Former royal lady's maid shares secrets of regal dressing
Watch: The Queen’s royal fashion through the decades
The Royal Family are experts at putting together small capsule wardrobes with minimal packing, according to a former royal lady’s maid.
Alicia Healey worked for the British royals as a lady’s maid, meaning she would help pack and unpack royal wardrobes on trips, and provide help with dressing when needed.
The wardrobe consultant now shares her style tips on Instagram and has said she is influenced by royal dressing.
Healey said her posts have been popular despite numerous lockdowns meaning there has been a lack of opportunities to dress up.
Writing for The Telegraph, she explained that she went on to work for the Saudi royal family after her time with the British royals, even accompanying a Sheikha (a chief wife) on her three-month honeymoon.
She said: “This was a much more challenging job than working for the British royals, who are experts at small capsule wardrobes with fairly minimal and manageable luggage. This lady’s dressing room looked more like three floors of Selfridges.”
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The Queen is known to favour bright colours, and is said to believe she has to be seen to be believed.
Healey revealed that younger royals will be told what the Queen is wearing ahead of time, so that they can complement her.
This will include wearing an outfit with the same level of formality, but a different colour.
Healey added: “It’s a reminder that the Queen is the star of the royal show and that other members, however young, glamorous or stylish, are always in supporting roles.”
Healey, who has written a book called Wardrobe Wisdom, said royals were also always able to dress for the weather and the location of the event.
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Royal women are known to dress diplomatically when on tour, often incorporating colours of the host country’s flag into their outfits and choosing local designers.
While visiting Ireland in March, the Duchess of Cambridge arrived wearing green, and then incorporated white and orange into her outfits over the next two days, for all the colours of the flag.
The royal ladies have had their wardrobe options limited by the at-home and on-screen engagements they have been holding during the lockdowns in the UK.
But the Queen has kept to her bold sartorial choices even in video calls, and Kate has mastered the looks and frequently adapted her hairstyles too.
Watch: William and Kate’s 2020 in review
