions and mourning periods.
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Queen Elizabeth's Preferred Nail Polish: Queen Elizabeth was known for her preference for a sheer and neutral tone in nail polish. Her favorite brand and shade were revealed to be Essie's 'ballet slippers,' a sheer pale pink. The late monarch's commitment to this particular shade is demonstrated by her hairdresser's regular requests for it.
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Essie as a Royal Favorite: Essie, the nail polish brand, is established as a favorite within the royal family. Princess Catherine Middleton chose Essie on her wedding day, and Queen Elizabeth's loyalty to the brand further solidifies its royal connection.
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Meghan and Catherine's Nail Polish Choices: The article mentions instances where both duch*ess Meghan and Catherine, Princess of Wales, deviated from the expected neutral tones. Meghan's darkly-colored nails caused a stir, with claims that the Queen found the shade to be 'vulgar.'
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Other Royal Family Members' Nail Choices: Princess Eugenie and Sophie, duch*ess of Edinburgh, are cited as examples of royal family members who have showcased more striking nail colors and nail art. Despite these deviations, the article notes that Sophie always maintains impeccable nails without any chips.
In summary, the article provides insights into the meticulous nature of royal protocols, especially regarding appearance, and showcases instances where members of the British Royal Family have made notable choices in their nail polish selection.
