When it comes to royal public appearances, women in the family are expected to follow strict fashion guidelines, including modest hemlines, subtle nail polish, and conservative necklines. But one lesser-known rule that often comes up is the requirement for headwear.
To shed light on this, we spoke with Grant Harrold, a former royal butler and etiquette expert who served as the personal butler to Prince Charles at Highgrove for six years. He explained what’s acceptable for royal women like Princess Kate, Zara Tindall, and others when it comes to hats and headgear.
According to Harrold, hats are a must for formal occasions, such as the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey, which took place last month. The tradition requires that royal women wear hats from 6 am until 6 pm. This rule, which dates back to the 1850s, stems from a time when it was deemed improper for upper-class women to show their hair in public.
Harrold clarified: “There was a rule that stated women could wear hats from 6 am until 6 pm. After that, married women would switch to tiaras. If they didn’t wear tiaras, it signaled that they were unmarried and perhaps available. Royal women still follow this etiquette.”
He also noted that while hats are a staple for official events, they are less commonly worn on casual visits. “The late Queen always wore hats, and both the Princess of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall wear them on occasion,” Harrold explained. “But for more general visits, hats are often skipped. However, they’re definitely a requirement for more formal engagements.”
