Bizarre Reason Why Queen Elizabeth Wore Seven Different Outfits on Christmas Day
The late monarch was bound by protocol to appear in a fresh outfit for every group of guests she met.
Christmas Day at the royal household came with an unexpected demand for Queen Elizabeth. The late monarch was bound by protocol to appear in a fresh outfit for every group of guests she met. The lesser-known rule highlights just how seriously the Queen took fairness, formality, and royal duty.
While Christmas at Sandringham seemed like a time for the royals to unwind, things were different behind the scenes. The day was governed by a surprising rule that required the late Queen to change into seven different outfits. She was not driven by vanity or excess but by protocol. The rule was that the monarch couldn’t wear the same outfit twice in front of different groups of guests on Christmas. This was to ensure the guests don’t feel they received less attention than others.
The late monarch’s most trusted confidante, personal assistant, adviser, and curator, Angela Kelly, revealed the same. She had worked with the Queen for over 30 years, helping shape her memorable style choices. Kelly wrote in her book, The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, The Dresser and the Wardrobe, “The Queen is just as busy as she would be in London, with more guests to entertain. There may be several outfit changes in one day. It could be as many as five or even up to seven.” The day was anything but resentful for the Queen. Kelly published the book three years before the monarch's passing in 2022.
She noted that every appearance, whether private or formal, had its own carefully curated ensemble. It was a meticulous process. It involved the curator presenting sketches of evening gowns and formal dresses to obtain the latter’s approval, allowing her to choose what she wanted to wear. Once an outfit was greenlit, the next step involved placing a handwritten note in the Dresser’s corridor detailing the Queen’s attire. It also ensured that the ladies-in-waiting and accompanying guests coordinated. The system showcased the late monarch’s respect for tradition, precision, and hospitality.
The Queen’s principles were most evident during her final Christmas broadcast appearances before her passing, as her outfits contained layered meaning. In 2021, Kelly designed her bold red dress for the Queen's first Christmas speech since her husband, Prince Philip, passed away. She pinned the sapphire chrysanthemum brooch to her dress, which she had first worn during their honeymoon in 1947. It also made appearances during their milestone anniversaries. The jewel is believed to be worth more than $1.3 million, but the emotional significance makes it priceless.
Earlier broadcasts also reflected the same thoughtful pattern. In 2020, the Queen donned a rick royal purple dress and accessorised it with the Queen Mother’s diamond and mother-of-pearl shell brooch. She also included a photo of her husband nearby to reinforce the theme of resilience during the pandemic's testing times. Meanwhile, in 2019, she chose a blue cashmere dress and paired it with a sapphire-and-diamond brooch, a gift from Prince Albert to Queen Victoria.
