Rules are rules—and this one's a biggie!
This Is the Real Reason the Royals Always Travel with at Least One Black Outfit
Published on May 19, 2025
Your bags are packed and you’re ready to head out on your trip … or are you? If you’re part of the British royal family, you’d better check twice before you close that suitcase! If you aren’t traveling with at least one black outfit, you’ll have to march yourself back to your closet to find one.
Yes, black is chic and goes from work to cocktails, and hey, for most New Yorkers, it’s practically an everyday uniform. But is the need to throw on an always-on-point little black dress or dinner suit the reason for this royal dress code? Or is there something else going on here? Let’s just say that nothing is accidental or left to chance when it comes to the royals—preparation is key.
Read on to find out what’s behind this royal rule and how it started.
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Why do royals always travel with a black outfit?
Royal family members have to be prepared for all occasions at all times, including worst-case scenarios. And that’s why members of The Firm always pack a black outfit when traveling—after all, someone could suddenly die, and they would need to appear in appropriate mourning attire (or even potentially attend a funeral). “They have to bring a black suit and tie, a dress or similar to be prepared if someone in the family dies while they’re away,” explains royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams. “This is a rule that has been in place for over seven decades and is closely followed.”
The rule may seem slightly morbid, but at the end of the day, it is really all about making sure that things go smoothly in case tragedy hits. As Fitzwilliams notes, “a royal has to be dressed appropriately at all times, and that includes sad circumstances.” This also explains why all the senior royals changed into the right outfit in the blink of an eye when Queen Elizabeth II died in 2022.
Practicalities aside, though, imagine the feeling of leaving your loved ones behind, with a potential outfit for their funeral at the bottom of your suitcase!
What prompted this royal rule?
Its origins date back to the mid-20th century, when Queen Elizabeth II was unprepared for the unexpected death of her father, King George VI, when she was just 25 years old. At the time, Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip, were en route to Australia with a stopover in Kenya when George VI passed in his sleep on Feb. 6, 1952.
Elizabeth received the news just after watching big game like elephants and rhinos on a safari, and she had no time to process the tragedy before hopping back on the plane. In fact, she was still wearing her blue jeans. Of course, that wasn’t acceptable attire, given the circumstances, for landing in the U.K. “Her staff hadn’t packed any mourning outfit, so she had to wait in the plane until someone fetched her black clothes, knowing she’d be greeted by dozens of photographers,” says Fitzwilliams.
Ever since this incident, no royal ever leaves their home without a black outfit on hand, just in case.
Does the outfit have to be all black?
The royals’ mourning outfit is traditionally all-black, even though other dark colors are technically acceptable too. But black is considered “the funeral color,” as Fitzwilliams puts it—and it’s also the reason royals avoid wearing it at any other occasion, especially weddings: “It wouldn’t be appropriate, due to its connotation.”
That being said, not all members of the household always followed this rule. “Princess Diana had her own dress code and ignored the ‘no black’ rule more than once,” Fitzwilliams says. Case in point: Diana’s much-talked-about revenge dress. There was also the dress she wore during her first-ever visit to the U.S. in 1985, when she hit the dance floor with John Travolta.
The queen mother also broke the mourning-outfit rule, but for a very different reason: During a state visit in Paris in 1939, shortly after her own mother had died, she showed up in white instead of black. “It wasn’t acceptable to wear black at a state visit, but she found out that there was a tradition in some European countries to wear white for funerals,” Fitzwilliams says. “She took full advantage of that.”
Which members of the royal family does this apply to?
Technically all working royals should pack a black outfit when traveling, but it’s especially important for those constantly in the public eye—namely, the most senior royals on the family tree. There’s no way King Charles and Queen Camilla or Prince William and Princess Kate could ever leave home for more than a day without a black outfit. “No matter where they go,” Fitzwilliams says, “they always have to be prepared.”
Do the royals also have to quickly change into their mourning attire if somebody dies who’s not a royal but of (almost) equal importance—e.g., the head of state? There doesn’t seem to be a set rule, but, as Fitzwilliams adds, “in the rare occasion that royals attend funerals, they will of course dress appropriately.”
What other rules do the royals follow when there’s a death in the family?
Unsurprisingly, the black outfit isn’t the only mourning rule in the royal family. And things get even more strict if it’s the monarch who has died. Here are some more rules they have to follow:
- Observe the court mourning. When a sovereign dies, the rest of the family enters the so-called court mourning. “Unlike the national mourning period, which is set by the government, the details of the court mourning are decided by the new monarch,” explains Fitzwilliams. “The length greatly varies. When Queen Elizabeth II died, the court mourning lasted 18 days, until after her funeral.” While this might sound pretty long, the late queen herself set a 16-week court mourning period for her father, George VI. And when Queen Victoria died in 1901, the family went into official mourning for a full year.
- Avoid social gatherings. While the royals are allowed to continue their engagements during the mourning period, as long as the new monarch agrees, they need to avoid anything that could be considered inappropriate. “This is definitely not a time for partying and attending extensive social gatherings,” explains Fitzwilliams.
- Wear black suits and military uniforms to the funeral. Pretty much anything black works in the immediate aftermath of a royal’s death, but for the funeral, the dress codes are stricter. Working male royals wear military uniforms, while non-working men will be seen in black morning coats. The royal ladies wear knee-length dresses. Hats and/or mourning veils are also allowed.
- Mourning bands for the ladies. According to Fitzwilliams, mourning bands are another common sight during the mourning period. Traditionally, they’re worn by the royal women (and often the royal staff too) on the left arm.
- Flags fly at half-mast—except for the royal one. Non-official flags, such as military ones, are taken down and replaced with Union flags at half-mast. However, the royal standard (the official royal flag above the royal palaces) will remain on full mast, as it symbolizes both the continuation of the monarchy and the simple fact that the monarch is at home.
- Use black stationery. When a monarch dies, all official communication about his or her passing will be done on black-edged stationery.
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About the expert
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Why trust us
Reader’s Digest has published hundreds of stories on the British royal family, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the fascinating facets of the monarchy. We regularly cover topics including the latest royal news, the history and meaning behind time-honored traditions, and the everyday quirks of everyone’s favorite family members, from Queen Elizabeth’s daily snack to Prince William’s confessions about his home life. We’re committed to producing high-quality content by writers with expertise and experience in their field in consultation with relevant, qualified experts. We rely on reputable primary sources, including government and professional organizations and academic institutions as well as our writers’ personal experiences where appropriate. For this piece on why the royals always travel with at least one black outfit, Astrid Hofer tapped her experience as a London-based journalist with more than 20 years of experience covering topics including the British royal family. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Sources:
- Richard Fitzwilliams, royal expert; phone interview, May 2025
- Metro: “Why royal family members must always travel with a black outfit in their suitcases”
- The Guardian: “BBC documentary shows poignant images of a Queen in the making”
- The Standard: “Princess Elizabeth was thousands of miles away in Kenya when she became queen”
- The Telegraph: “Britain enters a national mourning period for Prince Philip – here’s what it means”
- Royal.uk: “Mourning”
- The Independent: “New monarch decides mourning period”
- Metro: “What are the Royal rules of funeral dressing?”
- Mirror: “Traditions that royals have to follow at funerals – from mourning band on arm to dress code”
