King Charles to Attend Garden Party in the US — but Invite Bans a Palace Must-Have

A major rule is being skipped over for the upcoming garden party in the U.S. during King Charles' visit.

King Charles’ visit to the U.S. for the first time as monarch is just around the corner, and a royal garden party is being organized to welcome him and Queen Camilla. However, there is a shift in the dress code rule that seems quite unusual. It is usually the kind of event where hats are almost expected, but that is not quite the case this time.

As Charles heads to Washington, D.C., the welcome event planned in his honor will already be doing things a little differently. The party, set to take place at the British Ambassador’s residence, will come with a dress code that sounds familiar at first, but there will be one detail that stands out. According to an invitation obtained by reporter Rob Crilly, guests will be asked to skip something that has long been a staple of royal garden parties: hats. In fact, the note clearly states, “Hats Not Encouraged.”

The royal garden party tradition actually goes back much further, and it has quietly evolved over time. It all traces back to the 19th century, when monarchs like Queen Victoria began hosting large outdoor gatherings as a way to meet members of the public in a more relaxed setting.

By the time the tradition settled into the 20th century, especially under Queen Elizabeth II, garden parties had become highly structured royal events. There was an unspoken uniform to it all: men in morning suits, women in dresses paired with hats or fascinators. And sometimes men are also seen in top hats at these events. The look became closely tied to royal identity.

Now, under Charles, that evolution is becoming a bit more visible. Traditions are no longer held obsolete and often changed if needed. Last year, he dropped the traditional all-white rule that governed the palace’s private tennis court since 1919. Similarly, in garden parties, the strictness around the dress code is starting to shift, and the ‘no hat’ rule might be one of them.

Buckingham Palace shared more details about Charles and Queen Camilla’s upcoming visit, which will run from April 27 to 30 before they head to Bermuda. One of the biggest stops will be Washington, D.C., where they are set to be welcomed by Donald Trump and Melania Trump for a private tea. Charles is also expected to address Congress, which is a rare moment for a British monarch and something last done by Queen Elizabeth II. While in D.C., the couple will also pay their respects to fallen service members with a wreath-laying ceremony.

From there, they will head to New York, where they will highlight the work of The King’s Trust and its impact on young people across the U.S. The trip will then wrap up in Virginia, where the King and Queen will attend a block party celebrating America’s 250th birthday.