The Real Reason Queen Elizabeth Wears Neon Outfits (2024)

Royals

ByMelanie Aman

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.

The Real Reason Queen Elizabeth Wears Neon Outfits (1)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!

  1. 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.

  2. QE2 2016

    This was Queen Elizabeth the day before she turned 90! She looks AMAZING!

  3. 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!

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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!

  7. Carol Ann Duffy

    The Queen gets her own poet. Scottish poet Carol Ann Duffy has been the poet laureate since 2009.

  8. 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!

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. 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.

  12. 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!

  13. Queen Elizabeth Taxes

    The Queen doesn't have to pay taxes, however, she's been contributing voluntarily since 1992.

  14. 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.

  15. Queen Elizabeth traveling

    Just like the Queen doesn't need a license to drive, she also doesn't need a passport to travel.

  16. 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.

  17. Drives Church

    She loves to drive--and drives herself to church and around her country estates.

  18. 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.

  19. 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!

  20. 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.

  21. Cake

    Most afternoons, she enjoys a slice of chocolate cake along with a gin and tonic.

  22. 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.

  23. 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.

  24. 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.

  25. 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.

  26. 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!

  27. 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!

  28. Vacation Sweepstakes

    Want to feel like royalty for a few days? Dive into tropical splendor with a 3-night stay for two (2) at Harbour Village Beach Club in Bonaire! You’ll enjoy complimentary daily breakfast, snorkel sessions and more. Enter now for a chance to win!
    Click here to enter —> https://bit.ly/ww_caribbean_gallery

Tags:

  • queen elizabeth,
  • royal family
The Real Reason Queen Elizabeth Wears Neon Outfits (2024)

FAQs

The Real Reason Queen Elizabeth Wears Neon Outfits? ›

She dresses to stand out so that people can see her – bright colours and a hat, with gloves useful when being handed all sorts of things on walkabouts." Yet, the monarch also has a soft spot for sartorial surprises, from her love of colour, to her zeal for zippy prints.

Why does the Queen wear neon outfits? ›

Although it might feel that her choices are fashion statements, her bright-colored numbers are to make sure her followers can see her through the crowds. “She needs to stand out for people to be able to say 'I saw the Queen,'” Sophie, Countess of Wessex, said in the documentary The Queen at 90.

What happens to the queens clothes after she wears them? ›

Some pieces probably ballgowns will be refashioned for other members of the Royal family who can also choose any other pieces they wish to have. Remaining things will be auctioned off for charities.

What kind of outfits did Queen Elizabeth wear? ›

Bold colours, great hats, pearls, brooches, tweed skirts, black handbags. For the last two decades of her reign, the Queen maintained a clear standard in her uniform, one which showed her unswerving dedication to her life of public service at a time of turmoil – both global and personal.

Why does the Queen always carry a black outfit with her? ›

When anyone from the royal family travels, they must take a black ensemble with them in case someone in the family dies. With protocol such a big part of being a royal, having the correct mourning attire to hand ensures that they can appropriately catch the mood of the nation.

What color is the evil queens dress? ›

The Queen is seen wearing a purple gown with long sleeves and a red rope belt tied around her waist. She wears a black balaclava covering her ears, neck, and hair, leaving her face exposed.

Why does Queen Elizabeth wear green? ›

It's the colour of Prince Philip's official livery. 'Edinburgh Green' references the shade that has been used for staff uniforms and private cars. What's more, a green Land Rover was used to carry Prince Philip's coffin at his funeral on April 17 of last year.

Does the Queen ever dress herself? ›

For starters, Kelly clarifies that her official title, 'The Queen's Dresser', is misleading since generally “the queen dresses alone.” It also establishes that Elizabeth II isn't interested in fashion and, given her position, doesn't go window shopping.

What do the royals do with their clothes after they wear them? ›

According to Brian Hoey, author of Not In Front of the Corgis, the queen regularly gave her old clothes to her dressers. From there, they could either keep the pieces, wear them, or sell them. Hoey notes that if pieces were sold, buyers couldn't know that the clothes came from Her Majesty.

How many times does the Queen wear her clothes? ›

She does re-wear a lot of her outfits. There are some which are associated with a major event which might only be seen once, but generally you'll see her wear them three times at highly photographed events.

What did the Queen wear in her coffin? ›

The monarch had layers of necklaces, lots of bracelets and a ring on every finger. She was buried wearing her wedding dress.

Do the royals wear an outfit more than once? ›

According to Elizabeth Holmes' book, "HRH: So Many Thoughts on Royal Style," the Queen's outfits are recorded, and repeats are purposely spaced out. After she's worn it a second or third time, the outfit is either reworked into a new design or reserved to only wear in private.

Does Queen Elizabeth put on her own clothes? ›

Of course she does. She has a wardrobe, just like any other well-dressed woman. If you mean her “public" outfits, she does recycle/reassemble outfits.

Why does the Queen carry her purse everywhere? ›

Queen Elizabeth II's handbags served as both practical fashion statements and a means of communicating with her servants in secret about when she wanted conversations to finish, according to a number of Royal specialists. The Queen always carried a handbag on her arm to match her extravagant attire or the occasion.

Does the Queen carry a gun in her handbag? ›

in fact the bag is always empty, it is used as a communication device to her guards and servants. Why is Queen Elizabeth II always seen with her iconic handbag? Because she never knows when she will need a marmalade sandwich.

What kind of purse did the Queen carry? ›

Rarely seen without a Launer London purse hooked on her arm, the Queen treated her handbags like an appendage, permanently in view whatever the occasion. Even in her final picture—stood by a fireplace dressed in a kilt, cardigan, blouse, and her trusty heels—her glossy Launer handbag is tucked neatly beside her.

Why does the queen dress like that? ›

More like this:

She dresses to stand out so that people can see her – bright colours and a hat, with gloves useful when being handed all sorts of things on walkabouts." Yet, the monarch also has a soft spot for sartorial surprises, from her love of colour, to her zeal for zippy prints.

Why were the queens hands so purple? ›

Sharp-eyed royal fans were concerned to see Her Majesty's hand was a dark purple colour as she took part in the face to face meeting. Dr Jay Verma, from the Shakespeare Medical Centre, told Metro: 'It might be Raynaud's phenomenon or just really cold hands! “The purple is due to deoxygenated blood.

Why does the Queen always wear blue? ›

“The royal associations also extend to darker shades known as queen blue and imperial blue. These historical ties mean that blue is often seen as a quintessentially British color, which can serve to enhance national pride when the color is worn and explains why the royal family in particular may be drawn to blue.”

What color does the queen not wear? ›

However, there was one colour the Queen never wore on her public engagements. Robert Hardman, the Queen's biographer, even quoted her once as saying, “I can never wear beige because nobody will know who I am.” According to Hardman, the Queen only wore beige and more muted colours when she was relaxing at home.

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