[In Photos] How Royal Fashion Has Changed Since Charles Took the Throne
Formal to Effortless: How Royal Fashion Has Changed in the Last 4 Years
Royal fashion was once known to be chic, elegant, classy, and a little uptight; however, the arc has changed significantly, especially since King Charles' coronation. While the royals are still dressed in sophisticated outfits, there has been a subtle modern shift, where many are now trying to balance heritage with trends. Bearing the royal fashion flag high is certainly Princess Kate, who seems to have traded her previous staples for commanding power suits and spectacular archival jewelry, dressing like the future Queen she is. However, the gentlemen—headed by Prince William—are also not far behind when it comes to experimenting with their sartorial picks.
Style Evolution
The royal fashion evolution has seen a shift since Queen Elizabeth's passing, adapting a more relaxed approach under Charles' reign. While Kate and William are now experimenting more with their looks, they also have a sharper edge to their taste with sharper silhouettes and more regal millinery. While Elizabeth preferred bright colors and skirts and dresses, the king had no such reservations, allowing Kate and the other royals to try out formal dressing like pantsuits or tailored trousers.
Classic to Contemporary
Elizabeth had a rule for females: “to wear nude pantyhose all the time.” But there seems to be no hard and set fashion rule now. While Kate is still seen wearing hose during certain events, it is no longer a compulsion, and even Charles has adapted to the modernizing royal fashion arc. His wife, Queen Camilla, is also now seen in jeans and jumpsuits, which was not a common practice under the Queen.
Relaxed Royalty
Also, for the first time in decades, we are seeing royal men (read: William) experiment with their clothes. The Prince of Wales was seen wearing a trendy Reiss shacket last year in January and also donned a quirky quarter-zip piece, which was chic yet sophisticated, suiting his royal rank well, all the while adding a bit of fun to his personality. He was also seen clad in a deep wine-hued velvet Giorgio Armani tuxedo jacket at the 2026 BAFTAs, which is by far the most experimental any royal has done in a while.
Eco Chic Reign
As per News.com.au reporter Bronte Coy, William's experimental dressing has a lot to do with his growing confidence. During the 2025 Royal Exclusive podcast, she added, "I think fashion is a reflection of confidence, and I think when people are feeling a little bit more relaxed and comfortable in their roles, that can come out." While Charles is not seen hopping onto clothing trends, he has been trying to propagate a practice close to his heart and make it a trend, which is sustainability and rewearing outfits.
Royal Re-Wear
Every royal has recently been repeating their outfits more frequently than ever, from Princess Anne to Camilla to Kate, and many more. Charles, during his 2020 British Vogue interview, shared that he’s “one of those people who hate throwing anything away. Hence, I’d rather have them maintained, even patched if necessary, than to abandon them.” True to his word, he is still seen wearing his 1980s double-breasted Anderson & Sheppard tweed overcoat on multiple occasions.