The one outfit Royals always have to pack on tour

It follows strict protocol

(Image credit: Rex)

It follows strict protocol

During her recent tour of Germany and Poland, the Duchess of Cambridge proved that there’s always room for creativity when it comes to picking out outfits for the tour. For example there was the dress that paid homage to Poland, and the Berlin dress that had a hidden detail.

However, there’s always one outfit Kate and the other Royals always have to pack, as dictated by Royal protocol, which we perhaps luckily don’t get to see very often.

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Queen Elizabeth II is saluted by the crew as she leaves her Viking airplane of the King's Flight, London Airport, June 3rd 1952. (Photo by Fox Photos/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

Because said outfit is a black mourning outfit, which all members of the Royal family must wear as a mark of respect should anyone die.

For example, in 1992, Princess Diana’s father, Lord Spencer, died while she and Prince Charles were skiing in the Alps. The couple changed into all-black attire on their way back.

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Princess Diana & Prince Charles Leaving Lech, Austria, After News Of Her Father Earl Spencer's Death, March 1992 (Photo by Tim Graham/Getty Images)

This is a strict protocol to follow at all times too. When the Queen’s father, King George VI, died in 1952 while the Queen was on safari in Kenya, she didn’t have an appropriate outfit to wear.

She wasn’t allowed to be photographed until she had been brought a mourning outfit by her aide, which she changed into on the plane when she landed in the UK.

Penny Goldstone

Penny Goldstone is the Contributing Fashion Editor at Marie Claire UK. She writes about catwalk trends and the latest high street and Instagram sartorial must-haves. She also helms the Women Who Win franchise.

She has worked in fashion for over 10 years, contributing to publications such as Cosmopolitan, Red, Good Housekeeping, and Stylist.