The Queen's Brightly-Colored Outfits Aren't Just Her Personal Style — They're So Her Subjects Can See Her

When it comes to royal style, everything is intentional—and we mean everything. What the royal family wears isn't simply determined by what's sophisticated. Like many facets of their public lives, their wardrobe is influenced by tradition and practicality—and let's be clear: it's not easy balancing a pretty strict royal dress code and with your own look. Nevertheless, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, and Lady Diana all managed to start their own style trends, becoming memorable fashion icons in their own right.

The royal family plays most of these fashion secrets and stories close to the vest (no pun intended), so you probably wouldn't have noticed these tricks and traditions unless they were pointed out to you. While you may never need to worry about entertaining foreign heads of state or televised weddings, these are the outfits you would need to wear, just in case. To see if you have the wardrobe it takes to be a royal, here are all of the most iconic royal outfits and the secret stories behind them.