If you’ve paid any attention to Queen Elizabeth’s never-ending wardrobe, you’ve probably noticed that the 91-year-old monarch’s closet seems to be overflowing with bright, eye-catching outfits. As it turns out, there’s a really smart reason for her fluorescent clothing.
Celebrate the Queen’s birthday with a look back at her most colorful ensembles!
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Queen Elizabeth II Was Almost Shot
When you’re the Queen, you’re a celebrity. That said, when you’re the ruler and you have crowds of citizens packed like sardines outside Buckingham Palace squinting and squirming to catch a glimpse of you, you, as the object of attention, want to make it worth their while. So how can you guarantee that someone will see you if he or she is the last person in a line of people 15 deep? You wear clothes in neon hues.
Queen Elizabeth’s lime green skirt suit from the 2016 Trooping of the Color might not have been your favorite to date, but it is the perfect example. Chances are you would notice a 5-foot 4-inch column of Kermit-the-Frog fabric.
Getty Images
Entertainment
This Is How Queen Elizabeth Sends Secret Signals to Her Staff
“She needs to stand out for people to be able to say ‘I saw the Queen,’” her daughter-in-law Sophie, Countess of Wessex said in the documentary The Queen at 90. “Don’t forget that when she turns up somewhere, the crowds are two, three, four, 10, 15 deep, and someone wants to be able to say they saw a bit of the queen’s hat as she went past.”
As much as we would like to believe that Queen Elizabeth is a fun-loving, free-spirited, nonagenarian, other sources have confirmed Sophie’s comments.
“The Queen has always been aware that she needs to stand out from the crowd, and it is for this reason that millinery has always played an important role in her wardrobe,” said Caroline de Guitaut, the curator at the Royal Collection Trust, told the New York Times.
h/t Reader’s Digest
NEXT: These Queen Elizabeth facts will totally surprise you!
Queen Elizabeth can't be arrested
The Queen cannot be arrested because she is free from all prosecution. She and the royal family are also exempt from Freedom of Information (FOIA) requests.
QE2 2016
This was Queen Elizabeth the day before she turned 90! She looks AMAZING!
Queen Elizabeth wildlife
The Queen owns all the swans in the Thames and the U.K., as well as all dolphins, whales, and sturgeons in British waters. If you include her plethora of corgis, that's a lot of pets!
First dog
The Queen got her first corgi, named Susan, on her 18th birthday. For 65 years, she bred 10 generations of these dogs. Her pack is dwindling, though; she's afraid of tripping over one when she gets up at night.
Queen Elizabeth driving
The Queen doesn't need a driver's license, making her the only person in the U.K. with this privilege. She also doesn't need license plates on her cars either.
Jokester
She once played a prank on American tourists, who didn't recognize her as she walked around her estate in Balmoral. When they asked if she'd ever met the Queen, she said no!
Carol Ann Duffy
The Queen gets her own poet. Scottish poet Carol Ann Duffy has been the poet laureate since 2009.
Qe2 Nails
Apparently, the Queen has worn the same $9 nail polish for over 30 years! Her go-to shade? "Ballet Slippers" by Essie. Looks like it's time to add this hue to our shopping list!
Queen Elizabeth church
Thanks to King Henry VIII, Queen Elizabeth is the head of the Church of England. As such, she cannot convert to any other religion.
Prince Philip
When she was 13, she had a huge crush on her 18-year-old third cousin, Prince Philip. He impressed her by jumping over a tennis net--and charmed her over ginger cookies and lemonade.
Queen Elizabeth birthday
The Queen has two birthdays: one on April 21, her official birthday, and one in June. The reason why? To deal with Britain's unpredictable weather, the monarch has a second celebration in summer so a parade would not be interrupted by bad weather.
Qe2 Tv
Ever wondered what the Queen likes to watch on her day off? Turns out, she enjoys The Crown, a TV show based on the life of the Queen herself!
Queen Elizabeth Taxes
The Queen doesn't have to pay taxes, however, she's been contributing voluntarily since 1992.
Happy Marriage
Prince Philip and Queen Elizabeth have been married 69 years, happily too! At parties, he likes to catch her eye across the crowded room, raise a glass, then wink at her.
Queen Elizabeth traveling
Just like the Queen doesn't need a license to drive, she also doesn't need a passport to travel.
Colorful Outfits
She frequently wears colorful outfits, so even people standing at the back of the crowd as she passes might catch a glimpse of her umbrella or hat.
Drives Church
She loves to drive--and drives herself to church and around her country estates.
James Bond Spoof
At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, the opening ceremony included a James Bond spoof. The director was all set to cast Helen Mirren as the Queen, but then Elizabeth volunteered to act in it herself.
Mechanic
When she was 17, she joined the British army during World War 2, and was trained as a mechanic. That's where she learned to drive--and work on engines!
Kate William Wedding
Elizabeth isn't such a stickler for protocol. Before the royal wedding, Prince William received an official list of 777 guests, none of whom he knew. His granny told him to "bin" the list--and create a new one, starting with his friends' names.
Cake
Most afternoons, she enjoys a slice of chocolate cake along with a gin and tonic.
Strict Granny
She dotes on her grand- and great-grandkids, but she can be strict. As a boy, William and another cousin almost injured their cousin Zara. The Queen "came charging over and gave us the most almighty bollocking,” he told Skye News.
Queen Skype
Queen Elizabeth is pretty computer savvy. She Skypes with her granddaughter Zara. She also--amazingly--sent her first email in 1976, according to the U.K.'s news site the Independent.
Wedding Dress Coupons
Queen Elizabeth married Prince Philip in 1947, right after the war. Because everything was rationed, the future queen paid for the materials of her wedding dress by collecting coupons, the Independent reported.
Prince Andrew
Like many moms, the Queen has a favorite kid. Hers is Prince Andrew, her third-born. He became known as her "love child" because she seemed so smitten by him.
Queen Elizabeth Buckingham Palace
If the Queen is ever low on cash, she needn't bother waiting in line for an ATM at the bank. She has a personal ATM in the basem*nt of Buckingham Palace—how convenient!
Fight To Marry Philip
Queen Elizabeth had to fight to marry Prince Philip, because her father, King George VI, had reservations about him. The late Sir Edward Ford, who was assistant private secretary from 1952-67, had said, “Some were very concerned. The line was slightly tenuous at that point. So, it was only natural that the older generation—friends of the King like Lord Salisbury—were concerned that who the Queen was with was totally and utterly suitable. So they were sniffing around to see what he was like.” Looks like he passed the test with flying colors!
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